Helen Burgess - Gateley

Expertise

Helen advises on all aspects of employment law and HR practice across many sectors, with extensive experience in advising clients in the manufacturing and retail sectors. Her particular specialisms are: corporate transactions and commercial transfers, reorganisations and large scale redundancies, managing and negotiating senior exits, trade union-related issues and disputes, tricky grievances and dismissals, and complex, sensitive and/or multi-claimant tribunals.

Helen undertook a formal 6-month secondment to The Open University. Informally, she worked alongside Thomas Cook and Staples in relation to specific projects as their sole dedicated advisor.

How do you help clients?

I help clients manage their people, and people issues, in the most compassionate, pragmatic and commercial way.

Experience

Advising on the employment aspects of the purchase of Derby County Football Club out of administration.
Carrying out an investigation for a global manufacturer of cleaning supplies involving allegations of bullying, harassment, and race discrimination following complaints being received by the employer about an employee trade union representative.
Supporting a multi-academy trust following the raising of a sensitive and complex grievance by one employee against another.
Assisting a client in respect of the exit of their Managing Director following allegations of gross misconduct.
Providing advice and support to C-suite and executive level individuals on their exits from their employers, and the resultant settlement agreements.

I find Helen Burgess to be outstanding. She quickly grasps complex situations and her advice is always well-considered, appropriate, and helpful. I work for a very small organisation with many constraints and I feel that Helen appreciates that and adapts accordingly.
Legal 500 2025

We have dealt with Helen Burgess for many many years and we followed her when she moved to Gateley. We have always found her to be extremely professional and very pragmatic in finding solutions that suit the business. She has always gone out of her way to be available when required and extremely prompt in dealing with any matter.
Legal 500 2025

Helen has provided excellent legal advice on complex cases.
Chambers and Partners, 2024

Helen is flexible, responsive and able to see the big picture.
Chambers and Partners, 2024

I can’t rate Helen highly enough. She’s been a fantastic support over the years we have worked together.
Chambers UK 2023

Helen Burgess represents the best in what a company can draw from external technical assistance. A relationship based on honesty and trust, underpinned by outstanding legal knowledge, practical experience, and commercial judgment. You know you’re [in] safe hands.
Legal 500 2022

I've worked with Helen for a number of years now and she is amazing to work with. Her advice is first class; commercially focused and very practical. Some of the cases have been fairly complex and Helen always remembers all the details and makes you feel that you're the only client she is dealing with. I cannot recommend Helen enough.
(ex-HRD at client manufacturing company)

Helen is a highly personable and credible Employment Law Solicitor who is an expert in her field. I've sought Helen's expert advice on some highly sensitive and complicated matters over the years and she always delivers prompt, well thought through, commercial and practical advice. She is a true professional and a pleasure to work with.
(Head of HR at client software company)

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