Full Profile
Chris is a leading lawyer in the field of employment law; supporting employers with the full range of issues that they face.
He works predominately in the financial services and professional services sectors, supporting a number of law firms, accountancy firms, banks and asset managers. He leads the firm's professional services sector group, and also our Employment team's financial services and professional services groups.
In relation to the work Chris carries out, it includes the most complex and reputationally significant work within the employment area.
In relation to how Chris works, he partners with employers, gets to know their business, and becomes an extension of their in-house team. This enables him to deliver commercial and pragmatic advice which really works for the businesses he partners with.
Chris has also previously worked in-house as an employment lawyer at two North American investment banks.
Chris has been recognised inside and outside of his firm for his work:
- Chris was ranked by Chambers & Partners as an "Associate to watch" before becoming a partner in 2011, and has since been named in the legal directories as a partner (most recently in Chambers & Partners 2019 and Legal 500 2019)
- Chris was awarded three Acritas stars in 2018 (this results from an independent survey of nearly 4,000 general counsel and other senior leaders at legal departments around the world where participants are asked to name "Star Lawyers")
- Chris was nominated by Clyde & Co to represent the firm in the Mayor of London's "Leaders of Tomorrow" network (a group of 60 next generation City leaders from major financial and professional services firms in London) in 2017
Quotations about Chris published in the legal directories include:
"[Chris'] depth of experience and commercial problem solving skills are absolutely excellent" Legal 500 (2019)
"[Chris] has the ability to make the most complex of issues sound straightforward" and "…provides information that allows us to make strategic and commercial decisions and keep our business matters moving forward" Chambers & Partners (2019)
"[Chris] is a name to note" Legal 500 (2016)
"[Chris is] tireless in representing clients", and "valued for his forthrightness…he will tell you exactly how the ground lies" Chambers & Partners (2015)
Quotations about Chris from the Acritas Stars survey include:
'He understands the business very well, he gives practical advice, a very business-like approach to the law, responsive to queries, and practical.' (2018)
'Extremely responsive and pragmatic. He is able to just take a complex problem and put it in very simple language and give you some very good options.' (2017)
'He gives clear, commercial advice and is prepared to give an opinion.' (2016)
Experience
- Advising in relation to a number of #Metoo issues for firms in both the legal and financial services sectors
- Managing and assisting companies and firms in relation to a number of disability discrimination claims and mental health issues
- Advising in relation to team move issues and protection of business interests
- Joining client project teams to review and manage the introduction of new IR35 legislation (and formulating standard approaches in what is a new area)
- Working with financial services firms in relation to the roll-out of the Senior Mangers and Certification Regime to the wider financial services space
- Defending a number of discrimination claims (including race and sex) within the financial services sector
- Advising in relation to the management of industrial disputes within the education and transportation sectors
- Advising an international accountancy firm in relation to a whistleblowing claim
- Working with a network of employment lawyers across Europe to provide a one-stop European-wide employment law advice support service
- Working on a number of high-value High Court matters, including for insurance and financial services sector clients, involving allegations of breach of contract, breach of restrictive covenants, breach of shareholders agreements, and breach of fiduciary obligations
- Advising a financial services sector on the employment aspects of the acquisition of a competitor, and the subsequent re-organisation
- Advising clients in relation to the employment and TUPE aspects surrounding various “losses” and “wins” of business, and the related contract negotiation
- Advising a client in relation to the harmonisation of 4,000 employee contracts, including managing the significant (reputational and financial) risk around collective redundancy consultation
- Advising a client regarding the termination of their compliance officer, relating to an FCA investigation, and with related whistle-blowing allegations
