Our employment contract services

At Shakespeare Martineau, we take a bespoke approach to contract creation. We believe that a one-size-fits-all contract can often lead to unnecessary complications. Instead, we work alongside your team to fully understand your business’s operational and strategic needs, crafting contracts that are clear, enforceable, and aligned with your specific goals. Whether you are a growing business or an established corporation, our team is here to provide the expert guidance you need for a successful and compliant workforce.

We understand the importance of crafting contracts that not only reflect your immediate needs but also align with your long-term business goals, balancing the needs of employers with effective workforce management, which is key to reducing turnover and improving employee engagement.

Our attention to detail in contract drafting and review ensures that no critical aspect is overlooked. Whether it’s addressing confidentiality, intellectual property rights, or specific post-termination restrictions, we ensure that every clause is tailored to your unique situation.

Specialising in employment contract law

Contract review

We specialise in reviewing and updating existing employment contracts and policies to ensure compliance with current laws and regulations. Our experienced legal team conducts thorough assessments, identifying any potential risks or ambiguities, and provides actionable recommendations to enhance clarity and effectiveness in your agreements.

Tailored employee handbooks

We have the expertise to draft tailored employee handbooks that reflect your businesses’ unique culture and policies. Our legal professionals work closely with you to develop comprehensive handbooks that cover essential topics, ensuring that they meet legal standards while effectively communicating your workplace expectations and values to employees.

HR contract templates

To streamline your HR processes, we provide a range of contract templates designed for ongoing use. These templates are customisable to fit your specific business needs and can cover various employment scenarios. Our goal is to equip your HR team with effective tools that simplify contract creation while maintaining compliance.

Contract negotiations

We provide specialist legal advice for contract negotiations and amendments by guiding you through complex discussions, ensuring your interests are protected. We help mitigate potential risks and advocate for favourable terms, enabling you to achieve agreements that align with your business objectives confidently.

Why choose Shakespeare Martineau?

  • Our team offer prompt and professional service, whether through in-person meetings or virtual consultations, you can trust that our advice will be timely and professional, helping you feel confident in your legal matters, every step of the way
  • We provide advice that is not only pragmatic and quick but also easy to understand. Every lawyer in our firm is approachable, helpful, and committed to offering reliable legal solutions, making the process straightforward for clients
  • Our clear and easily understandable approach has kept clients coming back for years, knowing they can depend on us for comprehensive legal support time and time again
  • Our clients regularly highlight the exceptional expertise and professionalism of our lawyers. Our team cares deeply about every aspect of your case, ensuring you receive a thorough and attentive service
legal-500
multilaw-white

Tier 1 employment law services

We proudly maintain a Tier 1 ranking in Legal 500, backed by over 30 years of experience in employment law. With a robust presence in the East Midlands and offices in Leicester, Nottingham, and Lincoln, we are part of a widespread employment department spanning 11 locations throughout the UK.

Clear and precise contract drafting

We are renowned for our meticulous attention to detail in contract drafting, ensuring clarity and precision in every agreement. Our commitment to thoroughness helps minimise risks and protects your interests, providing peace of mind for both employers and employees.

Tailored agreements for executives

Our expertise lies in crafting bespoke agreements tailored for senior-level hires. We understand the unique requirements of executive contracts and work closely with you to create comprehensive documents that align with your strategic goals while ensuring compliance with current legislation.

Contract review and negotiation support

We offer a comprehensive service that encompasses contract review, drafting, and negotiation support. Our experienced team guides you through each stage of the process, ensuring you achieve favourable terms while adhering to the latest employment legislation and compliance requirements, all tailored to your specific needs.

Related services

Meet our employment contract solicitors

See More Team Members
David Browne

Partner & Head of Employment Law

Philip Pepper

Partner & Head of Commercial, IP & Employment

Nick Jones

Partner - Employment

Emma Oliver

Legal Director

Building a responsible business

Our commitment to sustainability and social impact

We are an accredited B Corporation that is committed to driving positive change in our communities, minimising our impact on the environment, and ensuring an all inclusive diverse and supportive culture for our people.

B-Corp-Logo-White-RGB

Wherever you are on your journey, our employment contract specialists are here to answer any questions you might have

If you’d like to speak to a member of our team, please fill out the enquiry form. We will aim to reply to your query within 2 hours

Need to talk to someone sooner? You can call use at the number below

Call Us: 0330 024 0333

employment contract FAQs

Due to frequently changing employment laws and HR best practices, businesses are advised to review their contracts annually to ensure they align with updated legislation and the company’s needs. However, reviews should be brought forward if there is a need to address a new risk, challenge, or change within the business.

An employee handbook is a crucial document for setting clear expectations, policies, and standards for both employees and the business, including;

  • Company overview;
  • Employment policies such as equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and harassment prevention;
  • Code of conduct;
  • Compensation and benefits;
  • Leave policies such as sickness, holidays, parental and unpaid leave;
  • Health and safety;
  • Disciplinary and grievances process;
  • Confidentiality;
  • Termination.

To ensure contracts are compliant with current legislation, businesses must take several proactive steps, including staying on top of legal updates, having contracts regularly reviewed by an employment law specialist, and drafted to meet your specific business needs and the regulations governing your industry and region.

We also advise businesses to attend our HR training and webinars where we provide regular and thorough updates on legislation and HR best practices to ensure contract compliance to mitigate potential legal risks.

Unique contracts for senior-level employees provide several key benefits that address the specific needs of both the business and the executive, including the ability to clearly define responsibilities. Senior roles come with unique leadership duties and decision-making powers; utilising a tailored contract ensures these expectations are clearly outlined, minimising the potential for misunderstandings.

Another benefit is the protection of business interests. Executives often have access to sensitive information and trade secrets, so custom contracts can include strong confidentiality, non-compete, and non-solicitation clauses to safeguard the businesses’ competitive edge.

Specialised compensation is also an important consideration, as senior executives typically receive more complex compensation packages, such as bonuses, stock options, or profit-sharing. A bespoke contract ensures these incentives are aligned with both the executive’s performance and the company’s long-term goals.

Tailored termination clauses also offer further protection, as senior-level contracts may require specific agreements around severance, garden leave, or exit strategies.

We can assist in changing existing contract terms by ensuring that your contracts are fully compliant with the latest legislation and tailored to address your business needs by reviewing and amending existing contracts, policies, procedures, and employee handbooks to ensure they remain relevant and legally sound.

By collaborating closely with you, we help identify any issues within your business and create bespoke updates that align with operational requirements. Our legal experts will ensure that all changes are well-documented, properly communicated, and mitigate the risk of potential disputes.

To avoid common pitfalls in employment contracts, businesses should ensure that key details are clearly outlined and legally compliant and avoid common mistakes such as; vague and ambiguous terms surrounding job roles and responsibilities, failing to update contracts according to current employment laws, unclear termination clauses, unenforceable restrictive covenants, no flexibility for contracts changes, incomplete compensation details, and overlooked confidentiality agreements which can lead to the loss of sensitive information.

Our structured approach begins with identifying your clear objectives, outlining a comprehensive contract structure that aligns with your business objectives and drafting your bespoke contract to meet your unique needs, incorporating elements such as confidentiality agreements, non-compete clauses, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Our team of legal experts will conduct a thorough review to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, mitigating any potential risks. After finalising the contract, we facilitate clear communication of its terms to all parties involved, offering training sessions if necessary to ensure understanding. This comprehensive approach not only safeguards your interests but also actively supports the achievement of your business goals.

We provide comprehensive support for contract negotiations to ensure your interests are protected and your objectives are met. Our team of legal experts begins by thoroughly understanding your specific needs and goals, enabling us to develop a strategic negotiation plan tailored to your situation.

We assist in drafting and reviewing contracts, ensuring all terms are clear and legally sound. Our experience allows us to identify potential risks and ambiguities, which we address proactively. During negotiations, we advocate on your behalf, leveraging our expertise to secure favourable terms.

We also facilitate open communication between all parties involved, promoting a collaborative negotiation environment. Our aim is to achieve agreements that not only protect your interests but also foster long-term relationships. With our support, you can manage the contract negotiation process with confidence and clarity, ensuring that the final agreements align with your business goals.

Our latest employment contract articles and content