Melanie Stancliffe

I lead the Employment team with Dr. Sybille Steiner, having trained at Pritchard Englefield and become a partner in 2002. I advise both individuals and businesses on the full range of employment issues such as advising on employment contracts and internal policies. I regularly negotiate the terms of termination agreements, including bonus, share option, non-competition, confidential information and pension issues. I am also experienced in advising upon thorny disciplinary (including social media abuses), bonus and partnership issues. I regularly advise upon the sales and mergers of businesses, the implications of TUPE and changing terms of employment (including pensions). I am an expert in dealing with individual and group redundancies (including advising employee representatives).

I have particular expertise in the conduct and defence of complex discrimination and unfair dismissal claims (including whistle-blowing). Advising on the validity and enforcing of non-competition and confidentiality restrictions is another area of strength. I regularly conduct and defend cases in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeals Tribunal, Court of Appeal and the High Court (injunctions) and deal with the Financial Services Authority. The mainstay of my work is the drafting of executives' contracts of employment, consultancy agreements and compromise agreements.

I am a member of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA), the Association of Women Solicitors and the Industrial Law Society, and have contributed to DTI/BERR consultations on new employment legislation. As an English-qualified solicitor with French law qualifications, part of my practice involves advising in French. I am a member of the Chambre de Commerce Française en Grande-Bretagne, on the Council of the Jeune Chambre de Commerce Franco-Britannique and Vice President of the PLG Labour Law MIG.