Darren was a founder partner of Doyle Clayton in 1997, having previously acted as General Counsel to the Travelex Group and as a solicitor in the City. He advises clients in all areas of employment law, with particular expertise in restrictive covenant disputes, team moves and business transfers, reorganisation issues including TUPE, and senior executive terminations and disputes.

Darren has a strong and loyal client base who appreciate the relaxed and approachable way in which he works coupled with his recognised status in the legal directories as one of the leading employment lawyers in the country. 

He is recognised as one of the UK's leading employment lawyers and is a frequent commentator on employment law matters in the media and at seminars where his ability to connect with the audience and bring clarity and humour to what are often complex issues is welcomed.

"Highly Personable, delightful to deal with, seasoned professional".

"His strengths lie in a number of areas including corporate restructurings, restrictive covenants and senior executive disputes."

Chambers UK Solicitors - A Client's Guide

"Darren is a seasoned and extremely professional lawyer who has the gravitas and acumen to work at board level"
The Legal 500

" Darren is appreciated by clients for his "integrity and empathy""
Chambers UK Guide

 

 

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Jessica has more than 14 years’ experience working in all areas of employment law for both individual and corporate clients and is recognised by the legal directories as one of the country's leading employment lawyers. She is passionate about her work and strives for clarity in her communication with clients, refusing to sit on the fence when dealing with the issues they face. Clients appreciate her responsiveness to their queries as well as her ability to provide them with clear, pragmatic and technically excellent advice, delivering the best possible outcome for them. 

Jessica has significant expertise in the financial services sector, in particular dealing with City bonus, termination and discrimination disputes; collective and individual issues arising out of business transfers, restructurings and changes of control; employment related FSA and regulatory issues. She also has experience managing international and pan-European employment issues in multinational workforces including transnational re-organisations and restructurings.

Jessica qualified in 1996 and joined Doyle Clayton in 2006 from Eversheds. She is a dual English/Italian national and is fluent in both Italian and French.

“grasps complex issues quickly” and is “extremely analytical and highly solution driven.” She has notable expertise in advising clients on City bonuses, discrimination disputes and business transfers.
Chambers UK Solicitors - A Client's Guide 2012-13

"Jessica gets to the issues quickly and pragmatically"
The Legal 500

"Jessica Corsi is described by clients as sensible and sharp. One source adds that she "cuts through the detail to get to workable solutions."
Chambers UK Guide

Peter is experienced in all aspects of employment law.  He has particular expertise in advising on the enforcement of restrictive covenants, team moves and bonus claims in the High Court. He regularly acts for clients in relation to high value and complex employment tribunal cases concerning discrimination and whistleblowing.

Peter advises on non-contentious matters, including board level reorganisations and executive terminations, internal grievances and investigations, drafting employment contracts and bonus arrangements and implementing collective redundancy programmes. He also advises on partnership law.

His clients appreciate his reassuring nature and his ability to pre-empt eventualities and provide creative and practical solutions.

Peter joined Doyle Clayton in 2006 from Mayer Brown International and trained and qualified at Herbert Smith. He is a Member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the Association of Partnership Practitioners.

Legal 500

The Legal 500 describers Peter as one of Doyle Clayton Solicitors’ “very sensible people” – “Doyle Clayton… shines for its work for senior executives and high-net-worth individuals.”

Reported cases include:

Patsystems Holdings Ltd v Neilly [2012] All ER (D) 138 – Doyle Clayton acted for the defendant employee in successfully resisting a claim brought by his former employer to enforce a 12 month non-compete preventing our client from joining a competitor employer.

Imam-Sadeque v Bluebay Asset Management (Services) Ltd [2012] All ER (D) 78 – The High Court considered a multimillion pound claim brought by the claimant against his former employer in relation to fund units. The court held that the claimant had left the defendant to join another firm and had induced another of the defendant's employees to do so. In doing so, the claimant had repudiated a compromise agreement and so he was not entitled to the fund units. The terms of the agreement that gave rise to the forfeiture of the fund units was not a penalty clause.

Seyfried v Euro-IB Ltd [2010] All ER (D) 203 – The Chancery Division held that the majority of the claimant's claims for remuneration (save for a minor element) against the defendant (our client) would be rejected.

Standard Life Health Ltd v Gorman and others [2009] All ER (D) 105 - The Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against an interlocutory injunction which we had obtained on behalf of our client in order to prevent the defendants from working for a competitor company.

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Latest Article Cap on unfair dismissal compensatory award to be reduced 

Peter is recognised as one of the UK's leading employment lawyers and is "praised for his pragmatic advice” in the Chambers legal directory. He co-founded Doyle Clayton in 1997 and, as Senior Partner, has overseen the growth of the firm into one of the UK's leading employment law practices, building an enviable and loyal base of both corporate and individual clients for whom he has acted across the full range of employment law matters.

Peter has over 25 years experience and focuses in particular on executive terminations and disputes, bonus related issues, TUPE and business reorganisations, team move and restrictive covenant disputes, arbitration and partnership disputes.

Peter is a member of the Association of Partnership Practitioners, the Employment Lawyers Association and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

"A pragmatic and sensible guy, his areas of expertise include executive terminations, bonus related issues and TUPE."

Chambers UK Solicitors - a client's guide 2012-13                             

"Peter is a down to earth and pragmatic individual”
Chambers UK Guide

Jennifer has been practising employment law for 15 years and is an experienced and tenacious advocate. Her main areas of expertise include contentious employment disputes; employment tribunal and EAT advocacy; sex and disability discrimination; whistleblowing and stress-related claims.

Jennifer has a long track record of defending (or securing the withdrawal of) high value claims for employers, with a particular focus on financial-sector businesses and securing very high level settlements for individual clients particularly in discrimination and whistle-blowing cases. She takes the time to get to know all her clients and aims to provide a realistic view of the merits of each case, an agreed plan of action and a sensible estimate of fees at the outset.

Jennifer qualified as a solicitor in Scotland in 1998 and worked for Brodies in Edinburgh before joining Doyle Clayton in 2004. She qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales in 2005 but maintains a high profile in Scotland where she is Secretary of the Scottish Employment Law Group. She is also a member of the Employment Appeal Tribunal Users Group Committee, the Employment Law Association and is a Trustee of the City of London Citizens Advice Bureau.

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Dan is experienced in working with both claimants and respondents. He has broad experience advising employers on day-to-day employment issues such as disciplinary and grievance matters and management problems. He is also well-versed in advising on redundancy issues, dismissals, discrimination matters and defending Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal claims. 

Dan has advised individuals on complex claims against employers, bonus complaints, negotiating contracts, exits and terms of departure.

He studied law at Sheffield University, including a year studying French law at the Université de Nancy II in France, and spent a year working at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, where he completed a traineeship in the Legal Affairs Directorate.

Owen has a wealth of experience advising clients on all aspects of employment law. Since qualifying in 2002 he has developed particular expertise dealing with confidential information and restrictive covenants, team moves, bonuses, TUPE and all contractual issues. He regularly works on both High Court and Employment Tribunal matters.
 
Owen is also an expert in business immigration and heads up our service assisting both corporate and individual clients with business immigration matters. He has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 and is an authority on sponsorship and the points based system (PBS) together with entry clearance applications. Owen also deals with  business immigration routes outside of the PBS together with applications for indefinite leave to remain and naturalisation; his familiarity with UK Border Agency processes and procedures inside and outside the UK is valued by clients.

Owen is a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA).

View a video of Owen discussing the business immigration implications of offering internships and work placements

Esther advises clients on all aspects of employment law, with a particular interest in contentious matters before the Employment Tribunal and the High Court. She also advises on the full range of personnel matters including day to day HR support, disciplinary and grievance issues, reorganisations, restructures and redundancies.

Esther carries out comprehensive reviews of employment documentation and advises on the drafting of application forms, letters of appointment, contracts of employment, directors' service agreements, employee handbooks and policies.

Esther was involved in drafting the Employment Law Association's (ELA) intial response to the consultation on the 'fit note' when it was introduced in 2010 and has been selected as one of two lawyers to represent the ELA as part of the Government's review of its impact now that it has been live for 6 months.

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Melanie specialises in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law and has a particular interest in tribunal work and advising on and drafting restrictive covenants. She has acted on behalf of a wide range of commercial clients and also regularly advises senior level executives.

Melanie qualified in 2004 and practised as a specialist employment solicitor before joining Doyle Clayton in 2009. She is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Daniel practices across all areas of employment law. He has had considerable high court experience having worked on a number of high profile injunctions and also has particular experience dealing with unfair dismissal, 'whistle-blowing' and discrimination claims.

Daniel qualified as a solicitor in October 2007 with a niche City firm specialising in commercial litigation prior to joining Doyle Clayton in July 2008.

Melissa joined Doyle Clayton in November 2012. She trained at a major international law firm in London after which she specialised in European law and moved abroad. She then pursued a career in HR for a number of years and returned to the UK to commence a career in employment law.
She is multilingual and a self-starter.

Anita is highly experienced in all aspects of Business Immigration law and works exclusively in this area, handling a wide range of clients such as multinational corporate entities, international law firms, and high net worth individuals.

She advises employers and provides bespoke training on subjects such as compliance with the UK Border Agency’s Prevention of Illegal Working regime and how to use the online sponsorship management system.  She also works with co-counsel to facilitate the global movement of staff including arranging Schengen visas. In addition, Anita advises high net worth and skilled individuals on extending Tier 1 (General) visas, Entrepreneur visas, spousal applications, applications for settlement and British Citizenship. Anita also has particular expertise assisting clients with immigration applications under EU law such as applications under the Turkish Association Agreement, applications for EEA family members and Bulgarian and Romanian nationals.

Examples of recent work include helping a multinational company transfer senior personnel to the UK under the Intra-company Transfer arrangements of the Points Based System, assisting an international law firm with secondments and facilitating a global advertising agency’s hiring of foreign national Senior Creatives to work on major ad campaigns in the UK.  Anita has also recently advised start-up companies on the visa routes for entrepreneurs and for representatives of overseas businesses, as well as obtaining and renewing sponsorship licences for Tier 2 and Tier 5 workers.

Complex business immigration issues provide a challenge that Anita particularly relishes, and she enjoys applying her expertise and creativity to find the most favourable solution for each individual case.  Her often ingenious advice is the result of thinking outside the box -- and occasionally outside the Immigration Rules -- to put a persuasive case to the UK Border Agency.

'Anita de Atouguia "instils complete confidence."'
The Legal 500 (2010)

Chloe has experience of advising senior executives as well as employers in all areas of employment law.  She deals with contentious and non-contentious matters, including exit strategy, compromise agreements, discrimination, reorganisation and TUPE.

Chloe is a qualified New York lawyer who qualified as a UK solicitor in 2009 whilst specialising in employment law at a City firm.  She joined Doyle Clayton in 2012 from a niche employment practice based in Kent.

Jamie advises on the full range of employment law matters. He particularly enjoys advising on bonus and contractual disputes and whistleblowing claims and is experienced working with clients in education and manufacturing.

Jamie qualified as a solicitor in September 2007 and joined Doyle Clayton in 2010 from a niche employment practice in the Midlands.

Cressida is a specialist employment lawyer working with both claimants and respondents on a wide variety of employment issues. She regularly advises upon, litigates and negotiates settlements in disputes arising in both the Employment Tribunal and the High Court. Her particular expertise lies in advising clients in financial services in relation to high value employment claims involving bonus disputes, unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing. 

Cressida qualified in 2007 and joined Doyle Clayton in April 2013 from another City law firm. She is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Anne practices across all areas of employment law. She has experience of acting in relation to breach of contract claims, negligence, and claims conducted in the High Court, amongst other matters, and has a particular interest in the financial services sector.

Anne joined Doyle Clayton in April 2012, having worked as a litigator at other national and international firms.

Eleanor covers a broad range of general employment law issues for both employers and individuals, with a focus on handling discrimination issues.

She approaches her work with a determination to obtain the best outcome possible for her clients, providing them with practical advice and maintaining a positive attitude at all times.

Eleanor qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and joined Doyle Clayton in 2009.

Simon specialises in advising predominantly Respondents on all aspects of Employment law. 

He has extensive experience of Employment litigation, both in the Employment Tribunal and in handling appeals to the EAT. 

He has a particular focus on discrimination claims, including age and disability, and an interest in the financial services sector.

Simon qualified as a solicitor in September 2007 at a large international law firm. 

He joined Doyle Clayton in July 2012 and is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Louise is an experienced employment lawyer and has worked as a professional support lawyer (PSL) for over 10 years. She joined Doyle Clayton in 2011, having previously worked in London in large City and national law firms and is responsible for keeping the team up to date on employment law changes and for developing the firm’s knowledge systems. She also writes client newsletters and content for the firms’ website and has written for a number of external publications.

Louise is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and PEN, the PSL Employment Network.

Sally Beck
BSc (Hons), MSc, CMIOSH
Chartered Safety and Risk Consultant
Registered Consultant OSHCR

Sally is a competent multi skilled Chartered Health and Safety Practitioner with a track record of achievement within the health and safety industry.
She advises and provides support to clients on all aspects of health and safety implementation including audit reviews, risk assessment, establishing LRQ A 18001, ISO14001, ISO9001:2008, BRC standards as well as quality and environmental consulting.
Sally has worked within the public and private sectors, and has an in depth knowledge of Health and Safety legislation.
Area of work – Ireland, UK, Wales, Scotland, Jersey

Qualifications and Professional Membership
M.Sc. Occupational Health and Safety Management
B.Sc. (Hons) Disaster Management
CIEH Trainer Charter Certificate
LRQA Lloyds 18001 Lead Auditor
Edexcel Level 3 BTEC Award Teaching
NEBOSH
Environmental FSC Awareness

Karen joined Doyle Clayton in 2000 as the firm’s office junior and has progressed through the firm to become our Head of Administration.  As part of her role Karen is responsible for the day to day running of each office and oversees all administrative and staff related tasks.  Karen also deals with the opening of new offices and/or office moves.