London is home to more employers, and more employment disputes, than anywhere else in the UK. From the banks and law firms of the City to Canary Wharf, the West End and the technology companies around Shoreditch, the capital's workforce covers every sector, and the problems that reach an employment solicitor are just as varied: unfair or constructive dismissal, redundancy, discrimination and harassment, whistleblowing, unpaid wages or bonuses, restrictive covenants and settlement agreements.
An employment law solicitor in London can act for either side. Employees usually need advice quickly, because most claims must be lodged with an employment tribunal within three months less one day of the act complained of, after first notifying Acas for early conciliation. Employers tend to want ongoing support with contracts, staff handbooks, disciplinary and grievance procedures, TUPE transfers and tribunal defence. Claims from London workplaces are heard at the London Central, London East and London South employment tribunals, and the solicitors listed here appear in them regularly.
Many London employment solicitors offer a free initial assessment, and when you are offered a settlement agreement your employer will usually contribute to the cost of the advice, so it costs little to ask. For larger claims some firms act on a no-win, no-fee basis or under legal expenses insurance attached to a home insurance policy, which is worth checking before you instruct anyone.
The firms below all offer employment law services within 20 miles of central London, with verified featured firms shown first and the rest ordered by distance from the city centre. You can also search all solicitors near you, read more about what employment law covers, or check typical employment contract costs before you get in touch.
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