Our industrial relations team advises in union and employer disputes

Our industrial relations team works with employers across a number of different sectors in relation to their trade union relationships. Our in-depth understanding of trade unions, together with the importance of maintaining good relationships with unions, places us in the unique position of being able to advise our clients on how to manage and improve their relationships with their unions. 

We can help them to avoid discussions and any disagreements turning into full scale disputes.  Where disputes do occur, we are experienced in assisting in their resolution.

Our employment lawyers regularly advise clients on a wide range of trade union related matters, including trade union recognition and drawing up recognition and collective bargaining agreements. We help clients to manage collective consultation, whether in relation to TUPE or to collective redundancies. 

Our Industrial Relations Work

  • All
  • UK & Europe
  • Advising Unions in redundancy and TUPE transfers

    Advising on consultation with unions in redundancy and TUPE transfer situations where industrial action is threatened

    Allegations of failure to consult on a change programme

    Advising a company in the UK in relation to a high value claim brought by a trade union for a failure to inform and consult appropriately around a change programme.

    Establishing internal employee consultation structures

    Advising clients in establishing internal employee consultation structures (both with and without unions)

    Legal options of balloting and strike action

    Advising on legal options around, and the legality, of balloting and any calls for strike action (and working in relation to any industrial action being called off)

    Long running Unite Employment Tribunal case

    Advising on a long-running employment tribunal case brought by a trade union Unite, relating to collective consultation and protective award proceedings

    Pre-litigation equal pay case and Trade Union negotiations

    Advising a plc on a substantial pre-litigation equal pay case with over 600 potential claimants, which included undertaking an equal pay review, reporting on liability and quantum, negotiating with the trade union and co-ordinating with an equal pay expert and Counsel.

    Request for registration as a leviable establishment

    Working with an industrial services company in the UK in relation to a request from a training board for its registration as a leviable establishment.

    Resolution of dispute and avoiding industrial action

    Working with an international company in relation to the management of its relationship with its recognised unions, and the management of a dispute and avoidance of industrial action

    Resolving disputes via ACAS and other processes

    Advising clients in dispute situations as to how to resolve existing disputes via ACAS and other processes

    Trade Union rule book revisions

    Assisted in drafting rule books revisions for 2 major trade unions

  • Cross-border contract dispute for insurer client

    Acting for a major insurer in a multi-million pound cross border contract dispute following the counterpartys material breach of contract, advising on the English law aspects and quarterbacking overall strategy in multiple strands of the case in France and England.

    United Kingdom

    Cross-border litigation involving fraud and breach of contract

    Acting for a major corporate in cross border litigation relating to fraud and breach of contract with total claims in excess of £1bn. Including handling breach of trust litigation is London with various ancillary freezing orders and overseeing Arbitrations and criminal proceedings in Italy and fraud claims in New York.

    United Kingdom

    Dispute concerning complex copyright infringement

    Acting for a software developer in a complex copyright infringement, breach of contract and confidential information claim which resulted in a lengthy trial in the Chancery Division of the High Court.

    United Kingdom

    Software dispute

    Successfully defending a software company in a dispute concerning the alleged misuse of confidential information, trade secrets and copyright.

    United Kingdom

Our Industrial Relations team

Ahmed Alhudaithi
Ahmed Alhudaithi

Partner

Christian Alvarado
Christian Alvarado

Partner

Lynsey Barrow
Lynsey Barrow

Partner

Thomas Choo
Thomas Choo

Managing Partner

Robert Hill
Robert Hill

Partner

Gloria Jones
Gloria Jones

Consultant

Sara Khoja
Sara Khoja

Partner

Akua Kwarteng
Akua Kwarteng

Partner

Graham Mitchell
Graham Mitchell

Partner

Frances Ross
Frances Ross

Partner

Aliko Simon
Aliko Simon

Partner

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