Emma GrossmithManaging Associate

I am dual English and Welsh/Northern Ireland qualified and have worked extensively in Scotland, so although I am based in Belfast, I can advise clients all over the UK.

I advise on the full range of employment law issues, including equalities issues, employment documentation, capability, disciplinary and grievance management (including advising on complex investigations), dismissals and settlement negotiations, collective and individual redundancies and tribunal litigation. I particularly enjoy helping clients with the employment issues which can arise from corporate restructures, out- or in-sourcing, or when making a disposal or acquisition. This often includes advising on TUPE and the employment aspects of corporate transactions as well as on the retention or exit of founders or other key members of staff.

I have advised clients in the private, public and third sectors all over Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including advising local authorities, and clients in the manufacturing, finance, hospitality and care sectors. Most recently, I have especially enjoyed working with national and international clean energy and technology clients as well as smaller start-ups. My practice involves: 

• Providing advice and support to Directors and HR professionals dealing with difficult employee relations issues, such as where there is misconduct, poor performance, illness, a contractual dispute, or where complaints have been made. I am experienced in helping clients navigate the investigation and formal processes involved, such where there is a whistleblowing allegation, or allegations of bullying or discrimination, so they can make strategic decisions with confidence and a clear understanding of options and risk.
• Advising on terminations and settlement negotiations. For example, I have recently helped a number of technology clients plan and execute successful senior executives exits, enabling them resolve sensitive issues constructively, avoid litigation and focus their energies on business growth.
• Helping clients with their HR compliance, including advising on contracts and service agreements, handbooks, policies and procedures as well as on recruitment, equality diversity and discrimination issues and fair employment rules in Northern Ireland. By way of example, I recently helped a client in the energy sector tailor and roll out changes to their contracts and handbook for staff in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including assisting with related corporate communications and presentations, staff meetings and correspondence with individual employees.
• Helping my clients achieve their wider strategic objectives by providing employment corporate support for acquisitions, disposals and investments. I am experienced in conducting and reporting on due diligence; negotiating employment warranties and indemnities and advising on relevant TUPE drafting and obligations. I also have experience in drafting for and advising on the employment issues involved in large private and public finance projects.
• Advising on employment disputes all over the UK, helping clients defend or resolve Employment Tribunal litigation such as claims for unfair dismissal, breach of contract or discrimination, including in the Fair Employment Tribunal in Northern Ireland.

Recent experience:

• Advising a Scottish local authority on complex holiday pay issues, including on the impact of the decisions in PSNI v Agnew and recent changes to Working Time legislation.
• Advising a NASDAQ-listed Med Tech company on the employment issues arising from the acquisition of a Scottish-based target.
• Defending a well-known UK facilities management company against allegations of religious discrimination and unfair dismissal in Northern Ireland.
• Advising a large UK manufacturer on the outcome of a collective staff grievance lodged on behalf of members of its recognised union, and in relation to the strategy it should adopt to minimise the risk of historic holiday pay claims.
• Providing employment support and advice to a large European clean energy provider making changes to its UK and Irish workforce operations.

I enjoy writing and delivering training to clients and contacts on wide variety of employment law issues. Most recently, I have prepared training for clients on holiday pay developments, as well as on how to deal with tricky data protection issues.