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International Employment Law
Bird & Bird is an internationally renowned global law firm, founded in London in 1846, which has since expanded to over 30 offices in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Its clients are based all across the globe and 75% of them work with more than one office, making the firm, a truly collaborative International Network
As the UK continues to attract foreign investment, it is important for investors to understand the UK's complex employment laws and practices. Compliance with UK employment law is not only a legal requirement but also essential for building a positive reputation, attracting and retaining employees, and mitigating the risk of litigation. Bird & Bird’s International Employment group is a full-service, stand-alone practice with over 130 lawyers globally. The group advises clients with operations around the globe on the full spectrum of employment law, including on day to day HR issues, cross-border projects, business immigration, workforce restructuring and change management, outsourcing, senior-level appointments and terminations, workplace investigations, incentives and benefits, policies, practice and in-house documentation, conduct and resolution of claims, implementing legal changes, trade secrets and equality and diversity. The
International Employment group is known for its clear and commercial
advice, which enables clients with operations in the UK to not
only navigate the ever-changing employment law landscape, but
also to excel as business leaders. The firm prides itself on providing
good commercial judgement that goes beyond a legal opinion alone.
As dedicated employment lawyers working in one of the leading
technology law firms in the world, the group is also committed
to using innovative solutions and technology to drive down costs
and improve service delivery for its clients.
The group regularly produces a wide variety of value-add content relating to global trends influencing the HR and employment law agenda, and are often invited to act as thought leaders on a number of topical issues that impact upon people-related issues. For businesses expanding into new jurisdictions including the UK, their Employment Law Zone app, which is accessible either via the web, or through an Apple or Android device, includes “employment law basics” in all the countries where they have offices, as well as all their other publicly available resources. By way of recent example, the group has developed a sectorised Horizon Scanning publication which provides clients with clear visibility over the shifting HR legal landscape. It seeks to identify not just legislative changes but also commercial trends and is available on request. More information on the group’s latest content series Managing Compliance: The People Risk Agenda can be found here, which looks to address some of the most topical workforce compliance issues organisations are facing globally. When expanding into the UK, there are a number of commercial and legal issues to consider. Whether the new UK operation is established by way of a merger, an acquisition, or by setting up an entirely new company, the people are often its most important asset. Bird & Bird can support you on the key employment issues to consider at the outset including: · Employment terms for UK employees and those joining from outside the UK, including general terms and conditions such as salary, benefits, sick pay, holiday entitlement and working hours etc. Engagement terms for UK consultants and tax rules concerning independent contractors (IR35). · Compensation for employees, executives or consultants, whether in the form of cash, stock-based compensation, commission, bonus or other forms of remuneration, incentive or benefit. · Business protection to ensure that your consultants and employees maintain confidentiality over the company’s information and documents and are bound by appropriate post-termination restrictions. · Policies and procedures to ensure your business is protected including, for example, about data privacy, information security, whistleblowing, and the personal use of social media; and to ensure your employees are protected, including maternity, paternity and shared parental leave entitlement; and relating to anti-harassment and bullying, equal opportunities and grievances and disciplinary procedures. Failure to have these policies in place can have reputational, legal and financial consequences. · Transfers of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations in the case of an acquisition and/or intra-group employee transfers as a result of business reorganisation. · For businesses looking to bring in senior executives or other employees from outside the UK, the group’s experienced Business Immigration team advises on requirements and the likely timetable, including multi-jurisdictional arrangements for employees or entrepreneurs who wish to work across borders. · For businesses that are already established in the UK the group also advises on challenging day to day HR matters such as disciplinary and grievance issues, long-term sickness absence, performance management, discrimination and whistleblowing complaints, harassment risks, internal investigations and Employment Tribunal litigation · International and multi-jurisdictional assignments including analysis of international tax and social security regimes for expatriate employees.
For the past decade, Bird & Bird has been the go-to international legal firm for companies being changed by technology and the digital world. Whether traditional businesses leveraging cutting-edge technology or start-ups changing the status quo, the firm guides clients through all the regulatory, legal and commercial aspects of this ever-evolving landscape. Combining exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge, the firm helps clients operating at the forefront of their industries to achieve their goals. The firm currently works with over 50 of the Fortune Top 100 companies and nearly two-thirds of the world’s 100 Most Innovative Companies as named by Forbes. 75% of its top 100 clients have been with it for over five years, testament to the high level of service and legal expertise it delivers.
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For more information about our International Employment group
offering, click on the following link