Employment law and service contracts for technology businesses

For any business or organisation, people are one of the most important and valuable assets. In the technology sector, this is especially important as the knowledge and insight that can potentially be lost when an employee exits a business can be especially valuable to competitors. 

Restrictive covenants can be a powerful tool in protecting a business in the technology sector. They protect business value and can buy you valuable time when you are under threat from competition after an employee or director leaves. The most commonly used are non-compete restrictions, which essentially keep a former employee from competing with your business in any way for a certain amount of time. Other types of restrictive covenant prevent solicitation of key customers or contacts, prevent the poaching of staff members and protect your confidential information.

Our expert team advises on how best to draft and manage employment contracts for business in the technology sector, in order to use restrictive covenants to effectively protect their business and their intellectual property. We also advise businesses on how to reduce the threat of claims arising, particularly when recruiting new employees and in situations involving team moves.

We are also aware with how the win or loss of a contract can result in the transfer of employees either into or out of a business under TUPE. Our experts regularly advise clients on how to navigate this complex area, on how TUPE will impact them and how they can best meet their obligations and protect their businesses.

We have a wealth of experience advising on the full spectrum of HR issues. Our HR advisory services help technology businesses with every aspect of the management of their workforce, adding value to their HR function and helping them achieve consistently better outcomes. We provide pragmatic solutions, not just legal opinions, and can work as part of an HR department, act as an HR consultant or advise senior management directly. 

Our HR advisory services offer support and advice on the full employment lifecycle, including:

• recruitment and on-boarding
• immigration and mobility
• pay – reward and benefits 
• policies and procedures
• developing and training employees 
• exit and severances. 

The fast-moving nature of the technology sector means finding the right people is crucial to the success of a business. Therefore, considering the talent pool from an international perspective can keep businesses ahead of their competition. By combining legal, HR and strategic expertise we address the legal and regulatory issues around mobility projects and international assignments as simply as possible. Furthermore, our immigration services can assist clients to get the right people to work in the UK with the right documentation at a cost which is right for their organisation.

Our experience includes successfully advising and representing a technology company in the Employment Tribunal to achieve the strike out of an unfair dismissal and disability discrimination claim brought by an ex-employee.