Constantine Law are delighted to announce that we have achieved success across our practice areas in this year's Legal 500 rankings. Employment: We have retained our Tier 3 ranking for employment advice to Senior Executives and our Tier 6 ranking in the Employer category. We are recognised for our "expertise in restrictive covenant and injunctive relief work". Heading the team is Managing Partner, John Hayes, noted for his High Court injunctive relief cases. Noted for their

John Hayes explores the nuances of non-compete clauses in the UK versus Silicon Valley

The FCA's new rules on non-financial misconduct, which came into force on 1 September 2026 expand those workplace allegations that can now become a career-ending regulatory problem. Allegations of bullying, harassment or violence can engage the FCA's Conduct Rules and fitness and propriety regime and the consequences of getting that assessment wrong can be profound. For non-bank SM&CR firms, the Conduct Rules now expressly extend to serious bullying, harassment and violence

Congratulations to Andy Burnham, mayor of Manchester, for winning the Makerfield by-election overnight. It now seems inevitable that he will challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party and, if everything is to be believed, shortly become the sixth Prime Minister of the UK since the Brexit vote of 2016. It is widely believed that this would mean be a more populist left leadership within the Labour Party. So, what would this mean for employment law in

The Employment Rights Bill should receive Royal Assent this month. On 28 October 2025, the House of Lords considered the House of Commons’ amendments to the Employment Rights Bill. The Lords proposed changes to: 1. zero-hours clauses (amending their own amendment); 2. the day-one right to unfair dismissal protections (insisting on a 6-month qualifying period, rather than day-one); and 3. industrial action ballot thresholds (disagreeing with the proposal t

In Tom James -vs – Max Potter, The Honourable Mr Justice Ritchie has decided that a 12 month non-compete clause is not enforceable against a UK visiting tailor Press Release 22 October 2025 Stefan Brochwicz-Lewinski, John Hayes, Max Potter, Julia Whyte, Zahra Mahmood A High Court case involving a young personal tailor and the world’s largest customised tailoring company, headquartered in Tennessee, US has concluded. In Tom James v Max Potter, Judge Justice Ritchie ruled tha

US based tailoring giant Tom James Company has launched legal action against an ex-employee Max Potter, alleging breaches of restrictive covenants and confidentiality. Tom James are seeking to enforce a non-compete clause until June 2026. Mr Potter denies wrongdoing, calling the case “bullying” and saying it could force him into bankruptcy. Managing Partner, John Hayes who is acting for Mr Potter commented to City AM: “This case highlights the conflict between a big US corp

A recent investigation has exposed major flaws in the UK’s system for enforcing employment tribunal awards. The government backed scheme...

The criticism of HR, levied by the Sunday Times as a bloated, obstructive force in UK business, overlooks a deeper truth: HR has grown...