Business owners and HR professionals need to understand their legal obligations when making decisions about employees. If your organisation requires specialist employment law advice or HR support from a qualified legal team, Clough & Willis is here to help.

With offices in Bury and Little Lever, Bolton, the Clough & Willis team has many years of experience advising businesses of all sizes and across a wide range of sectors throughout Greater Manchester, the North West and elsewhere in England and Wales.

Our employment law solicitors for employers provide practical advice on day-to-day workplace matters, difficult employee issues and complex business changes. With the right legal support, we can help you meet your responsibilities, deal with problems efficiently and reduce the risk of costly disputes or employment tribunal claims.

For more information on our employment law services, call us on 0800 083 0815, or fill out our online enquiry form to request a call back at your convenience.

How Our Employment Law Solicitors Can Help

At Clough & Willis, our experienced team of employment law solicitors specialises in providing HR advice and support to companies of all sizes, through our dedicated employment law and HR consulting service Employer’s Advantage.

Our employment and HR services team is headed by Clough & Willis Partner and Head of Litigation Chris Macwilliam, a member of the Employment Lawyers Association. Chris has been with the firm since 1981 and has extensive experience of assisting both owner-managed businesses and established HR professionals with a broad range of employment law matters.

We offer one-off advice on specific matters, or will work alongside your organisation on an ongoing basis. Our employment lawyers will:

• Explain your legal position, available options and the risks attached to each course of action.

• Prepare and review employment contracts, directors’ service agreements, staff handbooks and workplace policies.
• Guide managers and HR professionals through disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence procedures.
• Advise on discrimination, reasonable adjustments and complaints of workplace harassment.
• Support redundancy exercises, business reorganisations and TUPE transfers.
• Draft and negotiate settlement agreements on behalf of employers.
• Advise on restrictive covenants and the protection of confidential information and business relationships.
• Respond to Acas early conciliation and defend employment tribunal claims.
• Provide legal support to an existing HR team or act as an outsourced HR resource through Employer’s Advantage.

We always take the time to understand our clients' business context alongside the immediate legal issue. You can rest assured our advice will always be clear, commercially focused and designed to help you retain control of the matter while working towards the best available outcome.

Our Employment Law Services for Employers

Our employment law services cover the documentation, processes and disputes that can arise throughout the employment relationship. Here is an overview of the main areas we cover.

Employment contracts, service agreements and workplace policies

Clear, up-to-date employment documents give both the employer and employee a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities. They also protect the business when a dispute arises.

We prepare and review contracts of employment, directors’ service agreements, staff handbooks and workplace policies. We will also advise when an organisation wants to change contractual terms, introduce a new policy or check that existing documents reflect current employment law and the way the business operates.

Find out more about our employment contracts and service agreements.

Disciplinary procedures, grievances and dismissals

Employment issues involving conduct, performance, absence or workplace complaints need to be handled carefully. Acting too quickly or failing to follow a fair procedure runs the risk of exposing an employer to an unfair dismissal claim, or other such legal dispute.

Our employment solicitors advise at every stage, including investigations, correspondence, meetings, appeals and the final outcome. We also break down the factors involved in any decision, so you understand what a fair and proportionate process looks like in the circumstances.

Find out more about our advice on dismissal procedures.

Discrimination and workplace harassment

Employers have important responsibilities relating to equality, discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Complaints involving recruitment, pay, promotion, working arrangements, disability, pregnancy, protected characteristics or the behaviour of employees and managers can lead to claims being brought against a business.

We will assist with policies, preventative steps, reasonable adjustments, workplace investigations and responses to formal complaints. If a claim is threatened or brought, we assess the evidence and provide representation on behalf of the organisation.

Read more about our services for businesses around discrimination and workplace harassment.

Redundancies and business reorganisations

Redundancy is sometimes a necessary part of relocating, closing a premises or restructuring. However, a genuine business reason does not remove the need for fair selection, meaningful consultation and consideration of suitable alternative employment.

We support employers through the planning and carrying out of the redundancy processes, prepare consultation documents and address individual or collective consultation requirements. Early advice from our team will reduce disruption and the risk of claims while allowing the business to achieve the required operational change.

Discover more about our redundancy advice for employers.

TUPE and business transfers

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 may apply when a business or part of a business changes hands, or when services are outsourced, brought in-house or moved between contractors.

Our employment law team advises whether TUPE applies, identifies the employees and liabilities affected, guides the information and consultation process and helps manage proposed workforce changes. We can work alongside the company’s corporate advisers so that employment issues are considered as part of the wider transaction.

Find out more about TUPE and business reorganisations.

Settlement agreements and workplace negotiations

A settlement agreement provides a controlled and confidential way to resolve a workplace dispute or bring an employment relationship to an agreed end. The process must be handled carefully to avoid creating further legal or commercial risk.

We advise employers on strategy, protected conversations, compensation, drafting and negotiation. Our team makes sure the proposed agreement is legally effective, reflects the circumstances and provides the organisation with appropriate certainty and protection.

Read more about settlement agreements for employers.

Restrictive covenants and protecting the business

Employment contracts may contain restrictions intended to protect confidential information, customer relationships, suppliers and the stability of the workforce after an employee leaves. These restrictions must be carefully drafted and no wider than reasonably necessary if they are to be enforceable.

We prepare and review restrictive covenants, advise when a senior employee is joining or leaving and assist where a former employee is believed to be acting in breach of contract.

Employment tribunal claims

An employment tribunal claim demands significant management time and creates financial and reputational risk. Our employment law solicitors defend employers against claims involving unfair dismissal, discrimination, pay, whistleblowing, breach of contract and other workplace disputes.

We advise from the first indication of a dispute, assist during Acas early conciliation, prepare the formal response, manage evidence and witnesses, negotiate where appropriate and provide representation at a hearing.

Find out more about our employment tribunal service for employers and pricing for defending unfair or wrongful dismissal claims.

Employee benefits and incentive packages

Benefits and incentive arrangements support recruitment, retention and performance, but unclear wording risks creating unintended contractual rights or disputes about entitlement.

We advise on bonuses, commission, benefits and incentive arrangements, including whether a payment is contractual or discretionary and how the relevant terms should be documented.

Ongoing HR Support Through Employer’s Advantage

Some clients require legal advice only when a particular employment issue arises. Others need regular support but do not have an internal HR department, or want an additional legal resource for their existing HR professionals.

Employer’s Advantage is our dedicated employment law and HR consulting service. The offering is tailored to the size and needs of the business. It provides on-demand legal support for an internal HR team or operates as an outsourced HR resource for organisations that require more comprehensive assistance.

This distinction allows you to choose a level of support that suits your organisation rather than paying for a standard package that does not reflect the way your business operates.

Find out more about Employer’s Advantage and our managed HR solutions.