Penny Hunt

As a legal director in our Employment Group in London, I take a practical, down to earth approach to advising our clients in sectors as diverse as music, media, financial services, construction and IT.

I advise employers on employment issues that arise throughout the employment life cycle, from recruitment to complex investigations arising from grievances or disciplinary matters, as well as executive terminations and redundancy exercises. I also have significant experience of managing complex multi-party litigation in the Employment Tribunals and the EAT, defending employers against claims such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, equal pay, whistleblowing and TUPE disputes. Litigation is not always in the client's best interests though, so a significant part of my practice includes resolving disputes before claims are issued, whether that is by negotiation, mediation or some other form of dispute resolution.

I also regularly act for senior executives, advising them on contract negotiations when they are hired or when their terms are renegotiated and on severance negotiations when the end of the employment relationship is in prospect.

Before joining Bird & Bird, I worked for another firm where I was seconded to a client during a major and well-publicised industrial dispute. I speak at client training and other external events and have on occasion conducted my own advocacy in the Employment Tribunal.