Employment law solicitors in Manchester

Based near St Peter’s Square, our Manchester specialists offer clear, strategic legal advice across the full spectrum of employment matters.

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Award-winning employment law experts serving Manchester

A ‘Top Tier’ firm for employment law according to major directory The Legal 500, we combine unrivalled legal acumen with a clear commercial focus.

Our services for employers and senior professionals encompass:

Contracts, policies & procedures — helping employers to put in place employment contracts, director service agreements and a complete suite of HR policies and procedures.
Disputes & litigation — strategic guidance on defending tribunal claims of all kinds, including unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing.
Immigration — helping organisations to secure sponsor licences, bring skilled talent to the UK and remain compliant with all Home Office sponsor duties.
Redundancy & restructuring — practical advice to support difficult workforce changes while protecting employee interests and your organisation’s reputation, including around TUPE.
Recruitment & workforce solutions — advising recruiters on all areas of employment law including agency worker compliance, modern slavery, national minimum wage investigations and worker status.
Reproductive health — advice for employers on supporting staff affected by reproductive health challenges.
Restrictive covenants & post termination restrictions — guidance for employers and individuals on the enforceability of non-compete, non-solicitation, non-dealing and non-poaching clauses, together with advice on disputes concerning breaches of restrictive covenants.
Settlement agreements & exits — bespoke, strategic advice on settlement agreements and senior exit and executive severance arrangements for individuals.
Trade union & industrial relations — support for employers looking to manage union relationships and build a clear, focused industrial relations strategy and advising on industrial action and injunctive relief.
Training — bespoke employment law training for HR professionals, managers and in-house legal teams, with the aim of reducing legal claims.

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

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One of the largest employment law teams in Manchester & the country

With over 30 dedicated lawyers and support staff covering all aspects of employment law, we’re one of the biggest specialist teams in England and Wales.

We handle complex and non-contentious employment matters on behalf of employers of all sizes, including large household names.

Our solicitors bring deep understanding and knowledge of industry-specific challenges that employers face across construction, healthcare, hospitality, housing, manufacturing, professional services, recruitment, retail, sport and more. We also help employers to navigate legislative changes, such as the Employment Rights Act.

Members of our team are individually recognised as ‘Leading Partners’, ‘Next Generation Partners’ and ‘Key Lawyers’ in The Legal 500, a leading legal industry directory.

Our team routinely advises businesses and individuals right across the Greater Manchester region, including the city centre, Stockport and Salford.

We also cover the villages and towns across Cheshire, such as Alderley Edge, Knutsford and Wilmslow.

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Meet our Manchester employment team

Nick Campbell

Partner, Head of Department: Employment, Pensions and Immigration

Simon Whitehead

Partner, Head of Recruitment & Workforce Solutions

Lee Jefcott

Partner

View all

A ‘Top Tier’ Manchester 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

A baby's hand gently gripping an adult's finger, focusing on the hands with a soft, blurred background.

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

A woman in a white cable-knit sweater sitting at a wooden desk near a window, working on a laptop with green foliage outside.

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

A man and woman sitting on a grey sofa in a modern office lounge, looking at a tablet together with a laptop and two coffee cups on the black table.

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

Four diverse professionals are engaged in a discussion around a tablet in a modern office setting, with a large plant and green accent wall in the background.

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

People in business suits leaning over a table with laptops and documents, with a digital hologram of a globe and data visualisation projecting above.

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

A man and woman sit on a Couch with colourful cushions and look at a tablet together in a modern, glass-walled lounge area with a grey circular rug.

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