Our services
Employment law and HR services are a core part of our business. Our experienced team of dedicated employment lawyers provides comprehensive advice and assistance on all employment related matters, both contentious and non-contentious.

We act for a variety of clients across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, education, manufacturing, retail, construction, IT, automotive, media, leisure and professional services. Our clients range from multi-national PLCs to NHS Trusts, Charities, Schools and Colleges and owner managed businesses. We also act for high net worth individuals, particularly dealing with board room disputes and director level severances.

Our services include:

• Drafting and reviewing contracts of employment, service agreements and contracts for services


• Drafting, reviewing and updating policies and procedures


• Advice and support in relation to restructuring and redundancies


• Guidance on organisational change and changes to terms and conditions


• Advice on the application and impact of the TUPE Regulations and on the employment aspects of business acquisitions, disposals and mergers


• Advice on outsourcing, contracting in and off-shoring services


• Drafting and negotiating employment related indemnities and warranties in commercial agreements and on sale and acquisition of businesses


• Dealing with workplace disputes, employee relations, collective agreements, works councils and trade union related issues


• Dealing with day to day HR matters, including disciplinary and grievance matters


• Advice in respect of absence and performance management


• Advising and negotiating board level and senior appointments and severances


• Advising, drafting and negotiating compromise agreements


• Dealing with the enforcement of restrictive covenants


• Dealing with all Employment Tribunal claims from inception to hearing including complex discrimination claims


• Advice on equal opportunities, equal pay and discrimination issues


• Bespoke training

Our aims
Our primary aim is to proactively assist clients to meet their business objectives, safeguarding against risk, with an emphasis on a ‘can do’ approach.

We recognise that clients require a straightforward and effective service and, as such, we make sure that we understand our clients’ businesses in order to provide commercial and practical solutions to problems. We recognise that clients require tailored solutions to problems and that one size does not fit all.

We understand that aspects of employment law often require immediate attention and accessibility of our lawyers and speed of delivery are key parts of our service.

Our lawyers are keen advocates and undertake their own advocacy in Employment Tribunal claims.

To assist clients in keeping ahead of employment law developments, our employment law services are supplemented by our seminar programme, quarterly newsletter ‘The Works’ and regular email updates.

The Legal 500 has said of us:

"Howes Percival LLP provides a prompt and responsive service to a raft of employers... A highlight was a reported case in which the firm successfully defended a complex disability discrimination matter…. The ‘talented and knowledgeable’ Paula Bailey and Graham Irons continue to ‘identify what clients really need and deliver it consistently’.
"Personalities at the firm, the provision of commercially workable solutions to clients, and the standards of advice and services carried out across the four offices have won the firm the reputation of being a regional firm by location only. The firm has the expertise and resources that are usually associated with City and larger national firms."

Chambers and Partners has said of us:

“Howes Percival provides commercial employment law advice, very competitively priced. It attracts and retains competent individuals with extensive experience in the field.”