Foxed? Practical insights into partnership & employment law

Join our partner Ivor Adair and coach Graham Browning, former Magic Circle lawyer and a troubleshooter on people issues, for the first of two podcasts on the subject of bullying and executive conflict in the workplace.  

In this first episode, their free-ranging discussion covers the dynamics of bullying, common themes and early warning signs, as well as policies and legal issues.    

Join Catriona Watt and Shiv Raja for the second of two podcasts examining post termination non-compete clauses – a topic recently back on the radar as a result of Government consultation looking at their future.  Many employers continue to regard these types of provision as an important part of business protection in certain situations, but they are also often seen as a restraint on individual employees’ freedom.

In this second episode, Catriona and Shiv talk about:

• the practical and legal options for employers if a breach or potential breach of a non-compete clause is discovered
• the pros and cons of taking different courses of action
• practical steps an employer can take to protect its business
• the issue of  payment during a non-compete period

Join Catriona Watt and Shiv Raja for the first of two podcasts examining post termination non-compete clauses – a topic recently back on the radar as a result of Government consultation looking at their future. Many employers continue to regard these types of provision as an important part of business protection in certain situations, but they are also often seen  as a restraint on individual employees’ freedom.

In this first podcast, Catriona and Shiv talk about:

• why employers choose to include non-compete clauses in contracts
• key considerations when thinking about incorporating a non-compete clause into employment terms
• dispelling the common myth that non-compete clauses are not enforceable
• warnings signs that an employee has or is about to breach their contractual restrictions

In our latest podcast our partner Dean Fuller and Associate Eleanor Diamond examine a lesser-known remedy that members of an LLP may consider when they have suffered loss due to actions of the majority, opening up the possibility for members to bring their claim using the firm’s funds. There are number of recent cases which are of particular importance when considering derivative actions in the LLP context and, in the light of these, Dean and Eleanor discuss:

• The potential for members to bring actions on behalf of the LLP against a wrongdoing majority
• What we can learn from recent case law in this area
• The advantages and potential pitfalls of bringing derivative actions

With reports of an abnormally high volume of resignations this year, many of those resigning will want to take a different career path, but that can be hard to do well.  In this podcast our Ivor Adair and special guest Rachel Brushfield discuss the challenges of making a new start post-pandemic covering:

• How to make a good new career choice;
• Planning for the transition;
• Tools you need to drive your plan forward;
• Top tips for executive transitions.

There has been a significant mental health decline amongst the work leaders since the pandemic. Our Catriona Watt and guest speaker Nikki Swan discuss Senior Executive and Partner Well-being post-pandemic covering:

• the impact of working through the pandemic on senior leadership mental health
• fundamental principles to ensure and implement a culture of wellbeing
• takeaways for senior individuals and firms interested in well-being at work

With the rise in social media use and leadership teams placing increasing importance on reputation, our Ivor Adair and Claire Plumb provide practical guidance for employers including:

• What to do when employees post undesirable comments on social media;
• What a good social media policy should cover;
• The benefits of guidelines and training for social media use;
• How employers can protect their confidential information;
• Considerations for monitoring online activity.

To mark World Whistleblowers' Day, our Caroline Field and Remziye Ozcan discuss why a focus on prevention of whistleblowing claims is often better for all parties than a successful outcome at trial, including:

• Creating a culture of “speaking up”, and the importance of setting the tone from the top
• What can a good policy do
• Common pitfalls when disclosures are made in practice
• Industry specific requirements
• Predictions for the future

At a time of high mobility within the professional services market, this month’s episode, featuring Dean Fuller and Eleanor Diamond, looks at how partners leaving one firm to join another can best manage their transition, including:

• The importance of financial due diligence
• Considerations of liability
• Future exit provisions
• Issues relating to restrictive covenants and team moves
• Alignment on attitude to risk and cultural fit

In this special guest episode, featuring David Reade QC from Littleton Chambers and Ivor Adair, we look at the unanticipated implications of the recent Uber judgment on the employment status of partners. What new risks does the judgment present for partnerships and LLPs and what can firms do to protect themselves? Why is this potentially significant? What should current and prospective partners, particularly junior equity and fixed share partners be aware of?