Employment Lawyers and HR Support

Employment law frequently changes, and many employers find it difficult to keep up with developments. Brachers can reduce the burden of compliance and support you in protecting your business and supporting your employees.

To help keep you up to date and compliant, please take a look at our round up of the latest changes in employment law for 2023/24.

Why choose our employment lawyers?

We are one of the largest employment law and HR teams in the South East, with a wide range of expertise and experience. We work with a diverse variety of clients, from family-run businesses and SMEs to large multi-national businesses, charities, education establishments and public sector bodies.

We pride ourselves on our relationships with our clients, many of which span multiple generations. This strong partnership has enabled us to establish ourselves as specialists within a number of sectors including Education, Healthcare, Agriculture and Rural, Charities and Construction.

As an extension to your own HR function, our experience has led to the development of our Brachers Connect service – a seamless HR and compliance management package with access to online software and an advice helpline for legal and operational support. This is the ideal solution for SMEs who would like total peace of mind in their compliance as well as streamlined HR processes.

Our employment law services are also complemented by specialist HR support from Kent HR. Whether you need a fully outsourced HR function, mediation services or day-to-day HR advice and ad hoc project support, together with Kent HR we can create a package of support to help businesses of all sizes to help you succeed.

Recognition of our expertise

If you choose to work with us, you can be assured that you will receive a top class service. Our Employment team is highly ranked by leading legal directory The Legal 500, with head of the team Catherine Daw and Colin Smith  and Senior Associate Abigail Brightwell rated as ‘Recommended Lawyers’ in the 2024 directory.

The team are also ranked in the Chambers and Partners 2024 directory, with Catherine Daw and Partner Colin Smith individually recognised for their expertise.

The team is also ranked in the top three law firms in the Kent Legal Sector Review 2022.

Our lawyers are members of the Collaborative Employment Law group and Catherine Daw holds an Acas Certificate of Internal Workplace Mediation.

Find out more about our awards, accreditations and partnerships.

How we can help

Our experienced team takes pride in delivering employment law and HR services that are tailored to your needs. We take the time to understand your individual circumstances and provide recommendations to enable you to make informed choices.

Please expand the sections below for more detail on how we can help support your business.

• Restrictive covenants, competition, and confidentiality

  Many believe that placing restrictive covenants on employees when they leave the business does not work but this is not the case. Post-employment restrictions are an essential tool in protecting your organisation during employment and after employees leave.

  We are experts in the design and development of appropriate and targeted restrictions. Our wider Commercial Litigation team also has specialists in high court litigation and are able to take any necessary steps to enforce restrictions.

  Find out how we can help protect your business through the application and enforcement of restrictive covenants or what to consider should your new employee comes with restrictive covenants.

  Employee exits and settlement agreements

  Our experienced employment lawyers will work with you to understand your key objectives and concerns and our suggested exit strategies will consider budget, timescale and wider commercial factors in order to draw up the most appropriate approach for your business.

  We have considerable experience in supporting employers in managing the departures of senior individuals, including dealing with share and other incentive arrangements.

  Find out more about how we can help you prepare exit strategy plans or help carry out employee exits today.

  Employment tribunals and contract claims

  If an employee has filed a claim against you or your company, you will need experts you can rely on to guide you through the process.

  We have an impressive 95% success rate in winning employment tribunal cases, so you can trust that you are in safe hands.

  Find out more about how we can support employers through employment tribunals.

  Redundancies, reorganisations and restructuring

  Many businesses are currently facing challenging times and need to make difficult decisions about their long-term future.

  If you need to review or restructure your workforce, getting the right professional guidance can be vital to your business’ future strategy and prosperity.

  We offer a fixed-fee redundancy support package to help businesses manage change in a way that is cost-effective, efficient, and legally compliant.

  Find out more about how we can support your business through redundancies, reorganisation or restructures.

  Discrimination, discipline, dismissals, and grievances

  Our experienced lawyers have helped employers deal with many complex and difficult issues, in both the public and private sector.

  We offer a range of support and assistance including legal and procedural advice, tactical and strategic input through to hands-on management and undertaking of any investigation and hearing processes required.

  Find out more about how we can support your business with complex HR issues.

  Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE)

  We are experts in Transfers of Undertakings (TUPE) law, regularly dealing with complex transfers in both the public and private sectors.

  Whether you are dealing with a change in service provider or a sale or purchase of a business or part of it, we can help you.

  Find out more about our TUPE advice services.

  Contracts of employment, HR policies and bonus, pay and reward arrangements

  Well drafted employment contracts and policies are key to the protection of your business interests.

  We provide a range of services tailored to your business and budget requirements. These range from providing standard basic contract terms through to designing and developing HR policies and bespoke executive terms, bonus and remuneration schemes.

  We design and draft contracts and consultancy agreements to include:

  • Basic terms and conditions of employment
  • One-off bespoke executive service agreements containing high value packages
  • Terms and conditions for specialist environments, such as construction, healthcare and schools

  If you would like help to draft employment contracts or policies please book a free 30-minute online appointment with one of our team or call us on 01622 690691 to discuss how we can help you.

  Industrial relations and actions: Trade union advice

  We often find that employers are unclear on when and where they can draw the line with unions and union representatives and are unsure on what they can and cannot demand in return.

  We work with many unionised businesses and have extensive experience of helping employers handle relations with their employees and deal with threats of industrial action.

  We assist businesses with their trade union recognition strategy and with any compulsory recognition applications to the Central Arbitration Committee.

  We can also draft, negotiate, and interpret collective agreements and consultation agreements and help you understand what your rights are when demands are placed upon your business.

  If you would like advice on industrial relations please book a free 30-minute online appointment with one of our team or call us on 01622 690691 to discuss how we can help you.

  Employee wellbeing strategy and reviews

  Employee wellbeing is an increasingly relevant and necessary consideration in the modern workplace.

  It is a major factor in the performance and productivity of staff and, inevitably, in business effectiveness and profit.

  Our legal and HR services support employers looking to improve their wellbeing strategy or to create and implement one for the first time.

  Find out more about our employee wellbeing services.

  Employment law training for HR staff

  Our lawyers and HR experts can deliver a comprehensive range of training, both in person at either your site or ours, and remotely.

  If your business has a particular challenge or training need, we can work with you to meet your specific requirements and budget.

  We offer a wide range of HR training packages and topics including:

  • Managing flexible working requests
  • Discipline and grievance management for line managers
  • TUPE – demystifying the transfer process
  • Terms and conditions of employment – understanding their importance
  • Bribery awareness and prevention
  • Discrimination awareness and avoidance
  • Sickness management – key risk issues

  To discuss your employment law and HR training requirements please book a free 30-minute online appointment with one of our team or call us on 01622 690691.

  Brachers Connect – HR compliance and efficient management in one solution

  Brachers Connect is a complete HR solution, delivered by Brachers and our associated HR consultancy service, Kent HR.

  It combines secure, online management of HR and compliance matters with proactive advice from employment law and HR experts that get to know your business.

  Find out more about Brachers Connect.

  Brachers Protect – Financial protection against potential employment tribunal claims

  Brachers Protect is an employment support package which reduces your exposure to unexpected financial loss if you have to defend an employment tribunal claim.

  This comprehensive package can give your business peace of mind and expert legal advice when you need it most.

  Find out more about Brachers Protect.

  Practical HR support

  Our partner HR consultancy Kent HR are on hand to provide guidance and practical HR assistance as and when you need it, in a way that suits your business.

  From a fully outsourced HR function, to day-to-day HR advice and ad hoc project, we have the support available to help businesses of all sizes succeed.

  

• Get in touch

  Our Employment lawyers are based in Maidstone and Canterbury and are ready to help with any legal advice you need.

  You can call us on 01622 690691 or book a free 30-minute online appointment with one of our team to discuss how we can help you.