Employment Contracts
Employment contracts form the legal basis of all employment relationships. A well drafted contract and employment policies can help employers to manage staff, protect their organisations’ commercial interests, and reduce the risk of disputes arising.
Contracts of employment
We draft and review the full range of employment-related documentation, from bespoke contracts of employment to suites of agreements for different categories of worker. We always ensure that documents are tailored to your organisation’s needs and priorities.
As well as drafting key documentation, we can also advise on its implementation and variation, from managing procedures (such as absence, performance or disciplinary processes), to holiday pay and entitlement, to negotiating changes to terms and conditions. Our lawyers are experienced in advising on contractual disputes, including allegations of breach of contract and enforcing confidentiality and restrictive covenants. For more information on our services in respect of restrictive covenants see here.
Employment status has been a hot topic in employment law in recent years. We provide pragmatic advice on the appropriate type of contract for different types of working arrangement, along with strategic guidance when employment status is disputed.
Employment policies and staff handbooks
We produce tailored staff handbooks, and advise on the introduction of new policies and amendments to existing policies. We proactively keep our clients up to date on changes in the law and best practice and necessary amendments to their contractual and policy documentation. This includes conducting audits of clients’ contracts and staff handbooks to ensure that they comply with any relevant statutory changes.
Employment status has been a hot topic in employment law in recent years. We provide pragmatic advice on the appropriate type of contract for different types of working arrangement, along with strategic guidance when employment status is disputed.
Employee incentives
Implementing share option schemes or other incentive plans requires specific knowledge of employment as well as corporate and tax law, and we work closely with our corporate and tax lawyers to draft the required documents and implement the relevant schemes.
As well as drafting key documentation, we can also advise on its implementation and variation, from managing procedures (such as absence, performance or disciplinary processes), to holiday pay and entitlement, to negotiating changes to terms and conditions. Our lawyers are experienced in advising on contractual disputes, including allegations of breach of contract and enforcing confidentiality and restrictive covenants.
Recent work highlights:
- Advising a prestigious UK university in relation to drafting a bespoke employment contract for the incoming President, drawing upon our knowledge of senior executive contracts at corporate clients as well as our expertise in the higher education sector.