Bird & Bird

International Employment Group.

Ian Hunter

E. ian.hunter@twobirds.com T. +44 (0) 20 7415 6000

London

As the UK continues to attract foreign investors, it is important for these 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, retaining employees, and avoiding legal action.

At our internationally renowned global law firm, Bird & Bird , we are known for our clear and commercial advice that has enabled our international clients engaged in business in the UK not only to meet exacting (and ever-changing) employment , incentives, pensions and immigration laws but for such employers to be regarded as leaders in offering the very best practice and excellent workplace atmospheres.

When the directors of a business located anywhere in the world decide that the UK presents a good opportunity for expansion, there are numerous commercial 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 who lead and are employed by the company are its most important asset.

If an overseas investor to the UK is thinking of expanding into or starting up in the UK, the employment issues to consider as soon as possible include:

• Employment contracts for UK employees and those joining from outside the UK, including general terms and conditions such as holiday entitlement and working hours.
• Documentation to ensure that your employees maintain confidentiality about the company’s business, including restrictive covenants and post-termination restrictions.
• Policies to ensure your business is protected including, for example, about the personal use of social media; and to ensure your employees are protected, including maternity, paternity and shared parental leave entitlement; and relating to harassment, grievances and disciplinary procedures. As current news items illustrate, erring in these matters can have devastating reputational, let alone legal and financial consequences.
• Transfers of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations in the case of an acquisition, and intra-group employee transfers.
• Tax rules concerning independent contractors (IR35).
• For businesses looking to bring senior executives or other employees from outside the UK, our experienced Immigration team advises on requirements and the likely timetable.
• For businesses that are already established in the UK we advise on challenging matters such as whistle-blowing, internal investigations and on Employment Tribunal litigation.

At Bird & Bird, we are immersed in the people, rewards and employee incentives sectors. Every year we help many leading international businesses to deliver effective and legally compliant strategies on remuneration and incentives as well as pensions law, ever-increasing areas of importance given the extremely tight and competitive market for employee skills at all levels.

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, it guides clients through all the regulatory, legal and commercial aspects of this fast-moving environment. The firm combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking to help clients operating at the forefront of their industries to achieve their goals.

We 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.

Our firm was founded in London in 1846. The firm has since expanded to over 30 offices in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and our clients are based across 118 countries worldwide and 75% of our major clients work with more than one office, making ourselves, a truly collaborative international network.

But no matter how much we have grown and modernised from our humble origins, we know from our origins the importance of personal relationships especially in the field of employment law and "people management."

The Employment, Pensions, Incentives and Immigration team at our firm is led by Ian Hunter. Ian's experience is pivotal in his recognition as one of the elite employment lawyers in the UK.

Ian and his team advise clients from all over the world operating in the UK on contracts of employment, employment policies, dismissals, discrimination, sensitive internal investigations, employment law aspects of mergers, acquisitions and investments and restrictive covenants.

The respected international law directory, Chambers, reports that clients of Ian and his team are “thought-leaders”, “consistently provide strategic and client-focused advice” that is “from a standpoint both business-orientated and razor-sharp”. Clients also told Chambers that Bird & Bird “offer solutions rather than just advice” and, importantly, that the firm’s international network is very valuable.”

For more information about our employment and people offering , click here......

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To meet with Ian or one of his team, please contact in the first instance.......................