Three Senior Lawyers join M&A Support Team at employment law firm GQ|Littler

Growing demand from US law firms to outsource employment law advice on global deals 

GQ|Littler, the specialist global employment law firm, has appointed two new Partners and a Senior Associate to its growing M&A Support Team. The team provide dedicated employment advice related to M&A deals, MBOs, carve-outs, demergers and other major corporate transactions. 
 
The hires come as GQ|Littler expands its M&A Support Team to meet the growing demand from international businesses and large US firms that specialise in M&A and PE work and want to partner with the firm for UK and European employment law work. 
 
Nicola James, Partner, joins from Baker McKenzie, Laura Lobb, Partner, joins from CMS and Ed Belam joins as a Senior Associate from Marriott Harrison. 
 
Nicola James specialises in complex and international transactions including multi-jurisdictional carve outs, M&A, outsourcings, business transfers and reorganisations. She has also previously worked as senior employment counsel for NBCUniversal covering UK, EMEA and APAC. 
 
Laura Lobb brings over 14 years of experience advising on all areas of employment law and specialises in providing strategic support in relation to the employment aspects of commercial transactions.  Laura has particular expertise in handling complex M&A and outsourcing arrangements. She joins from CMS and previously worked at Herbert Smith Freehills and Pinsent Masons. 
 
Ed Belam specialises in corporate transactions, especially those concerning transfers of undertakings when a business comes under new management. He previously trained and qualified at corporate law firm Howard Kennedy.  
 
Daniel Pollard, Partner at GQ|Littler says: “The US “white shoe” firms that focus on PE or other M&A deals are increasingly unlikely to want to have their own employment teams outside of the US. That’s leading them to call upon employment law specialist firms like ourselves to help deal with labour and employment issues on deals.” 
 
“This allows them to focus on what they are good at and what is most profitable for them. The advantage of using us is that we do not compete with them. We also have the bench depth to handle a number of large international transactions at the same time.   Members of our team also focus on employment litigation, employee tax, incentives and immigration which is hugely valuable to have on the same platform.  
 
As part of Littler Global we are seeing a substantial increase in large international deals and Laura, Nicola and Ed will help increase our ability to service this work.” 
 
Jon Gilligan, Managing Partner at GQ|Littler says: “We’re delighted to welcome Laura, Nicola and Ed to the growing M&A support team. Their considerable experience and expertise will help GQ|Littler meet the needs of our clients and referrers undertaking large and complex deals.” 
  
About GQ|Littler 
 
GQ|Littler is a leading specialist employment law firm and the London office of Littler, the largest global employment and labour law practice devoted exclusively to representing management. With more than 1,600 lawyers in over 100 offices worldwide, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. 
 
Offering risk-based contentious and non-contentious advice, our legal expertise includes employment, immigration, data privacy and employee tax and incentives. Our client base spans a wide range of sectors including financial services, technology, healthcare, professional services and luxury goods, in the UK and internationally. 
 
GQ|Littler is recognised as a leader in its field by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. The firm is noted for “carving out a reputation in the employment sphere” and offering the “experience, technical expertise and quality of advice of a magic circle law firm, but with the personal touch and client-focus of a boutique firm”. 
 
To better understand the myriad forces transforming the European workplace and the actions employers are taking in response, see Littler’s 2021 European Employer Survey Report. Littler surveyed more than 530 human resources executives, in-house attorneys and business leaders based mainly across Western and Southern Europe.