Partnerships & LLPs
Our Approach & Track Record
GQ|Littler is the leading employment law firm for employers in the UK and Ireland. 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 more than 1,800 lawyers practising across 30 countries in over 100 offices.
What makes us different:
- Experts in High Court employment and LLP litigation
- However complex the issue, we get off the fence to give you clear advice, not just options
- Committed to fee flexibility and transparency
Our team advises on the full range of partnership and LLP legal issues from difficult day-to-day policy issues to complex partner exits and team moves. We are one of the few high-end employment firms working in this area to offer specialist employment litigation expertise for partnerships and LLPs, with experience of employment tribunal, arbitration and High Court proceedings.
We also have substantial expertise advising clients in the financial services and professional services sectors many of whom trade using LLPs.
Although LLPs have become a popular business structure in the City, the law in this area is different from traditional partnership law and relatively undeveloped. Not only do we have in-depth expertise in this area of practice, but we understand the market norms. We also advise on:
- Partner/member exits.
- Age-discrimination issues.
- Team moves and restrictive covenants.
- Salaried members rules.
- Mergers and acquisitions.
- Application of employment and worker rights.
We understand the cultural sensitivities that arise when dealing with partners and offer a business-aligned service to address the frustration of receiving academic legal advice without clear recommendations.
We are members of the Association of Partnership Practitioners (APP).
Our Team's Experience
New partners
When you bring a new partner on board, or if you are joining a new firm or LLP, it is critical that you have done your due diligence and your adviser understands the relevant dynamics and potential loopholes. Our experience includes:
- Advising a major law firm on the acquisition of bolt-on practices, including TUPE implications and new partner admissions.
- Advising a highly successful boutique investment bank on day-to-day partnership matters including documenting joiners and leavers.
- Advising a boutique finance house on new partner joiners.
Partnership policy issues
We are highly experienced in advising partnerships of all sizes on how to manage their policies to minimise the risk of claims and have practical experience of the policies that are applied in practice. Our experience includes:
- Advising a Big Four accountancy firm on its partner retirement policy to take account of age discrimination issues.
- Advising a UK magic circle law firm on partnership policy on retirement and dealing with age discrimination issues.
- Advising a hedge fund on salaried member rules and converting the employment status of the senior team.
Complex partner exits and disputes
We are well known for expertise in High Court disputes and arbitration which is essential in the partnership context and includes:
- Advising a Swiss hedge fund on an acrimonious partnership dispute involving allegations of age discrimination and a dispute over carried interest.
- Acting for a group of partners of a law firm collapse in relation to protection of tax reserve in the fact of sale or insolvency.
- Advising the consultant to an asset management partnership in a multi-million-pound dispute involving multiple arbitrations and a High Court claim.
- Advising a major accountancy firm in relation to a sex discrimination claim brought by a disgruntled partner on exit.
Team moves and business protection
Hiring a partner or group of partners or launching a new competing business can be stressful and legally problematic. Few partners understand that they owe more onerous duties than most employees. Our experience includes:
- Advising a partner in a Big Four accountancy firm in relation to a team move.
- Advising a partner in a Big Four accountancy firm in relation to an age discrimination case and achieving a settlement on favourable terms following mediation.
- Advising a partnership in relation to breach of restrictive covenants by a departing partner.
- Advising an LLP private equity manager on a dispute with a former member over non-compete and bad leaver provisions in a Scots law LP agreement.
What Others Say:
"We've been working with GQ|Littler for more than two years now and we're continually impressed by their prompt responses and professional manner. They've guided us through multiple international engagements, drafted numerous agreements, and seamlessly engaged regional counsel where required."
Dr. Ben Fielding, Co-Founder - Gensyn
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