Trade Union & Industrial Relations

Expert legal advice, services and strategy for employers on managing trade union and industrial relations.

Our award-winning employment lawyers help employers manage their trade union relationships and develop a clear, proactive industrial relations strategy.

Whether you’re a large national employer, a public sector body or an SME, navigating the increasingly complex industrial relations landscape can be challenging.

To minimise the potential for reputational damage and the risk of operational disruption, employers need to engage early and develop a robust industrial relations strategy.

We have many years’ experience working with HR leaders, in-house legal teams and business owners who operate in a unionised or union-facing environment.

We routinely advise clients of all sectors, including those in manufacturing and supply chain, logistics, healthcare, infrastructure, education, retail (in leisure and hospitality) and professional services. This often includes work on complex, high-profile trade union issues.

Our team will work closely with you to gain a deep understanding of your situation and help you to formulate a bespoke, proactive and commercially-driven strategy.

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

Trade unions: what employers need to know

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Webinar: Are you ready for unfair dismissal reforms?

From 1 January 2027, the statutory cap on the compensatory award for unfair dismissal cases will be removed and the qualifying period for claims will reduce from two years to six months. Watch our webinar replay now to get practical guidance on the changes and what they mean.

Watch now

Helping employers manage trade union relationships

The industrial relations landscape is becoming increasingly challenging. Many employers are facing a renewed wave of trade union activity — demands for recognition, collective bargaining and industrial action.

The Employment Rights Act (ERA) is set to accelerate this trend. It will introduce reforms that lower the threshold for union recognition, expand union access rights in the workplace and extend protections for union members and reps.

This makes a clear, constructive industrial relations strategy all the more important.

You may be facing a recognition request, preparing for collective bargaining or responding to industrial action. Our award-winning team of trade union solicitors provide employers with:

Advice on trade union engagement, recognition and derecognition
Support with collective consultation and bargaining frameworks
Industrial action planning and injunctions
Representation in industrial action planning, disputes, injunctions and tribunal and CAC claims
Support with collective redundancy and TUPE consultation
Training for HR and leadership teams on union rights, obligations and ERA reforms

Our multidisciplinary team may also be able to support you more broadly on HR and employment law, whether that’s on contracts and policies, senior exits, investigations or something else.

Talk to us

“Brabners helped us navigate a complex union recognition request with clarity and confidence. Their advice was strategic, commercial, and always one step ahead.”
HR Director, National Logistics Provider

“Brabners is my go-to firm when I need any help from a legal perspective. The employment team is always brilliant to deal with — helpful, speaking in plain English (not legal jargon) and commercial in outlook and approach.”
Client feedback, Legal 500, 2027

“Brabners' employment team, led by Nick Campbell, is very much an extension of our in-house HR team. We rely on them for their depth of knowledge of employment law and their ability to translate that into commercial solutions.”
Client feedback, Legal 500, 2027

Award-winning trade union relations solicitors, support and legal advice

Our trade union service offering is led by Nick Campbell. A Partner, our Head of Employment and a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer, Nick brings decades of experience advising employers on union strategy, collective disputes and workforce change.

The wider employment law team is one of the largest in the North and one of the country’s most respected. We are routinely recognised in The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, two leading industry directories, and are also members of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA).

We combine deep employment law expertise with real-world industrial relations insight. You’ll benefit from:

A dedicated employment team with national reach and sector specialisms
A collaborative approach that integrates legal, HR and reputational considerations
A track record of resolving disputes before they escalate
Clear, practical advice, not just legal theory

Our lawyers are known for their responsiveness. We’re not just reactive — we help clients build resilient, future-proof frameworks for union engagement, with an emphasis on early engagement.

Meet the team

Nick Campbell

Partner, Head of Department: Employment, Pensions and Immigration

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Andrew Graham

Partner

Joseph Shelston

Partner

Get in touch

Trade union relationships: FAQs

Trade unions & employment law: expert insights

16 October 2026

Andy Burnham signals reform of non-compete clauses — what could change?

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We explain the reforms that could be on the horizon and what employers should be doing now to prepare.

7 October 2026

Preventing sexual harassment — how employers can meet the new 'all reasonable steps' duty

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The changes taking effect in October 2026, what they mean in practice and how employers can strengthen their approach to prevention.

7 October 2026

Employment tribunal time limits doubled — 5 key priorities for employers

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We break down what’s changed, how the transitional provisions work and what employers need to be thinking about now.

6 October 2026

Landmark CAS ruling on pregnancy discrimination — 5 lessons for women’s football

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Learn more about the background to the case, why the ruling matters for maternity protections in women’s football and the key lessons for football clubs.

2 October 2026

MCC’s female membership consultation — what sports organisations need to know

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A look at what the MCC’s consultation may mean in practice, potential legal risks and considerations for organisations looking to increase representation.

15 September 2026

‘Fire & rehire’ practices to be outlawed under the Employment Rights Act

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We outline what employers need to know about the changes to fire and rehire, including four key steps to take in preparation.

9 September 2026

Holiday law changes from 2026 — what employers need to know & do

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We explore what the new record-keeping requirements mean for employers, the risks of non-compliance and steps that organisations should take now.

9 September 2026

Collective consultation overhaul — 3 key steps for employers

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

19 August 2026

DSARs in the age of AI — why you should resist the siren call of simplicity

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Our data protection team examines the risks of relying on oversimplified legal arguments in DSAR disputes and highlights key lessons for data controllers.

13 August 2026

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

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

11 August 2026

Beyond zero & low hours contracts — how can hospitality work remain flexible?

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The Government's 'ending one-sided flexibility' consultation signals significant change for hospitality employers. We explore what employers need to know.

4 August 2026

Day one paternity & parental leave — what the reforms mean for employers

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From 6 April 2026, paternity leave and unpaid parental leave have become day one rights. Here's what's changed and what it means in practice for employers.

29 July 2026

FIFA’s new landmark women coaches rule — what clubs & governing bodies need to know

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Competing in certain women’s tournaments must now include women in coaching roles on the bench. We explore the implications for clubs and NGBs.

22 July 2026

Brabners adds six to partnership in record year for partner promotions

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We've announced our largest-ever round of Partner promotions, with six lawyers joining the partnership following another year of sustained growth.

26 May 2026

FTT rules that football referees aren’t employees — key takeaways from PGMOL

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We explores how the FTT reached its decision and outline the key takeaways for businesses navigating employment status issues.

19 May 2026

New research shows rising workplace conflict in retail & hospitality — 5 key findings for employers

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We explore what the Acas research reveals and outline how retail and hospitality employers can respond early and effectively.

18 May 2026

Selling a healthcare business? 5 practical tips to consider

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We share five practical tips for those preparing to sell their healthcare business, focusing on preparation, timing and working with the right advisers.

11 May 2026