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

  • Advising a large corporate in relation to a stress at work/protection from harassment claim

    Successfully defended a notable and valuable stress at work/protection from harassment claim on behalf of a large corporate entity resulting in nil damages and substantial recovery of defence costs.

    United Kingdom

    Advising the ABI and its members in relation to defending mesothelioma claims

    Providing strategic advice to the ABI and its members following the MoJ consultation into mesothelioma claims.

    United Kingdom

    Court of Appeal case involving a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder claim

    Acting on behalf of Ladbrokes in the recent Court of Appeal case of Nicholls v Ladbrokes (2013) ECWA Civ 1963, a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder case involving allegations of negligence and breach of statutory duty following an armed robbery.

    United Kingdom

    Marian Holloway v Tyne Thames Technology Ltd

    We successfully defended the Defendant in the case of Marian Holloway v Tyne Thames Technology Ltd, in which a UK court considered de minimis issues in a noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) case. This was a significant and positive decision for insurers continuing to face an unprecedented surge in deafness claims.

    United Kingdom

    Mesothelioma Trigger Litigation in the Supreme Court

    Acting on behalf of a Local Authority in the Mesothelioma Trigger Litigation in the Supreme Court leading to a successful judgment that policies of Employers liability insurance will respond for injuries sustained or contracted at the date of inhalation of asbestos. BAI (Run Off) Limited (In Scheme of Arrangement) v Durham [2012] UKSC 14.

    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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