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

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Gus Hosein
Executive Director, Privacy International
“
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
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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

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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

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Celia McKeon
Chief Executive, The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT)
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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
“
I’ve taken WorkNest into every organisation that I’ve worked with. I’ve introduced them to many teams and many colleagues and referred them with absolute pleasure because I genuinely trust in the service that we get.”
People Director, The Works
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

False fires | Fire services in Scotland to stop attending automatic alarm call outs from 1 July
Blog Written by Ian Watson on 6 June 2023 Automatic fire detection and alarm systems protect buildings and their occupants by detecting a fire at

Updating the Equality Act definition of ‘sex’ | EHRC opinion and considerations for the workplace
BLOG Written by Alexandra Farmer on 30 May 2023 The Equality Act 2010 provides protection from discrimination on the grounds of a number of protected

Reasonable adjustments for mental health | Acas publishes new guidance for employers
BLOG Written by Alexandra Farmer on 17 May 2023 Mental health conditions can significantly impact an individual’s ability to perform their job effectively. For these

Government abandons ‘sunsetting’ provisions of Retained EU Law Bill
BLOG Written on 12 May 2023 In a move many had anticipated, the government has U-turned on its plan to automatically revoke most retained EU law

6 common long-term sick leave frustrations – and why you can’t just dismiss
BLOG Written by Susie Lockheart on 22 March 2023 The longer sickness absence drags on, the greater the cost to organisations. As such, employers are

New WorkNest Survey Identifies Alarming Link Between Financial Pressures and Employee Underperformance
NEWS Written on 14 March 2023 Our recent survey has revealed that almost half of employers (46%) believe financial pressures are one of the main external

‘Picking on’ or performance managing? How to address grievances from ‘sensitive’ staff
BLOG Written by Alexandra Farmer on 28 February 2023 Performance management is a crucial process that managers use to evaluate employee performance and identify areas

Revisiting performance management | How to avoid legal risks when getting your team back on track
BLOG Written by Emma Chandler on 28 February 2023 Managing your team’s performance is crucial to the success of your business, and the beginning of

King’s Coronation bank holiday | Do employees have a right to time off on 8 May?
BLOG Written by Alexandra Farmer on 24 February 2023 Many Brits enjoyed not one but two additional bank holidays in 2022: one to mark the Queen’s Platinum