Stephen C.M. Ratcliffe

Stephen's practice encompasses a broad spectrum of domestic and international employment matters, including the employment aspects of M&A and outsourcings, as well as day to day HR matters. Stephen has particular experience in the more technical aspects of domestic and multi-jurisdictional employment matters, misclassification (including related employment tax issues), holiday pay, and equal pay, including designing and conducting equal pay audits. He co-Chairs Firm's European Working Group on Workplace Investigations, as well as leading its work on the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

Stephen's substantial experience in employment litigation extends from cases brought by individual litigants to those brought on behalf of thousands of claimants. He has litigated appeals at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Court of Justice of the European Union and continues to lead the most strategic litigation for some of the Firm's largest clients.

• Successful defence of multi-strand discrimination and whistleblowing claim for which compensation of GBP 19 million sought.
• Negotiation of HR aspects of multi-jurisdictional carve-out of EMEA business of consumer goods manufacturer.
• 60+ jurisdiction advice on contingent worker compliance issues in tech sector.
• Multi-jurisdictional equal pay audit for healthcare sector business encompassing review of potential material factor defences.
• Led workplace investigations raising conflict of belief issues for tech sector client.
• Led multi-jurisdictional restructuring programme for pharmaceutical sector client involving cross-jurisdiction coordination of consultation obligations.
• Negotiation of HR aspects of acquisition of consumer goods manufacturer, including consultancy agreement with founder.

• Law Society of England & Wales
• Employment Lawyers Association