Cripps Harries Hall

Employment

Employment law is a complex and fast changing area in which relevant, practical and up to date advice is essential. Our experienced team is well placed to provide quick, pragmatic commercial and cost effective advice.

What we do

Here are some examples of the advice and support that we give to employers:

Day to day advice

  • Service contracts - we prepare standard terms of employment and produce bespoke contracts for employees at all levels including directors
  • Redundancy - legal advice is essential when laying off staff, not only for the sake of your reputation but also to avoid claims for compensation
  • Discrimination - the Equality Act 2010 affects all employers. Policies and procedures may need to change to make sure you do not inadvertently discriminate against an employee because of their sex, race, marital or civil partnership status, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief or age
  • Maternity and paternity rights - are you aware of the latest legislation? We can give you guidance
  • Sickness absence - long term sickness absence can be a problem for employers. We can advise you on the best way to deal with a difficult situation
  • Restrictive Covenants - properly drafted restrictive covenants are essential in order to protect your confidential information, customer relationships and intellectual property. We specialise in drafting such covenants and assisting businesses in enforcing them against former employees
  • Claims - we try to resolve claims without involving the employment tribunal; however if litigation is the best way to protect your interests, we will support you through the complex process

Bespoke training
We offer bespoke staff training on the full range of employment issues. We also hold twice yearly updates on changes in employment law and procedures.

Communication
We issue regular e-bulletins on the latest legal developments.

Our clients

We advise a wide range of corporates, charities and other not-for-profit organisations from many different sectors.

Why Cripps Harries Hall?

Our team's approach is to ascertain a client's desired outcome at the outset and plan the best course of action to achieve that outcome. You will have a client relationship partner who knows your business and understands the employment issues that affect it. We like you to feel you can call on us at any time as part of your team.

Next steps

For further information please contact a member of the team.

Latest news Date
+ Cripps to exhibit at London's ExCeL on June 6 & 7
Cripps Harries Hall LLP will be exhibiting at The Business Show & The Business Startup Show at London's ExCeL on 6 & 7 June.
22/04/2013

Our team has extensive experience in dealing with a wide range of employment issues. Here are a few recent examples of the ways in which we have helped our clients:

  • Successfully assisting a professional services firm in its defence of a whistle blowing and unfair dismissal claim
  • Acting in the successful defence of a claim for damages for breach of contract and compensation for unfair dismissal in excess of £500,000 made by a former director who had been dismissed for gross misconduct
  • Acting for an international business in its successful defence of a sex discrimination claim in which the key issue was the alleged less favourable treatment of the claimant during pregnancy and maternity leave
  • Supporting the UK subsidiary of an international electronics company on the closure of its UK operations and the redundancy of its employees
  • Advising a national retailer about redundancies and redeployment following a decision to close its least profitable outlets
  • Acting for the management team of an international company going into administration and advising about the TUPE issues arising out of a pre-pack sale
  • Advising an international media company on a complex long term sickness issue and achieving a settlement of a claim under its PHI Scheme
Name Role Contact
Chris Bains Solicitor +44 (0)1892 506 256
Camilla Beamish Associate +44 (0)1892 506 128
Rhona Darbyshire Associate +44 (0)1892 506 085
David Evans Partner +44 (0)1892 506 159
Hannah Harris Solicitor +44 (0)1892 506 243
Gavin Tyler Managing Partner +44 (0)1892 506 155
Legal updates view all
+ Employee shareholders - May 2013
After a tortious round of 'ping pong' between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the provisions on employee shareholders have finally been agreed. From 1 September 2013, employers will be able to offer individuals a new form of 'employment' relationship.
 30/04/2013
+ Employment law - May 2013
This month, as many economists consider whether we are about to hit a triple dip recession, we will look at redundancy. First we will look at a case on the meaning of redundancy and then new ACAS guidance on handling larger scale redundancies. We also confirm the new National Minimum Wage rates which will apply from October.
 29/04/2013
+ Employment law - April 2013
This month we take stock of the changes taking place in employment law.
 02/04/2013
+ Employment facts - April 2013
Latest details ...
 21/03/2013
+ Employment law - March 2013
This month we look at the use of pay in lieu of notice clauses following a decision of the Supreme Court.
 07/03/2013
+ Employment law - February 2013
This month we look at the much publicised decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on the question of whether a Christian employee has the right to wear a cross at work and whether a Christian employee can refuse to provide services to same-sex couples. We also look at the new regime of unfair dismissal compensation which is due to come into force later this year.
 11/02/2013
+ Employment facts - February 2013
Latest details ...
 31/01/2013
+ Employee share plans - January 2013
A number of changes are proposed under the draft Finance Bill 2013 which will be advantageous to employees participating in employee share plans in the UK including the extension of entrepreneurs' relief and the simplification of approved share-plans.
 30/01/2013
+ Employment law - January 2013
Happy New Year. This time last year I predicted that 2012 would be a busy year for employers but was not sure how many legislative changes would take effect during 2012. 2012 did result in a number of key changes in employment law but a number remain in the pipeline. In this Alert, I will look at what you can expect in 2013.
 14/01/2013
+ Employment law - Modern Workplaces - Flexibility and Parental Leave - December 2012
The government has announced its plans for flexible leave arrangements from 2014 and a new system of statutory parental rights which are due to be implemented in 2015.
 27/11/2012
+ Outsourcing - the percentage test - November 2012
There have recently been two Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) cases which have challenged the meaning of an 'organised grouping of employees' under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). The outcome of these cases has practical consequences for both service providers and customers and may lead to changes in the way businesses arrange their staffing structures in order to avoid, or engineer, TUPE transfers. This article looks at the facts of these cases and explores the practical implications of the EAT decisions.
22/11/2012
+ Employment law - November 2012
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced radical plans for a new kind of employment contract called an employee-owner. Employee owners will exchange some of their UK employment rights for rights of ownership in the form of shares in the business they work for, any gains on which will be exempt from capital gains tax.
05/11/2012
+ Employment law - October 2012
This month we will look at the changes which came into force on 1 October, together with a review of the government's latest announcement on planned changes to employment law.
 11/10/2012
+ Employment law - September 2012
This month as we return from our holidays we look at a new case on whether an employee can carry forward accrued holiday whilst they are off sick and new guidance from ACAS on redundancies.
 03/09/2012
+ Employment law - pay in lieu of notice - a good idea? - July 2012
Employers should review their pay in lieu of notice clauses and compromise agreements following a recent case.  In Cavenagh v William Evans, the Court of Appeal held that the employer was unable to recover a payment made in lieu of notice even though the employer discovered after making the payment that the employee had committed gross misconduct.
 02/07/2012
+ Employment law - June 2012
In late May, the government published the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill under which it intends, among other things, to introduce reforms to the employment tribunal system.
01/06/2012
+ Employment law - Justifying Age Discrimination - May 2012
The Supreme Court has handed down two cases on justifying age discrimination : Seldon v Clarkson Wright and Jakes and Homer v West Yorkshire Police.
30/04/2012
+ Employment law - April 2012
The law allows employers to seek to objectively justify indirect discrimination and direct age discrimination. To do so, the employer must show that it had a legitimate aim and acted in an appropriate and reasonably necessary way to achieve that aim. The courts have struggled for some time with the question of whether discrimination can be justified on the ground of cost alone.
 03/04/2012
+ Employment facts - April 2012
Latest details ...
 03/04/2012
+ Employment law update - March 2012
For years concerns have been rising over the lack of pensions saving in the UK. With people living longer and less money available for pension payments, the Government is now forcing employers to take action.
 01/03/2012
+ Employment law - February 2012
This month we will look at further details published by the government on the increase in the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims and guidance from ACAS on the Olympics.
 06/02/2012
+ Employment Facts - January 2012
Detailed employment facts
 30/01/2012
+ Employment law - January 2012
What to expect in 2012
 12/01/2012
+ Employment law - November 2011
Employment update
 11/11/2011
+ Employment law - Changes to unfair dismissal rules - October 2011
The Chancellor has announced that the qualifying period of unfair dismissal will increase to two years from April 2012 and that he will introduce a system of fees in the employment tribunals.
06/10/2011
+ Employment law - Social networking - September 2011
ACAS has released guidance to employers on how to respond to the challenges posed by social networking in the workplace.
 26/09/2011
+ Employment facts - September 2011
Key employment facts
 13/09/2011
+ Employment law - September 2011
We look at overtime payments for part time staff and the vexed question of what happens to holiday entitlement whilst an employee is off on long term sick leave.
 02/09/2011
+ Employment law - July 2011
Before our summer break (there will be no Alert in August), I would draw to your attention a recent case on dress codes, an early decision based on third party harassment and remind you of some imminent changes to employment law.
 07/07/2011
+ Employment law - June 2011
Social media is now part of life. There is increasing overlap in the use of social media for both personal and business use. This increases the risk that employees will fail to distinguish between communications that are appropriate to work and those that are not and also that inappropriate material may go "viral".
 06/06/2011
+ Employment law - May 2011
This month we look at a case about the precise date from which notice to terminate employment starts to run. While this appears to be a technical matter the importance of the case is that the date notice starts to run is used to determine the deadline for bringing a tribunal claim. We also update you on the Bribery Act.
 05/05/2011
+ Bribery Act Update - comes into force on 1 July 2011 - March 2011
The government announced today that the Bribery Act will come into force on 1 July 2011. The government also published the final version of its guidance for businesses on how to comply with the Act.
 31/03/2011
+ Employment law - Removal of the Default Retirement Age - March 2011
What does this mean for employers? As we mentioned in our January update, the default retirement age (65) will be abolished later this year. The draft Regulations have now been published. These confirm the Government's intention to remove the default retirement age on 6 April 2011, leaving employers with the choice of either continuing to employ older employees or seeking to justify a retirement age for their business.
 01/03/2011
+ Employment law - Resolving workplace disputes - February 2011
Resolving workplace disputes - the Government sets out its plans for the future
 01/02/2011
+ Employment law - What to expect in 2011 - January 2011
As we start a new year, we look at what employers can expect in 2011.
 02/01/2011
In the press view all
+ Gavin Tyler elected as Cripps' next managing partner
Gavin Tyler has been elected as the next managing partner of top-200 UK law firm Cripps Harries Hall.
 01/05/2013
+ Legal: no mass sackings, but check your equality policies in the wake of gay marriage vote
David Evans, employment partner at Cripps Harries Hall comments.
 07/02/2013

Key contacts

Rhona Darbyshire
Employment
+44 (0)1892 506 085
e-mail
David Evans
Employment
+44 (0)1892 506 159
e-mail
Gavin Tyler
Employment
+44 (0)1892 506 155
e-mail

What others say

Gavin Tyler provides TUPE advice to key clients and has an "easy manner and way of expressing things that enables clients to fully understand what they need to do to avoid the worst-case scenario."

Chambers UK - A Client's Guide to UK Solicitors

Camilla Beamish has a solid reputation and has been particularly active in tribunal claim representation for clients.

Chambers UK - A Client's Guide to UK Solicitors

The team "understands what clients want to achieve, gives all options, is pragmatic and clear," and they "speak as businesspeople."

Chambers UK - A Client's Guide to UK Solicitors

The "knowledgeable and conscientious" Rhona Darbyshire is "thorough. Her advice is sound and the letters she produces are always completed to a good standard. She understands our requirements and she listens."

Chambers UK - A Client's Guide to UK Solicitors

Sources compliment Camilla Beamish's approach and commitment: "She has the ability to maintain attention to detail, as well as integrity and focus. She provides sound legal counsel and is not only an eloquent communicator but has great insight and the ability to remain composed when the pressure is on."

Chambers UK - A Client's Guide to UK Solicitors