Protecting your workplace harmony.
Navigating employment law can be complex, but with Swinburne Maddison by your side, it doesn’t have to be. As employers ourselves, we understand the challenges you face and are here to help you navigate them.
Employment Law
Want peace of mind for your company? Visit our SmartHR page to learn more about our HR Retainer package.
SmartHR GuideAt Swinburne Maddison, we understand the intricacies of employment law and the challenges faced by businesses in maintaining workplace harmony. With a team of nationally recognised experts, including members featured in The Legal 500, we deliver solutions that are practical, reliable, and forward-thinking.
Our services are tailored to meet the needs of employers and HR professionals, offering a comprehensive range of support. We are your trusted partner in fostering a compliant and cohesive workplace, advising on all matters of employment law, as well as managing professional discipline cases in regulated industries.
We have a proven track record in handling unfair dismissal and discrimination claims, some of which have attracted national attention for their successful resolution. Our team delivers excellent results in these challenging areas of law, always keeping the end goal in sight. We are trusted by our clients to act on time critical and commercially sensitive matters, minimising disruption and avoiding lengthy Tribunal processes wherever possible. We are committed to protecting your interests and achieving the best possible outcomes without losing focus on what truly matters.
Our approach goes beyond templates. We offer bespoke advice designed to align with your business objectives, balancing the legal complexities against the commercial and financial considerations. Our innovative smartHR retainer service takes this one step further, giving businesses access to personalised HR and legal expertise with the added optional protection of legal expenses insurance.
In addition to working directly with clients, we also regularly support other law firms in the Durham and North East region who may not have our expertise. This collaborative approach ensures that even when another firm requires assistance with complex employment matters, they can rely on us to deliver high-quality, technically sound advice.
Our team is also dedicated to keeping you ahead of the curve in this ever-changing area of law. We deliver regular employment law seminars and provide training at key intervals covering, case law updates, government changes, and actionable insights tailored for business leaders and HR professionals.
Whether you are a business owner or a HR manager, you can rely on us to listen first, act swiftly, and put your interests at the heart of everything we do. At Swinburne Maddison, we’re not just about resolving issues – we’re about preventing them, ensuring a brighter and more secure future for your business.
Decades of expertise.
“Friendly, approachable, and reliable, I have found Swinburne Maddison to be excellent at responding to any queries and fully engaged when dealing with all matters.”
The Legal 500 UK
Here to help harmonise your business.
Our Employment team works closely with employers of all sizes to provide clear, commercial advice that balances risk and practicality.
Your employee contracts and policies are the backbone of your business, and we ensure they’re built to last. Whether you’re hiring employees, Directors Service Agreements, Apprenticeship Agreements, or engaging staff on zero-hours arrangements, our team drafts tailored contracts that reflect your business needs and reduce your risk.
We also develop bespoke Company Handbook policies, covering core areas such as:
- Disciplinary and grievance procedures
- Holiday and absence management
- Family-friendly leave
- Sickness and absence reporting and pay
- Equality, diversity, and inclusion
- Whistleblowing procedure
- Plus many more.
Our documents are clear, compliant, and written to reflect your culture, because no two workplaces are the same.
Facing an employment tribunal claim? You’re in safe hands. We provide strategic advice and robust representation in all types of claims, including:
- Unfair and wrongful dismissal
- Discrimination and harassment
- Equal pay
- Holiday pay and wage disputes
- Whistleblowing detriment
- Breach of contract and more
We have a strong track record of success in defending claims before the Employment Tribunal. Our expert employment lawyers will guide you from the outset, assessing risks, advising on merits, and navigating every stage of the process with clarity and confidence.
Key stages include:
- Initial advice on merits, risk, and potential compensation
- Drafting and filing a claim response, including your ET3 form
- Preparing schedules and counter-schedules of loss
- Representation at preliminary and final hearings.
- Disclosure and witness statements
- Settlement discussions and tribunal advocacy
We operate on a transparent hourly rate basis, with clear cost estimates and guidance throughout.
Additional fees may apply for complex applications, separate remedy hearings, expert evidence, or appeals. Factors like claim complexity, volume of documents, or number of parties may influence overall cost. We may also recommend appointing Legal Counsel to attend hearings if your case is complex.
We understand that the cost of Tribunals is often a cost not many businesses factor into their HR budgets, so it is worth considering legal expenses insurance to cover your legal costs. This is available through our Smart HR retainer.
If you’ve received a claim, don’t delay. Responses must be submitted within 28 days to avoid a default judgment.
We support employers in embedding inclusive workplace practices and managing risk under the Equality Act. We advise on:
- Harassment and victimisation
- Direct and indirect discrimination
- Reasonable adjustments for disabilities
- The preventative duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
We can help draft or review your policies, run bespoke training sessions, or support you in managing grievances and tribunal claims. Our advice covers all protected characteristics, including sex, race, disability, religion, age, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.
Preventing problems before they escalate is what we do best. Our tailored training sessions and regular seminars keep your managers informed, capable, and confident. Delivered in person or virtually, our workshops cover:
- Handling disciplinaries and grievances, including appeal procedures
- Responding to flexible working requests and discrimination concerns
- Long-term sickness and reasonable adjustments for disabilities
- Restructures, redundancies, and consultation
- Equality, diversity, and the duty to prevent sexual harassment
- Short term dismissals and considerations of common HR risks
Our Smart HR retainer packages (Premium and Plus) include bespoke training tailored to your team.
If you’re acquiring a business, outsourcing to a third party, or taking on a new contract, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) may apply, automatically transferring employees (and their rights) to you.
We regularly advise on the practical and legal implications of TUPE, including:
- Pre- and post-transfer consultation
- Employee liability information
- Contractual changes
- Risk mitigation
Getting TUPE wrong can result in tribunal claims and significant penalties. We help you get it right.
A fair and legally compliant process is essential. The ACAS Code of Practice sets the standard and breaching it can lead to a 25% uplift in any compensation award. It is there for key to ensure that managers are confident in their handling these matters sensitively and confidentially to avoid matters escalating to a claim.
We support employers by:
- Drafting and reviewing internal policies
- Providing step-by-step guidance through live situations and any necessary adjustments which can be made
- Advising on complex cases involving allegations of discrimination, whistleblowing, or long-term absence
Our aim is always to resolve issues internally, quickly and fairly — reducing disruption and avoiding disputes.
Redundancy decisions are never easy, but we help you manage them legally, sensitively, and with minimal disruption.
We advise on:
- Collective and individual consultation
- Voluntary redundancies
- Selection criteria and scoring
- Suitable alternative roles
- Redundancy payments and entitlements
Our involvement can help avoid claims and preserve morale during difficult transitions.
Need ongoing support for HR and employee relations? Our Smart HR service is designed for employers who want peace of mind and a dedicated legal partner.
Our packages include:
- Unlimited advice from experienced employment lawyers
- Bespoke contract and policy drafting
- Training sessions which align with your business
- Guidance through disciplinary, grievance, and TUPE processes
- Employment tribunal representation, backed by legal expenses insurance
Expert Employment Law advice.
Our team is dedicated to helping your business thrive through strong, effective employment practices.
From contracts to workplace disputes, we simplify employment law, providing practical solutions that work for you. With our expertise, you’ll manage employee relations with confidence, ensuring compliance and keeping your workplace efficient and productive. We’re tough, successful, and committed to getting the best outcomes for your business.
Business services
Your commercial interests protected with confidence.
We provide clear, strategic guidance to safeguard your commercial assets and keep your business moving forward.
