Employment, pensions, incentives and immigration
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Employment, pensions, incentives and immigration

Our employment, pensions, incentives and immigration group is a multidisciplinary team, able to advise on both litigation and advisory matters. For over 30 years we have provided a "full service" legal and support function to our clients.
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Known for our clear and commercial advice that reflects market practice, we have a wealth of experience and are valued for our sensible approach.

Employment

We design and roll out HR policies, review executive pay, co-ordinate employment cost-cutting exercises and advise on contentious employment issues.

Our pricing for our employment tribunal work can be found here.

Immigration

We have an excellent team who specialise in all UK inbound immigration visa categories, including private and business immigration. Our immigration team are also able to assist with administrative reviews, immigration appeals and judicial review claims.

Our pricing for our immigration work can be found here.

Pensions

We advise both pension scheme trustees and sponsors on legal issues they face when operating a pension scheme and provide not only standalone advisory, pensions-related dispute resolution and corporate transactional support.

Employee incentives

Our team are experts at designing bespoke remuneration structures to suit clients' specific objectives.

With over 40 lawyers covering key jurisdictions in Europe, Middle East and Asia, we’re perfectly placed to offer an integrated cross-border approach to employment, pensions and employee incentives.

"On the employment law side they clearly excel. They understand the needs of the customer and produce very good outcomes. Its attorneys are sophisticated and practical; the employment team are fantastic in their precise advice."
Chambers UK 2021

Employment

LIBOR and FX Spot Manipulation allegations 

Advised financial institutions and high net worth individuals involved in LIBOR and FX Spot Manipulation allegations on complex issues of legal privilege, whistleblowing and employee incentives, including successfully litigating on these issues.

Long standing international banking client

Advised on the drafting of a complex remuneration package for a senior hire (including shares, deferred performance bonds, cash bonus buy-out payments and first year guarantees).  As a Level 1 PRA-regulated firm the package had to comply with the bank's regulatory obligations including forfeiture and claw back.

Lachlan Forbes v Parker Drilling Inc. & ITS Ltd

Successfully defended a claim for unfair dismissal and breach of contract which involved complex jurisdictional questions (Cyprus, Scotland, England).

Pensions

Trustees of the Barnardo Staff Pension Scheme, Construction of RPI

Advised the trustees on a claim for construction of the definition of "Retail Prices Index" in the scheme rules (Miles Buckinghamshire and others v Barnardo's and others [2015]).

Board of the Pension Protection Fund ("PPF"), Dispute on Compensation

Represented the PPF in an ongoing dispute, effectively seeking to challenge the scope of PPF compensation (Grenville Holden Hampshire v The Board of the Pension Protection Fund [2014]).

Pension fund claim against global fund manager

Advised the trustee board of a multi-billion pound pension fund in relation to a multi-million pound claim against one of the world's largest fund managers for negligence and breach of investment mandate.

Impact of company sale on pension

Advised the trustee of a multi-national healthcare company on the potential debt arising in relation to its pension plan as a result of a sale and the management/reduction of that debt.

Employee incentives

incadea plc

Advised on the first maturity of awards granted under a long term incentive plan and in relation to the impact of a takeover offer on outstanding awards.

Financial services  

Advised a number of banks on the technical and practical implications of claw back, in particular in the context of new hires who are seeking to have their existing entitlements "bought out".

Estate agent 

Advised a well-known family owned estate agent on the introduction of a bespoke share plan to incentivise key employees, with a tailored exit strategy to enable award holders to realise value.

Immigration

Tier 1 Investor

We have assisted individuals to apply for Tier 1 investor visas globally, including individuals from the Middle East, Asia and Russia. We advised on the relevant requirements to adequately demonstrate their source of funds for the initial application and advised on the eligible investment options upon the grant of the visa. We advised on the post visa requirements and advised on the expedited routes to indefinite leave to remain.

Sole representative of an overseas business

We have advised senior employees of overseas businesses to obtain visas to set up branch or subsidiary of the overseas business in the UK. Our immigration teams advised on the requirements to obtain the visas and also advised on the process to extend their leave in the UK and also apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Skilled worker 

We regularly advise UK employees to obtain sponsor licences and sponsor Migrants under the skilled worker category; advising on their sponsorship duties and also assist with management their sponsorship management systems. 

EU Settlement Scheme

We have assisted numerous EEA nationals and their family members to obtain pre-settled and settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. We have assisted individuals apply from inside and outside the UK. 

Lawyer

Philip Goodchild Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2166
M:  +44 7825 384 004 Email Philip | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Paul Reeves Head of employment

T:  +44 20 7809 2916
M:  +44 7919 694 135 Email Paul | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Terence Seah Partner at Virtus Law

T:  +65 6602 6605
M:  Email Terence | Vcard Office:  Singapore

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.