Transactional support and TUPE for businesses

We act on a full range of employment related transactional support work, from smaller domestic corporate transactions to large and complex cross-border corporate transactions involving multinationals.

We also advise on the employment related implications of corporate real estate transactions.

Our work often involves helping businesses understand and comply with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). 

The assistance we provide to buyers includes:

• advising on employment due diligence
• drafting employment provisions in transactional documents, such as asset or share purchase agreements, including employment related warranties and indemnities
• advising on the effect of TUPE on relevant business transfers and service provision changes, including in relation to information and consultation requirements and the effect of TUPE on employment contracts and related liabilities
• advising on pre and post-completion dismissals
• post-completion harmonisation of terms and conditions of employment
• calculating employment related liabilities connected to the acquisition
• advising on transaction related bonuses and other incentives
• sourcing and co-ordinating employment law advice from other jurisdictions in cross-border transactions

When acting for sellers, we advise on these issues from the seller's perspective and, for instance, assist with organising an employment 'data room' where appropriate and responding to due diligence enquiries.

Below are examples of transactional support work that has been undertaken by members of our team:

• advised a UK insurance company on employment aspects of its takeover by a Japanese insurance company
• advised a US bank on post-merger harmonisation of terms and conditions outside the US and co-ordinated the provision of related advice from numerous jurisdictions
• advised a European mobile phone manufacturer on its acquisition of a UK software company
• advised a US energy company on its acquisition of a UK rivaladvised a local authority on its TUPE obligations in connection with the takeover of a shopping centre
• advised a UK property developer on its acquisition of a golf course in the UK

We are one of a relatively small number of employment law teams that is highly recommended in The Legal 500 (2023). We are a six-strong team of specialist employment lawyers. We act for a broad range of businesses, from small domestic companies to large multinationals. Our technical and commercial employment expertise allows our clients to make informed commercial decisions. We are happy to assist international law firms and in-house corporate/commercial lawyers that do not have an employment law capability in the UK. For instance, by acting as a 'satellite' employment team working alongside their corporate/commercial teams on mergers and acquisitions

Charges are usually based on our hourly rates plus administrative charges and disbursements. We will provide you with an initial estimate of your likely legal costs and will update this as your requirements or the circumstances of the work change.

The current range of hourly rates for members of the team is from £165 plus VAT to £450 plus VAT per hour. 

We would be pleased to discuss your requirements free of charge and tailor a costs proposal accordingly.