Our employment team has some great news that we want to share with you...
The 2027 edition of The Legal 500 - the authoritative guide to the UK's leading law firms - has just been published and we are proud to announce that our employment team has retained its status as a top tier law firm for employment services.
The Legal 500 is essentially the clients' guide to the best law firms in the UK and is widely regarded as offering a definitive judgement of law firm capabilities. The guide ranks firms into tiers, with tier 1 being the highest ranking. We are thrilled that Howes Percival's employment team has once again achieved tier 1 status.
Testimonials collated independently by the Legal 500 research team:
Our top tier rating is a great endorsement for the employment team (and the firm as a whole) and we would like to thank our clients for supporting us in achieving this level of success!
- Graham Irons (partner) has been very supportive, astute, responsive, and human. He has been an essential support during some very challenging incidents.
- I have found the people at Howes Percival (and in particular Graham Irons) to be very responsive to issues, empathetic, and careful with their advice. They are sagacious and consistent, and I have been very impressed by the service that they have provided.
- Graham Irons always makes himself available and always gives good, sensible, practical, rounded advice. We don't require a lot of help, which means we dip in and out, but it always feels like he knows the business. When he is away, Simon DeMaid has stepped in at an equally high standard. Jo Wilkinson should also be mentioned as great to deal with.
- Practical advice provided by personable professionals. They are always quick to respond.
- What really stands out about Howes Percival is how genuinely supportive and accessible they are. They consistently go above and beyond what you might expect from a legal partner. Their responsiveness is exceptional. When something urgent arises, they make time quickly and provide clear, thorough advice without making things feel overly complicated or transactional. There's a real sense that they understand our organisation, our pressures, and our constraints.
- The main individual I work with is Graham Irons, and he is genuinely excellent. He strikes a really strong balance between professionalism and approachability - he's personable, easy to deal with, and incredibly responsive. I never feel like we're "just another client," which makes a huge difference. What I particularly value: - He is always available when needed and turns things around quickly - His advice is clear, pragmatic, and grounded in understanding our context - He takes the time to explain things without overcomplicating them Most importantly, I trust him completely. That level of trust is invaluable when dealing with sensitive or complex matters, and it's something that truly sets him apart from competitors.
- Simon DeMaid has been extremely helpful to me in many different situations, with great advice given. He is very thorough and knowledgeable. Other members of staff at HP I have worked with and been very satisfied with are James Pitts, Kate Sullivan, and Sobia Ahmad. All come across as completely professional but very approachable and engaging.
- The team provides an unusually personal service. They are incredibly attentive, and they don't make me feel like I'm being worked for fees. They actually care. The quality of the work is top-notch, and because their hourly rates are reasonable, I receive advice from an experienced lawyer at a fraction of the fees charged by City firms when a junior lawyer advises me.
- Simon deMaid is absolutely marvelous - a leader, an excellent attorney, and he's a great guy.
- Simon DeMaid demonstrates excellent judgment in complex and sensitive matters, providing clear, pragmatic advice that balances legal risk with business realities. He has a calm and reassuring approach, which is particularly valuable in high-pressure situations, and is highly effective at guiding stakeholders through difficult decisions. Anna Bithrey is equally impressive, with a strong grasp of detail and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset. She is highly responsive and organized, and plays a key role in ensuring matters progress smoothly. Her ability to communicate complex legal concepts in a clear and accessible way is particularly valued by non-legal teams. Both individuals are notable for their empathetic approach, ensuring that while the company’s position is protected, employee considerations are handled with sensitivity. Their collaborative working style, clarity of communication, and consistently pragmatic advice set them apart from competitors and make them trusted advisers.
- The team stands out for its ability to combine technical excellence in employment law with a highly pragmatic and human approach. In an area that is often complex and sensitive, they provide clear, structured guidance that enables clients to navigate issues with confidence. Their advice is consistently practical and commercially focused, ensuring that the company’s interests are protected while maintaining a thoughtful and empathetic approach to employee relations. A key strength of the practice is its ability to break down complex legal issues into straightforward, accessible guidance for non-legal stakeholders. This clarity, combined with a step-by-step approach to processes, is particularly valuable when managing high-risk or sensitive situations. Compared to other firms, the team distinguishes itself through its responsiveness, consistency, and collaborative style. They operate as a true extension of the client’s internal team, taking the time to understand organizational context and tailoring their advice accordingly. Their pragmatic recommendations avoid unnecessary escalation and focus on achieving workable, balanced outcomes.
- I work closely with Simon DeMaid and Hannah Pryce. Both of these individuals make me and my colleagues feel supported and valued and give us confidence in the service we are receiving. They are responsive, understand our business, and provide support in a timely fashion.
- Jonathan Mumby is outstanding. Jonathan is so approachable, knowledgeable, understands our business well, and gives fantastic advice with the business in mind.
- There is a whole team to support and guide us, but our main day-to-day employment law contacts are Matthew Potter and Jonathan Mumby. Working with them is genuinely a pleasure. They take time to hear our issues and understand our business drivers and goals. Professional advice is first class, and they deliver it in a way that even I can understand!
- As an LLP, Howes Percival provides a wide range of employment law and associated commercial law services. They are also well connected with other professional firms should the client need specialist advice or guidance.
- Jonathan Mumby is a brilliant senior associate with quick communication. He is very approachable and easy to speak with. He helped to explain complex legal information and assist with strategy.
- I found Howes Percival LLP to be a responsive company. Their communication is a key strength.
- I generally work with Jonathan Mumby, who I find very responsive, understanding, and patient. Our needs can be complex and challenging; Jonathan always takes time to proactively highlight relevant legal implications or explain all options. It feels as though we are working as a team on delivering a solution and managing cases.
What the Legal 500 says about us:
The team at Howes Percival LLP handles TUPE, restructuring and senior executive exits with industry experience in retail, automotive, media as well as food and drink. Paula Bailey leads the team from Leicester handling both contentious and non-contentious with a particular strength in advising on large-scale redundancy, restructuring and outsourcing/TUPE projects and the negotiation of senior exits. Alex Payton has a particular specialism in dealing with complex dismissal or discrimination cases, handling senior exit negotiations, managing restrictive covenant disputes and employment data protection and confidentiality issues. Nick Benton is another key individual in the team.
Howes Percival LLP‘s Milton Keynes employment practice has expertise in complex tribunal claims, enforcement of restrictive covenants, and TUPE issues. While advising a diverse regional, national, and international client base, the group has particular expertise advising clients in the retail automotive, manufacturing, and education sectors. Practice head Simon deMaid is an experienced Employment Tribunal advocate and has experience handling disability discrimination claims, while Hannah Pryce is a key contact for delivering in-house advice on equality, diversity, and inclusion issues. Rounding out the team is Anna Bithrey, who is a notable figure for HR issues, including disciplinaries, redundancies, and family-friendly rights.
Focusing on commercial employment law support, the team at Howes Percival LLP is well-versed across a host of matters, including recent instructions on TUPE transfers, restructurings, tribunal litigation, and executive departures. Matthew Potter heads the practice and is an experienced advisor in both contentious and non-contentious matters. His team includes senior associate Jonathan Mumby, who excels in employment tribunal cases, and February 2026 addition James Conley, who arrived from Leathes Prior.
If you would like any further information about the team or the services that we provide then please contact our Head of Employment, Paula Bailey, on 0116 247 3518 / [javascript protected email address].
The information on this site about legal matters is provided as a general guide only. Although we try to ensure that all of the information on this site is accurate and up to date, this cannot be guaranteed. The information on this site should not be relied upon or construed as constituting legal advice and Howes Percival LLP disclaims liability in relation to its use. You should seek appropriate legal advice before taking or refraining from taking any action.
