Employment Law & HR
Taking care of employment law issues in any organisation, large or small, can be a time-consuming and difficult task.
If you don’t employ an in-house team, or your team don’t have the necessary expertise to deal with more complex matters, our pragmatic Employment Law & HR support takes the hassle out of managing employee issues and minimises your risk of an Employment Tribunal claim.
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COVID-19 | FREE expert guidance for employers, including sample policies, template risk assessments and more

Fixed-Fee Service
Unlimited advice from dedicated experts, bespoke document drafting and all the tools you need to manage people problems quickly and compliantly.

HR Training
Created and delivered by experienced consultants, our interactive HR training workshops are designed to upskill your team and develop manager confidence.

HR Consultancy
Facing a difficult employee dilemma that you don’t want to deal with alone? Our range of HR Consultancy services give you hands-on support from seasoned HR specialists.
95% Client satisfaction rate - 97% Client retention rate
Experts in Employment Law & HR
Why choose us?
At Ellis Whittam, we’re known for our bespoke service and the quality of our support. Not only is our expertise unmatched, but we take the time to know you so that we can function as a true extension of your team.
- Your own small team of dedicated experts
- Commercial, pragmatic advice tailored to you
- Bespoke contracts, policies and handbooks
- Trusted by over 35,000 organisations
- Recognised as a leading firm by the Legal 500
Who you'll be working with

James Tamm
Director of Legal Services

Kim Clarke
Head of Team

Toyah Marshall
Principal Employment Law Adviser
Colleague Spotlight

Adele Blinkhorn
HR Consultancy Manager
Client stories

“
Our relationship with WorkNest is more like a supportive partnership. They treat us like peers, and yet provide extraordinary support whenever we need it. Whether it is about the challenges of working through a pandemic or building a new HR strategy, the people at WorkNest have been kind, holding our hand when that was needed (and it was!) and skilled
experts, providing guidance as we required it. We would not have managed through this last period without them, and I look forward to more of this cooperation ahead.”
“
WorkNest supports our 280 staff members with Employment Law and Health & Safety and has provided quality management training too.”
Lisa Best
Head of Service Delivery, Catalyst Choice
“
We get a great deal of comfort and satisfaction knowing that we have support as and when we need it, in a decisive and responsive way.”
Richard Berry
Group HR Director, Culina Group

“
We moved our legal support to WorkNest (formerly Law at Work) having previously used a time and line law firm. It was important, though, that an all-inclusive fee structure did not come at the expense of quality. Thankfully we’ve been delighted with the service we’ve received from WorkNest.”
Chief Executive
Waverley Care
“
What we recognised in WorkNest is the background that they have. They are able to supply knowledge and experience in a number of disciplines, which enables us to develop our business in a way that’s safe, to do it on time and with a quality to it.”
Debbie Rainbow
Director of Human Resources and Health & Safety,
Bluestone National Park Resort

“
Celia McKeon
Chief Executive, The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT)
“
As the company started to get larger, we knew we had to protect our employees and our contractors both onsite and in the offices. WorkNest is exactly what we needed to move the company forward.”
Joanne Beaver
Operations Director, Beaverfit

“
Pineapple have worked with the team at WorkNest (formerly Law at Work) since 2003, and we have built a trusted partnership together. We particularly like WorkNest’s concise and practical advice concerning employment law/HR issues and also appreciate their totally supportive approach in all areas of health and safety.”
General Manager
Pineapple Dance Studios
Better with EW
Owing to our unrivalled support and expertise, we’re consistently high achievers when it comes to protecting organisations and achieving results.
6x
More solicitors
We have six times the number of qualified solicitors, practising for over five years, than any of our larger competitors. We’re also recognised by the Legal 500.
82%
Tribunal win rate
With a dedicated adviser in your corner to guide you through the process, you’re over eight times more likely to defeat a Tribunal claim if advised by Ellis Whittam.
300
Years' experience
Our Legal Team has a combined total of over 300 years’ experience of resolving problems, so you can be sure you’re receiving the best possible advice.
45%
Cheaper than a law firm
When we work out our fixed fees, we assume a charge rate that is typically 45% less than the hourly cost of a law firm, meaning you get exceptionally good value for money.
Proud to support over 35,000 UK employers










Resources
Explore Employment Law & HR news and resources

Do ADHD and autism qualify as a disability? | Understanding the Equality Act 2010 and new case law
BLOG Written on 14 July 2025 When an employee discloses that they have ADHD or autism, many employers find themselves asking: Is this classed as

Privacy vs practicality | Are you entitled to know the reason for an employee’s sickness absence?
BLOG Written on 14 July 2025 When an employee calls in sick, it’s natural for employers to want to understand the situation. However, questions around

Education | What school leaders need to know about September 2025 pay changes
BLOG Written on 9 July 2025 As we near the end of the summer term, headteachers, school business managers and senior Trust staff, along with

Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap | Your quick guide to what’s coming when
BLOG Written on 4 July 2025 The Employment Law Bill promises the biggest shake-up of UK employment law in decades. Having recently cleared the Committee

Fewer lives lost | Key takeaways from the HSE’s 2024/25 fatal injury statistics
Blog Written on 3 July 2025 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its provisional fatal injury statistics for 2024/25, revealing a welcome decline

Candidate feedback | The secret superpower that can strengthen your recruitment process
BLOG Written by Danielle Fargnoli-Read on 25 June 2025 Let’s be honest – recruitment can be tough. You spend a lot of time writing job

New sentencing guidelines could see fines soar for very large organisations
BLOG Written on 23 June 2025 On 1 June 2025, the Sentencing Council introduced important amendments to its guidelines for health and safety, corporate manslaughter,

Don’t rely on AI | 5 areas where employers should exercise caution
BLOG Written by Amy Waters on 20 June 2025 Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are transforming the way employers manage their operations, from streamlining recruitment to

Can employers lawfully demote employees?
BLOG When faced with performance or conduct issues, employers may look for alternatives to dismissal – one of which is demotion. This usually means reducing