We work in partnership with clients on contentious, transactional and advisory work – advising on executive severances and board reorganisations, employment tribunal claims (such as race and sex discrimination) and complex corporate transactions, often involving cross-border issues.

Our clients include BP, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Credit Suisse and BG.

Our pensions practice advises on new and significant pensions issues on transactions and also has a strong advisory practice, advising both companies and trustees on setting up new schemes, winding up schemes and negotiating on funding issues. Our clients include Stagecoach Group, TUI Travel, BAA, Harrods, the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries, Lazard and Time Warner.

Our employee incentives practice works with many companies, UK and international, in designing incentive arrangements for senior executives and “all employee” schemes. We also provide specialist support on transactions such as IPOs, takeovers and demergers. Our clients include BG, Centrica, moneysupermarket.com and Yell.

Recent work:

• Blackstone on employment and pensions aspects of the US$3 billion acquisition of Cardinal Health
• Farr plc by upholding in the High Court and Court of Appeal the enforceability of a 12 month non-compete clause and its effect after a transfer of the business
• Heath Lambert on its restructuring which involved the Pensions Protection Fund agreeing to take pension liabilities in return for a stake in the new business
• First Choice on employment, pensions and incentives aspects of its merger with TUI AG’s tourism division
• day-to-day share schemes advice for such companies as BAT, Michael Page International and Société Générale

Read more about our employment and trusts work on the Herbert Smith website.