Meet Emma
I joined the Employment team at Lawrence Stephens in March 2024, having practised exclusively at specialist employment firms following completion of my legal training at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
I act for businesses and individuals across the whole spectrum of employment law and a variety of industries from owner-managed businesses to large corporations. I have many clients from regulated sectors, primarily within financial services, but I also act for businesses regulated by the Gambling Commission, the Charity Commission, the Football Association and the English Football League.
While I advise on both contentious and non-contentious matters, my day-to-day work focuses on contentious issues. I regularly bring and defend claims arising from the Equality Act 2010 and I also advise clients on how best to balance conflicting or competing priorities under discrimination legislation.
I have extensive experience of dealing with contentious terminations and claims relating to breach of contract, wrongful dismissal and unfair dismissal. I also act in High Court claims relating to breaches of confidentiality obligations and post-termination restrictions arising from employment contracts, share purchase agreements and shareholders’ agreements. This sometimes follows the work I do with my Corporate and Commercial colleagues, advising on employment issues arising from corporate transactions.
Clients recommend me because I am a ‘safe pair of hands’, delivering timely and practical advice which also considers any regulatory obligations to which they are subject. Ultimately, my clients’ commercial objectives are always at the forefront of what I do. With my expertise in employment law complemented by a background in corporate law and prior experience in banking, I provide valuable insights and support to help my clients secure the best possible results.
Outside of work I am a member of the Campaign For Real Ale and love nothing more than attending a good beer festival!
Experience highlights
- Securing settlement and payment of full costs on behalf on a private equity client in relation to breaches of service and share purchase agreements by the former founders of the purchased business.
- Securing the withdrawal of unmeritorious claims made against an employer in relation to alleged pregnancy and maternity discrimination following the employee’s dismissal for poor performance.
- Representing a non-party client in relation in their successful opposition of an application for anonymity orders.
- Securing a significant settlement for a financial services employee in relation to complex claims of disability discrimination, including a continuous course of conduct occurring over several years.
- Advising a financial services employer in relation to the dismissal of their CEO, oversight of a subsequent independent investigation and advising on associated regulatory and litigious matters.
- Advising an overseas employer in relation to parallel grievance and disciplinary investigations relating to claims of sexual harassment and sex discrimination.
