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Employment contracts lawyers

There is a lot to think about when agreeing a new employment contract. Our lawyers have experience across a range of sectors, and will make sure the document puts you in a strong position – whether in regard to employee benefits or post-termination restrictions.

We are frequently asked by senior professionals to review their employment contracts.

Our employment lawyers have specific skills in drafting, reviewing and negotiating employment contracts. We advise directors of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies on everything from service agreements and benefits documents to corporate indemnification and post-termination restrictions. Whether you’re in banking, manufacturing, technology or advertising (to name a few), our solicitors have a deep knowledge of employment contract law and can help you get the best deal.

Because we act for employers and employees, our employment contract lawyers can see both sides when we are drafting documents and can anticipate points the other side will raise. This might be in relation to the hire of a key executive, such as the CEO of a globally recognized luxury brand. Or we can assist more broadly, for example advising a financial services client on contracts and benefits for employees in London, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong.

As well as initial employment agreements, our employment contract solicitors can advise on consultancy and secondment agreements, employment policies and staff handbooks. We also offer a ‘policy audit’ service to help employers comply with changes in the law.

Track record

Ilkay Gündogan

We assisted the international renowned footballer, Ilkay Gündogan, on a number of aspects of his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City FC. Of particular importance were drafting employment and image rights agreements.

Renault Sport F1 Team

Since Renault Group's cross-border acquisition of Lotus F1 in December 2015, our employment team have provided continual support to the Renault Sport F1 Team. This work has included: advice in relation to a TUPE transfer of employees; drafting and negotiating employment contracts/consultancy agreements with senior employees and key contractors - many with cross-border elements; advising on the disciplining and/or exit of employees; and advising on arrangements with contractors and the termination of such arrangements.

Co-op bank CEO, Barry Tootell

When director and CEO of the Co-op Bank Plc Barry Tootell stepped down in difficult and controversial circumstances, we demonstrated our in-depth knowledge of difficult situations to advise and negotiate his exit. Futhermore, our team continued to support him on arising issues and enquiries related to his time at the Co-op, after his exit.

Harriet Green, CEO of Thomas Cook

When Harriet Green stood down as CEO of Thomas Cook, she turned to Withers' experienced team to help her develop and implement an exit strategy. The situation became more complicated while she was on garden leave, and had to deal with an onslaught of negative press coverage around her alleged handling of the death of two children in Corfu (six years before she joined Thomas Cook). We developed a clear strategy and we closed the matter down to our client's satisfaction.

Senior executives at King.com

Candy Crush Saga was one of the major global success stories of the free-to-play mobile device games, with more than 93 million players worldwide. We are proud to have acted for the founders of the company that owned it, King.com, in the high-profile sale of their business to Activision Blizzard for US$5.9 billion, achieving a very satisfactory outcome for our clients.

SSAFA, the armed forces charity

Acting for SSAFA over several decades. We were on hand to advise when the charity went through a redundancy exercise and TUPE transfer in Germany. We successfully negotiated when two senior executive roles were terminated, alongside more junior members of staff, one of whom brought a disability discrimination claim. We also advised an Employment Tribunal in the UK over whether the charity could be held liable for an allegedly discriminatory decision taken by the MOD, securing a ruling in our client's favour.

Winton Capital Management

Winton is a global investment management and data technology company that uses scientific methods to develop intelligent investment systems. The company contacted Withers for advice on internal restructures and mobility issues between its various locations. Our global reach and knowledge of multiple markets meant we were ideally placed to advise on issues in London and Oxford in the UK, and also in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Two US senior executives moving to Europe

As a firm, we are best known for helping globally successful individuals to protect their interests internationally - in this recent matter we helped secure water-tight contracts for two C-suite directors as they relocated from the United States to the United Kingdom, while our transatlantic team reviewed their changed tax circumstances.

Winton Capital Management

Winton is a global investment management and data technology company that uses scientific methods to develop intelligent investment systems. The company contacted Withers for advice on internal restructures and mobility issues between its various locations. Our global reach and knowledge of multiple markets meant we were ideally placed to advise on issues in London and Oxford in the UK, and also in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Ilkay Gündogan

We assisted the international renowned footballer, Ilkay Gündogan, on a number of aspects of his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City FC. Of particular importance were drafting employment and image rights agreements.

Co-op bank CEO, Barry Tootell

When director and CEO of the Co-op Bank Plc Barry Tootell stepped down in difficult and controversial circumstances, we demonstrated our in-depth knowledge of difficult situations to advise and negotiate his exit. Futhermore, our team continued to support him on arising issues and enquiries related to his time at the Co-op, after his exit.

Harriet Green, CEO of Thomas Cook

When Harriet Green stood down as CEO of Thomas Cook, she turned to Withers' experienced team to help her develop and implement an exit strategy. The situation became more complicated while she was on garden leave, and had to deal with an onslaught of negative press coverage around her alleged handling of the death of two children in Corfu (six years before she joined Thomas Cook). We developed a clear strategy and we closed the matter down to our client's satisfaction.

Senior executives at King.com

Candy Crush Saga was one of the major global success stories of the free-to-play mobile device games, with more than 93 million players worldwide. We are proud to have acted for the founders of the company that owned it, King.com, in the high-profile sale of their business to Activision Blizzard for US$5.9 billion, achieving a very satisfactory outcome for our clients.

SSAFA, the armed forces charity

Acting for SSAFA over several decades. We were on hand to advise when the charity went through a redundancy exercise and TUPE transfer in Germany. We successfully negotiated when two senior executive roles were terminated, alongside more junior members of staff, one of whom brought a disability discrimination claim. We also advised an Employment Tribunal in the UK over whether the charity could be held liable for an allegedly discriminatory decision taken by the MOD, securing a ruling in our client's favour.

Winton Capital Management

Winton is a global investment management and data technology company that uses scientific methods to develop intelligent investment systems. The company contacted Withers for advice on internal restructures and mobility issues between its various locations. Our global reach and knowledge of multiple markets meant we were ideally placed to advise on issues in London and Oxford in the UK, and also in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Two US senior executives moving to Europe

As a firm, we are best known for helping globally successful individuals to protect their interests internationally - in this recent matter we helped secure water-tight contracts for two C-suite directors as they relocated from the United States to the United Kingdom, while our transatlantic team reviewed their changed tax circumstances.

Winton Capital Management

Winton is a global investment management and data technology company that uses scientific methods to develop intelligent investment systems. The company contacted Withers for advice on internal restructures and mobility issues between its various locations. Our global reach and knowledge of multiple markets meant we were ideally placed to advise on issues in London and Oxford in the UK, and also in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Two US senior executives moving to Europe

As a firm, we are best known for helping globally successful individuals to protect their interests internationally - in this recent matter we helped secure water-tight contracts for two C-suite directors as they relocated from the United States to the United Kingdom, while our transatlantic team reviewed their changed tax circumstances.

Our team

Libby Payne

Libby Payne

Partner | London

Libby Payne

Partner | London

Employment

Hugh More

Hugh More

Partner | London

Hugh More

Partner | London

Employment

Amarjit Kaur

Amarjit Kaur

Partner | Singapore

Amarjit Kaur

Partner | Singapore

Litigation and arbitration

Dean R. Nicyper

Dean R. Nicyper

Partner | New York

Dean R. Nicyper

Partner | New York

Litigation and arbitration

Lisa Lewinsohn

Lisa Lewinsohn

Consultant | London

Lisa Lewinsohn

Consultant | London

Employment

Emma Sanderson

Emma Sanderson

Consultant | London

Emma Sanderson

Consultant | London

Employment

Lou A. Mezzullo

Lou A. Mezzullo

Of Counsel | San Diego

Lou A. Mezzullo

Of Counsel | San Diego

Private client

Jayna Tan

Jayna Tan

Senior Associate | Singapore

Jayna Tan

Senior Associate | Singapore

Insurance litigation

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