Financial Services Sector

Our Approach & Track Record

GQ|Littler is the leading employment law firm for employers in the UK. We offer risk-based advice and litigation services on employment, immigration, employee tax and incentives issues. We work globally as part of Littler, the world’s largest employment law firm with over 1,500 lawyers in 80 offices worldwide.

What makes us different:

Financial sector focus
In house financial services expertise
Risk-based advice
We are a truly global employment boutique

Located in the heart of the City our practice focuses on the financial services sector. Our clients range from the largest investment banks to some of the newest and most innovative hedge funds.

Our sector expertise means we understand the challenges facing the sector including:

FCA/PRA Remuneration Code
Remuneration structures and practices
Dismissals and investigations in a regulatory context
FCA/PRA-compliant employment policies and documentation
SMR & CP regime, conduct rules and regulatory references

Many of our lawyers have worked in-house at, or have been on secondment to, some of the world’s leading banks. Our team also includes partners who had key HR roles in the City during the financial crisis.

Our Team's Experience

Regulatory Investigations

Advising a global investment bank on investigations and litigation concerning the LIBOR and FX scandals, including advice on EU data collections and transfer to regulatory agencies in the US.
Advising on the investigation into breaches of FCA regulations in an investment bank.
Advising a major investment bank in an investigation relating to an alleged fraud perpetrated by a city trader and his team in conjunction with the FCA and SFO.

Transactional

Advising RBS on its takeover of ABN AMRO and subsequent 53 country integration.
Advising administrators of Lehman Brothers on employment law issues across EMEA, involving overseas insolvency regimes, unwinding offshore employee benefit trust structures and legacy tax/NICs issues.
Advising RBS on the disposal of its treasury funds business to Goldman Sachs.

Advisory

Advising a global investment bank on a 30 country IT outsourcing project.
Advising a global investment bank on the outsourcing of its middle office functions.
Advising a global investment bank, an asset manager and a hedge fund in relation to bonus scheme compliance with FCA and AIFMD remuneration regulations, including application of bonus forfeiture and claw-back rules.
Advising a FTSE listed investment bank on the exit of a main board director involving a £1.5m severance and advice on share options.
Advising investment banks on general disciplinary/grievance issues involving approved persons.
Advising a challenger bank on a new suite of risk-based employment documentation, including bespoke SMR- compliant employment contracts and policy documentation, and working on an ongoing retainer to advise the bank on a range of HR issues.

Litigation

Defending a bank against one of the largest multi-party bonus claims ever.
Defending a bank on a multi-million pound sex discrimination/victimisation claim and negotiating a favourable settlement.
Successfully defending an international financial services institution against a high value disability and sex discrimination claim.
Successfully defending a global investment bank against a group action claim brought by 50 individuals alleging the transfer of their employment and failure to comply with information and consultation obligations.
Defended a FTSE 250 financial institution against a highly complex multi-million pound High Court claim brought by a former consultant, and successfully obtaining security for costs.

What others say:

“Highly experienced boutique employment law firm offering expert advice to large financial services clients and other high-profile organisations”

Chambers and Partners, 2018

Get in touch with us

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News & Views on Financial Services

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We explore how misconduct should be dealt with in the financial services sector.Read More »

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