Trade union solicitors

Our expert trade union dispute solicitors provide you with peace of mind in the management of highly sensitive, highly charged situations.

If your organisation operates in a sector or industry where the risk of industrial action is part and parcel of what you do, there is no doubt that you're likely to need advice from an outside source at times of increased industrial unrest. Disputes and strikes can be costly for productivity, service delivery and reputation, causing significant financial and reputational damage in many cases.

The law around industrial action can be susceptible to changes in the prevailing political climate. We can help you navigate any uncertainty and get to grips with any new rules or restrictions. The Trade Union Act 2016 made it more difficult for unions to call strikes resulting in more industrial disputes ending up in court. Tough restrictions on strike activity prompted unions to become more proactive in general to achieve a more engaged membership, ready to respond when industrial action is envisaged.

However, a change in focus is anticipated, with prescriptive legislation potentially being rolled back and unions being given greater flexibility to organise and conduct strike action once again. We can support you to maintain strong and positive employee relations against this shifting backdrop.

Why choose our trade union solicitors?

Weightmans' specialist team can help in a number of ways, from advising on consultations designed to avoid subsequent disputes, to assisting or dealing directly with industrial relations issues. We can help you to formulate strategy and negotiate with trade unions and of course, if necessary, manage any litigation on behalf of your organisation.

We know the law around industrial action inside out and can give you timely, practical advice to help you negotiate your way through the complexities of an industrial dispute. We will work collaboratively with your organisation to achieve resolution, taking care to ensure that working relationships with your recognised Trade Unions remain intact.

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Nick Newman

Partner

Email Nick +44 (0)113 213 4091

About Nick:

He is skilled at advising company clients, including transport providers, haulage companies, care providers, NHS Trusts, owner managed businesses and many well-known household names, and charitable organisations, on both contentious and non-contentious matters and is praised for providing "invaluable support".

Nick regularly deals with Employment Tribunal litigation, including claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination, employment status, wages/national minimum wage, holiday pay, whistleblowing and TUPE. He has appeared in almost all of the Employment Tribunals in England and has also conducted his own advocacy in Scottish Tribunals and appeared in the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

Nick provides strategic, tactical advice on various matters such as disciplinary and grievance issues, TUPE, industrial relations, equal opportunities, redundancy processes, restrictive covenants and business protection and contractual disputes. He has advised on large scale matters such as the successful implementation of changes to terms and conditions impacting upon over a workforce of over 1,500 and other complex issues involving high-profile, media sensitive material together with the removal of Company directors.

Nick also provides bespoke client training including the delivery of in-house national training programmes.

Nick also acts for medium to high net worth individuals, including negotiating settlement agreements with payments up to approximately £500,000.

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