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Overview
James Townsend is a London-based employment lawyer with over 25 years’ experience advising businesses, senior executives, business leaders and HR professionals on the full spectrum of employment law issues. As Head of the Employment Department, he specialises in employment disputes, executive exits, Equality Act claims, restrictive covenants and the employment aspects of domestic and international mergers and acquisitions. James is known for his strategic, commercial and pragmatic approach, acting as a trusted adviser to clients ranging from FTSE-listed companies to owner-managed businesses. He regularly represents clients before tribunals, appellate courts and the High Court.
Expertise
James specialises in:
- Employment law
- Employment Tribunal litigation
- Employment Appeal Tribunal litigation
- Equality Act claims
- Discrimination and harassment disputes
- Executive appointments and terminations
- Restrictive covenants and restraint of trade
- Settlement agreements
- Employment contracts and policies
- Senior executive advisory work
- Corporate transactions and TUPE
- Employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions
- High Court and County Court employment disputes
- Workforce strategy and HR advisory support
Reported Cases
Acts for clients before the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court with a particular interested in FTSE listed businesses, and clients operating in media, retail, manufacturing and retail. Examples of reported cases where involved over the past quarter of a century include:
Supreme Court
- Seldon v Clarkson Wright & Jakes (Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and another intervening) [2012] 3 All ER 1301
Court of Appeal
- Kuzel v Roche Products Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 380
High Court
- Partridge Muir & Warren Ltd v Paul Hancock BL-2025-001243
- MW Nails v Laura Brown & another QB-2016-003137
Employment Appeal Tribunal
- Hillier v Hamilton House Medical Ltd [2009] All ER (D) 319 (Nov)
- Ahir v Continental Tyre Group Limited UKEATPA/1137/11
Employment Tribunal
- Mrs K M Goody v Impact Food Group Ltd: Case No: 1300357/2025
- Ms R Jagdish v Unite Integrated Solutions plc Case No: 3201078/2024
- Mr D Coppinger and Mr J McInerney v P.J. Carey (Contractors) Ltd Case No: 2225272/2024 & 2225274/2024
- Mr A Harris v Enotria Winecellars Ltd T/a Enotria & Coe Case No: 3305285/2024
- Mrs A Kaur v Lornham Ltd Case No: 6018699/2024
- Ms Ospina Cadaviv v Zing Environment limited Case No: 2301922/2021
- Mr N Malik v Bestway Cash & Carry Ltd Case No: 3300458/2014
- Miss Gill-Barbar v Sixt Kenning Limited t/a Sixt Rent a Car & Ors.Case No: 2404700/2013&2406367/2013
- Mr A D Stanczuk v National Society For Epilepsy
- Case No: 2701770/2008
- Mr MN Harrington v Mitchellson Formwork & Civil Engineering Limited Case No: 3301463/2003
- Mr H Seuhat v Rockwell Collins (UK) Ltd Case No: 2701553/2002
Qualifications & Accreditations
James has over two decades of experience as a solicitor specialising in employment law. Prior to joining Payne Hicks Beach, he was an equity partner at a central London law firm. He now heads the firm’s Employment Department and advises employers, executives and HR professionals across a broad range of workplace matters.
Awards & Accolades
- Chambers UK 2027 ranks James Townsend for ‘Employment: Employer’.
- The Legal 500 UK 2026 ranks James Townsend as a ‘Recommended Key Lawyer’ for ‘Employment: Employers’.
- The Legal 500 UK 2026 ranks James Townsend as a ‘Recommended Key Lawyer’ for ‘Employment: Senior Executives’.
- Spear’s Legal Indices 2026 ranks James Townsend as ‘Recommended’ for ‘Employment Lawyers’.
- The Legal 500 UK 2024 recommends James Townsend.
- The Legal 500 UK 2022 ranks James Townsend as a ‘Key Lawyer’ for ‘Employment: Employers’.
- The Legal 500 UK 2022 ranks James Townsend as a ‘Key Lawyer’ for ‘Corporate & Commercial: Partnerships’.
- Spear’s 2006 ranks James Townsend as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’.
