James Willis

Senior Associate

Specialisms and expertise

James provides employment law advice to both employers and employees and advises on all aspects of employment law. James regularly pursues and defends Employment Tribunal claims of all types, including unfair dismissal, breach of contract and discrimination. He also spends a considerable amount of his time providing advice and support to HR managers and directors in relation to the handling of grievances, disciplinaries, performance management, absenteeism, redundancy and restructuring situations.

James frequently works with the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Team, advising on employee due diligence and the often complicated employee transfer implications (TUPE) which arise out of the sale or acquisition of businesses.

Examples of some of James’ work over the past 12 months include:

• Acting for an employer, James successfully negotiated the withdrawal of claims for unfair dismissal and breach of contract brought by two individuals who claimed that they ought to have transferred into our client’s employment under TUPE.
• Acting for an employer, James successfully negotiated the withdrawal of claims for unfair dismissal, sexual orientation discrimination and disability discrimination and settled the remaining claim of gender reassignment discrimination for a commercially attractive sum worth a few thousand pounds.
• Acting for an employer, James successfully negotiated the settlement of a claim for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination for a sum worth a few thousand pounds, when the claimant originally claimed just under £180,000.
• Acting for a senior employee, James advised on the negotiation of a termination package, which resulted in a significant improvement in his client’s redundancy terms; his final package amounted to six months’ payment in lieu of notice plus a compensation payment of £117,000.
• Acting for a senior employee, James advised on the negotiation of a termination package, resulting in an increase in compensation of £44,500.
• Acting for a senior employee, James advised on the negotiation of a termination package under which the restrictive covenants to which the employee would otherwise have been subject were waived, in addition to him receiving a six figure compensation payment.

The team within which James works has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the region by Chamber & Partners and the Legal 500. Chambers & Partners 2011 described the guidance that the team provides as “utterly invaluable”.

Types of clients

James primarily advises businesses of varying sizes, as well as directors and senior employees.

Profile

James qualified as a lawyer in 2001. He joined Thomson Snell & Passmore shortly before he qualified, completing his professional training with the firm. He has since been promoted to the position of Senior Associate.