Jayne Holliday
Legal Director - Employment Law
"I am an employment lawyer, specialising in supporting businesses with pragmatic and commercial advice on HR and best practice.”
I have almost 30 years experience in employment law and cover a breadth of legal issues but my expertise has developed in providing HR best practice advice and guidance, representing clients in employment tribunal and managing exits from businesses for senior executives, whether acting for the employer or employee.
I have a reputation for giving practical and commercial advice that, whilst legally compliant and managing a client’s risk, is balanced against the need to make prompt and commercially sensible decisions.
- I have a number of longstanding clients who come to me for guidance and support on dealing with day to day HR issues, such as managing poor performance or behaviours from staff, or handling more discrete issues such as redundancies or grievances.
- Defending a business in a claim by a former employee claiming unfair selection for redundancy and age discrimination. Representing the company at a mediation hearing where the claimant dropped the age discrimination claim and accepted a considerably lower settlement as a result.
- Negotiated an exit package for a senior director of a business which incorporated compensation for loss of office, loss of bonus and other benefits, share options and negotiated a release from a long restrictive covenant.
- Managing the exit from a business of a disenchanted senior manager who had the potential to damage the company’s reputation and who may have been followed by a number of colleagues. Assisted the business in negotiating a settlement that was favourable for the manager but which also incorporated restrictive covenants which prevented him from poaching former colleagues.
- Advising and supporting a client on a complex and emotive grievance by a number of employees against a manager alleging sexual harassment and homophobia. Guided the client through the investigation process to ensure compliance whilst protecting the rights of the various employees involved. Whilst initially denying the allegations, when presented with the investigation evidence, the accused employee chose to resign from the business.
More about me
Interesting fact
I went to the same school as Lenny Henry
Favourite place
Lake District
Joined Higgs
First time 1989, second time 2021
Favourite quote
“Can open, worms everywhere!” – Chandler Bing
Latest insights from Jayne Holliday
Meet the team
Tim Jones
Partner and Head of Employment Law
Debra Cottam
Principal Associate - Employment Law
Katherine Cooke
Senior Associate - Employment Law
Jo Walker
Principal Associate - Employment Law
Kate Woodhouse
Trainee Solicitor - Employment Law