Contracts & Handbooks

The basis of all employment relationships is the contract of employment and its terms are often of critical importance for both employers and employees. We understand this and are able to offer clear advice on all aspects of the employment relationship.

Many contractual disputes arise due to confusion, ambiguity or the omission of key terms. Our team has significant experience advising on and drafting contracts of employment, directors’ service agreements, consultancy agreements, staff handbooks and other non-contractual policies and procedures to help businesses keep up to date with the evolving modern workplace. We offer a full service ranging from reviewing and updating existing documents to drafting entirely new agreements and policies.  We can also offer a fixed fee service for preparing personalised or precedent employment contracts and policy documents.

We are proactive in keeping our clients up to date on changes in the law and any relevant amendments that might be needed to their contractual and policy documentation.

We also have extensive experience in advising individuals on the terms and effects of their employment contract, whether in initial negotiations, during their employment and following the termination of the relationship. We have particular expertise in terms of drafting legally complex and important terms such as those relating to the protection of confidential information, restrictive covenants and bonus schemes.

In all cases we combine in depth legal knowledge with a commercial pragmatism to ensure parties are governed by a contractual relationship suitable to their needs, as well as seeking to reach the best solution in instances where the relationship breaks down.

Representative Contracts & Handbooks Work

Examples of our employment team’s contracts & handbooks work include:

  • Drafting and negotiating executive director service agreements for employers and employees in a variety of sectors including banking, insurance, recruitment, leisure and legal.
  • Regularly advising a leading international bank on updates to its handbook to ensure ongoing compliance with UK employment law developments best practice.
  • Advised an international insurance firm on a review of its staff handbook and integration with employment contracts.
  • Advised a number of leading restaurant groups on their employment contracts and contractor agreements together with policies and procedures include senior directors and hourly paid staff.

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