Cross border employment

Acting as lead adviser on employment matters in NI and ROI for various clients
Managing large scale redundancy processes and TUPE processes affecting employees in NI and ROI
Advising on complex internal processes including grievances, bullying and harassment allegations, whistleblowing procedures and disciplinary matters
Defending employers against employment litigation in the Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunals in Northern Ireland and the Workplace Relations Commission in ROI to include constructive dismissal, disability, race, religion and gender discrimination and breach of working time regulations

Class action holiday pay and pension claims

Defending various public sector bodies and private sector clients against class action holiday pay claims brought by multiple claimants on an ongoing basis
Advising on strategy in consideration of the Supreme Court decision in PSNI v Agnew
Drafting responses to claims, representing clients in Case Management Preliminary hearings, and attending to interlocutory matters
Advising on negotiations with Unions and arrangements for collective conciliation through the Labour Relations Agency
Defending a number of public sector respondents against class action claims in respect of age discrimination claims in the context of changes in public sector pension schemes in 2015

TUPE

Advising on the application of TUPE to acquisitions and contract wins by clients in NI and ROI
Analysing Employment Liability Information provided by the target company and advising on due diligence and transferring liabilities
Advising on information and consultation obligations and appointment of Employee Representatives
Assessing measures arising and strategies for dealing with non-transferring employees
Negotiating TUPE clauses in asset transfer agreements and in the context of tender processes

Industrial relations issues & collective bargaining

Advising employers in relation to pay negotiations with various Unions
Reviewing and drafting collective agreements
Advising on strategy and ability to make offers outside the collective bargaining process and unlawful inducement
Advising on negotiations with Unions and arrangements for collective conciliation through the LRA Conciliation
Assessing notices for ballots and industrial action and advising on legal remedies available to businesses to restrain strike action, including High Court injunctive relief
Training senior management in respect of industrial relations matters and negotiations

Authors