Employment law solicitors in Leeds

Located at 1 City Square in central Leeds, our award-winning solicitors advise employers and senior professionals on all aspects of employment law.

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Strategic, proactive legal advice for employers and professionals across Leeds

We’re one of the largest and most specialised employment legal teams across England and Wales.

Our ‘Top Tier’ solicitors offer the full suite of legal services for organisations and senior professionals across the Leeds region, covering:

Contracts, policies & procedures — assisting employers with the drafting and review of contracts of employment, director service agreements and the comprehensive range of HR policies and procedures.
Disputes & litigation — advising on the defence of all forms of tribunal proceedings, including unfair dismissal claims, discrimination and whistleblowing matters.
Immigration — practical support for employers with sponsor licence applications, skilled work visas, immigration compliance and workforce mobility.
Redundancy & restructuring — practical guidance on managing workforce change while balancing employee rights, commercial objectives and reputational considerations, including TUPE-related issues.
Recruitment & workforce solutions — supporting recruiters with employment law compliance, including worker status, agency worker regulations, gangmaster labour abuse authority issues and National Minimum Wage investigations.
Reproductive health — guiding organisations in developing effective support for employees affected by reproductive health matters.
Restrictive covenants & post-termination restrictions — advice for employers and individuals on the scope and enforceability of post-termination restrictions, including non-compete, non-solicitation, non-dealing and non-poaching clauses.
Settlement agreements & exits — pragmatic, strategic legal advice and support for individuals on settlement agreements and senior-level exit and severance negotiations.
Trade union & industrial relations — guidance on managing trade union engagement and establishing a clear, forward-looking industrial relations strategy as well as industrial action and injunctions.
Training — bespoke employment law training for HR professionals, managers and in-house legal teams, with an emphasis on risk prevention.

Talk to us by calling 0333 004 4488, emailing hello@brabners.com or completing our contact form.

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Award-winning employment lawyers in your corner

Our ‘Leading’ team of over 30 dedicated lawyers and support staff brings extensive experience advising employers on the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters.

Collectively, we’re recognised as a ‘Top Tier’ legal firm in The Legal 500, which ranks lawyers and law firms. The team boasts multiple ‘Leading Partners’, ‘Next Generation Partners’ and ‘Key Lawyers’.

We offer strategic solutions and unique industry insight covering all sectors, including construction, healthcare, hospitality, housing, manufacturing, professional services, recruitment, retail and sport.

Our team also helps organisations of all shapes and sizes to proactively navigate legislative and regulatory changes, such as the Employment Rights Act.

We support businesses and individuals right across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region, including Sheffield, Bradford, Hull and York.

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Meet our Manchester employment team

Andrew Graham

Partner

Grace Pennington

Associate

Jon Galloway

Solicitor

View all

A ‘Top Tier’ employment law firm

Recommended lawyer Legal500 United Kingdom 2026 text on a dark background with light blue and white accents.

Legal Business Awards 2025, Regional/Offshore Firm of the Year, Winner trophy badge with black background and gold, blue and white text and accents.

“The ‘top-drawer’ [team] has well-established capabilities handling the full spectrum of employment matters for its clientele, including those relating to recruitment, immigration, discrimination, unfair dismissal and corporate exits.”
The Legal 500

“The [employment] team is very in tune with the needs of its clients. They listen and don't impose some pre-set solution. Instead, they provide sensible advice which is generated from their vast collective experience. The team works very well together.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500

“The [employment] partners and associates are very ‘down-to-earth’ without being condescending. There's an absence of buzzwords and complexity in their discourse without any loss of substance.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500

“Simon Whitehead is very personable and manages a prickly client relationship with aplomb. Hannah Morrison is excellent, on top of the detail, leaves no stone unturned and produces excellent quality work within very short timescales.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500

“The employment team was very responsive and supportive during a difficult period... took the time to understand the unique situation and commercial challenges... advice is clear and comprehensive... they act as a team, not simply a collection of individuals from different areas of specialism.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500

“Brabners pride themselves on client contact, where the client grows with the firm.”
Client feedback, Chambers and Partners 2026

Employment law: expert insights

11 May 2026

Whistleblowing & sexual harassment — a new era of protection from April 2026

Three people sit around a table in a bright room, engaging in a discussion with laptops, papers, and pens, near a large window with natural light.

We explain exactly what’s changing, how the new protections will work and what employers need to know.

8 May 2026

Collective consultation overhaul — 4 key steps for employers

Four people sit on pink chairs in a bright room with large windows; they are engaged in a discussion, with notebooks and phones on their laps.

We explore the collective consultation overhaul and detail what’s changing, the associated risks and how employers should prepare.

8 May 2026

Statutory Sick Pay reforms — what’s changed?

Blurred group of people walking in a line past a wooden-paneled wall with a clock, seen through glass doors, in an indoor setting.

We explore the changes to Statutory Sick Pay that are due to come into effect from 6 April 2026 and outline what they’ll mean for employers.

8 May 2026

Trade union reform under the Employment Rights Act — trends, priorities & planning implications

A microphone in the foreground with a large crowd of people holding signs and banners in the background during a protest or rally.

We break down the latest and upcoming trade union reforms — from ballot changes and electronic voting to wider union access and new employer duties.

22 April 2026

Hugh’s Law — statutory paid leave for parents of critically & seriously ill children

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We explore Brentford FC’s landmark adoption of Hugh’s Law and its wider implications for supporting parents of critically ill children.

2 April 2026

April 2026 changes to NMW, statutory payments & employment tribunal awards

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We discuss the increases to statutory payments, national minimum wage rates and unfair dismissal compensation from April 2026.

16 March 2026

Cross-border executive appointments — key UK tax & corporate considerations

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We outline the key payroll, tax and governance issues that overseas companies typically face when appointing a UK‑based executive.

9 March 2026

Managing tax risks for internationally mobile employees — 6 practical steps for employers

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We outline the key UK tax issues for employers sending staff to the UK and highlight steps to stay compliant while maximising reliefs.

2 March 2026

Autumn Budget 2025 — what international businesses need to know about UK tax changes

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We break down what the Budget means for international employers, investors and multinational groups.

26 February 2026

The evolution of LGBTQ+ rights at work — landmark cases that transformed UK employment law

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We explore how attitudes, rights and workplace protections for LGBTQ+ people have shifted over the past four decades.

17 February 2026

Settlement agreement FAQs

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Find answers to our most frequently asked questions about settlement agreements and executive severance from our specialist employment lawyers.

12 February 2026

Unfair dismissal reform under the Employment Rights Act 2025 marks a significant shift for employers

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We explore what the changes will mean in practice — from the new six‑month qualifying period to the removal of the statutory cap on the compensatory award.

12 February 2026

Supporting employees during Ramadan — a guide for employers

We explain how employers can build supportive, inclusive environments that recognise both personal needs and organisational realities during Ramadan.

11 February 2026

The Fair Work Agency — the quietly radical reform set to reshape UK employment enforcement

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We discuss what the Fair Work Agency is, what powers it’ll hold and what businesses should be doing now to prepare.

11 February 2026

Employment Rights Act roadmap — what’s changing & when

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We break down the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) — what’s changing, when it’s happening and how you can prepare.

10 February 2026

Reversing DEI commitments? Essential legal guidance for employers

Three women are having a discussion in a modern, sunlit cafe with large windows, wooden flooring, and stylish furniture, including a hanging wicker chair.

We explain the legal issues that ‘rolling back’ DEI can create and offer some practical guidance to ensure that your organisation remains compliant.

6 February 2026

McLaren v Palou — 5 legal lessons for drafting & managing sports contracts

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We examine the consequences of Palou’s defection and the wider lessons for businesses negotiating contracts with athletes or other high‑value individuals.

21 January 2026