<< Back Immigration Case Studies Relocation to the UK of HNWI establishing UK presence Client: CEO of social media company moving to the UK Alex Finch acted for the CEO of a well-known US-based online brand moving to the UK and establishing a presence in London. This involved obtaining a UK Expansion Worker licence to allow relocation of the principal and their family. Also advising on all aspects of sponsor licence compliance in order to successfully convert to a Skilled Worker licence within 12 months and put the client on a pathway to settlement. This case was led by Alex Finch. For immigration law advice and assistance contact our team for more info. << Back to all immigration case studies

Sponsor licence services We support businesses looking to hire international talent through sponsorship. Whether you are new to the process or expanding your existing workforce, we offer practical, end to end guidance to help you get started. Our Services Eligibility assessment – we review your business setup and advise on the most suitable sponsor licence type for your needs. Assessing eligibility for a sponsor licence and advising on the appropriate licence type based on your business needs. Application support – we prepare and review your documentation, manage the application process and liaise with the Home Office where required. Compliance advice – we help you understand your duties as a sponsor, including the HR systems and processes you need in place. Ongoing support – from navigating the Sponsor Management System (SMS) to meeting your reporting obligations, we’re here to ensure long-term compliance. Other immigration services For Businesses Sponsor licence applications Skilled Worker and Global Business Mobility visas Sponsorship compliance Business travel Right to work checks and illegal working For Individuals Applications for family members Global talent, Investors and Entrepreneurs Settlement British citizenship and ancestry Applications based on EU law Human rights applications Appeals Case studies See examples of successful case studies here Get in touch Email us at: immigration@constantinelaw.co.uk

John Hayes John Hayes Constantine Law was founded by John Hayes, one of London's leading employment lawyers. John advises UK corporates in the financial services, employment agencies, retail and construction sectors. Position Managing Partner Contact + 44 (0)7769 137 176 john.hayes@constantinelaw.co.uk Type of work Restrictive covenance Constantine Law was founded by John Hayes, one of London's leading employment lawyers. John advises UK corporates in the financial services, employment agencies, retail and construction sectors. He is also one of London's leading solicitors in restrictive covenant disputes and an experienced High Court practitioner. He has obtained numerous injunctions for a range of leading corporate clients, in the High Court, in recent years. John has a very solutions orientated and commercial approach. John qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and as a barrister in 1993. He is an experienced advocate and has years of experience in litigating in the Employment Tribunal, and the Employment Appeal Tribunal in unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and equal opportunities cases. John's client base is entrepreneurial and this prompted him to set up Constantine Law. He is recognised in the Legal 500 and has previously headed the London employment team of a large national law firm. John has particular expertise in business protection and works closely with some of the leading barristers in the field to protect his client's commercial interests. He has great experience in the arena of a-typical working, including consultancy agreements, IR35, CIS and the tax implications of each. He works closely with leading accountants to provide joined-up solutions for his clients. John is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the leading Irish entrepreneurial organisation, the Irish International Business Network (IIBN). He is also an active member of the Institute of Directors (IOD). John is a contributor to the Huffington Post and appears regularly on news media including the LBC and Television. He is also a regular contributor to leading trade magazines on employment matters. John is married to Ceri, with three children, Joseph, Theo and Aoife. He is a member of the Hampstead Triathlon Club and raises money through Olympic distance triathlons. His other main passions are public affairs (standing in the 1997 General Election) and London's cultural scene. John has written many articles on employment law subjects and you can access some of these articles here. CEO & OWNER OF NATIONAL RECRUITMENT AND EMPLOYMENT AGENCY BUSINESS John Hayes handles all of our business competition issues and has obtained a number of injunctions for us in the High Court to enforce restrictive covenants. He is commercial, good value and solutions-focussed and he is an indispensable part of our team. MANAGING PARTNER OF LLP AND CO-OWNER OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT BUSINESS John Hayes is part and parcel of our recruitment process: we rely on him to provide advice on restrictive covenants to us and our proposed-hires so that they get comfortable with the joining process. He provides huge reassurance and practical insights to our incoming senior hires. SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONAL WORKING FOR NATIONAL PLC IN THE TRAVLE INDUSTRY John Hayes helped to get me back my self-esteem. I was being bullied and harassed at work. He put together a strategy which saw me stand-up to my employer and it resulted in a smooth exit package. I can’t praise him highly enough. CEO LEADING INSURANCE BROKER Constantine Law achieved a cost-effective solution to obtain sign Undertakings to avoid the need for us to issue proceedings in the High Court. SENIOR HRD WORKING FOR NATIONAL RETAIL BANK IN THE UK John Hayes acted for me in a complex (associative) disability discrimination claim against my former employer, a national retail bank. The process took a long time (9 months) but it resulted in an agreed exit package. I derived an enormous amount of professional and psychological reassurance from John’s advice MEMBER OF LLP AND EQUITY PARTNER LEAVING ONE SILVER CIRCLE FIRM TO JOIN ANOTHER John Hayes acted for me when I was leaving my law firm and he provided commercial and sensible advice which resulted in a Deed of Settlement being signed. In doing so, he advised properly on the practical scope of the restrictive covenants and the other commercial aspects of the deal. The exit was hard-fought, but it was agreed. Previous Next

Joining Constantine Law All our lawyers say they are “empowered”, “liberated” and earning more. They are free of politics and admin to concentrate on their practices and client work. We have a compelling recruitment proposition: unique in the UK legal market. We are not owned by a private equity house and our teams are structured by lawyers for lawyers. Once you’ve read our compelling proposition , we’d like you to contact us in two ways: To book a call with John Hayes and he can explain more To allow us to send you a recruitment brochure. Our recruitment offering We are looking to recruit entrepreneurially focussed employment and regulatory lawyers, who have credible books of business. We have recently recruited our 15th lawyer. Our stated aim is to be the leading consultant-led employment and regulatory practice in the UK. Our unique recruitment offering includes: A better commission package including: (a) better percentages across the board for introducing and doing work; and (b) a commission advance for 6 months to take the “pain” out of joining: no other firm offers this Support from associate and assistant solicitors: working collaboratively with a “pyramid” of lawyers, as you would now (no other challenger firm does this) Better support package: full PA cover, PLC paid for, High-level press-comms support, tax advice and company set-up to maximise advantages of the model; you won’t prepare your own bills or open your own files Collaborative firm: weekly meetings and twice-annual strategic away days to involve targeted business development and know-how support for your practice Active support to develop your “book”: including free restrictive covenant advice True expertise: we will only focus on the law of work. And we are owned and run by an employment lawyer, not a private equity house. You will have what you need to do high-level employment and regulatory work. Please click here to find out more. We have a detailed Recruitment Brochure that we can send you. Joining is easy, work from anywhere We understand that the process of joining a law firm can be daunting and we deconstruct that process for you to make it as easy as possible. We do this as follows: Full IT support: We will configure a lap-top and desk-top for you immediately. With good wi-fi you can work from anywhere. We provide full IT support during the working day from a leading IT-consultant. We use the leading cloud-based document management system (NetDocs) + Outlook 365 + time recording software. Inception programme: Fully supported by our experienced PA team: broken-down and tailored to your needs. Partners can start productive work immediately. Co-ordinated marketing “launch”: Each of our new partners has been “launched” with co-ordinated Linked In + Press campaign to maximise your marketing potential. Charge-out rates + Billing: partner-consultants set their own rates. Partners have total professional freedom. Our PAs raise and chase the bills. Full PA support: unlike other challenger firms, we meet the cost of PA support. You don’t have to buy-it on a per-hour basis. Our PA team have over 100 years of PQE between them. Facilities: Paid for use of the Clubhouse or an equivalent regional office/Document archiving and secure storage/active marketing support from a dedicated professional. Know-how Training and CPD: Full PLC and Westlaw access. Access to firm precedents. Membership of ELA/ILPA/etc. Culture and Values We had an away day. Everyone was invited and everyone spoke: partners, solicitors, PAs, support staff. We invited a brand-consultancy to gather the “essence” of Constantine Law. We agreed on our 4 core values and they mean something tangible for us: Clarity: by which we provide solutions-orientated advice from experienced lawyers. What does this mean? Team members speak of becoming better lawyers (even after many years practice) because they are freed from meaningless admin and meetings to do what they love: deliver solutions for clients. Directness, or unmediated excellence, is therefore a core value. Modernity: We are a modern law firm. We do deploy the latest cloud (and other) solutions to do law more effectively. For each of our core services we work with outstanding outsourced suppliers to deliver the best solution. The way we do business matters to us, and our clients, and we will continue to deploy the latest business solutions to meet the needs of the times. Value: by stripping-out fixed overheads we pass on the cost savings to our clients. Lawyers set their own rates and they are frequently somewhat lower than competitor firms. Our clients benefit from our modernity by paying less. Collaboration: We work together, between ourselves and with our clients to get outstanding results. We have a weekly team meeting. We have away days. We don’t have politics. People are supported and valued. They are happier. Our people describe Constantine law as the best place they’ve ever worked. John Hayes — Managing Partner “If you are a net contributor to your firm, you will be better off here."

Diversity and Equality Successful management of equality and diversity issues can play a major role in talent attraction and retention. It will greatly reduce the risk and cost of litigation. However, many businesses struggle with what is a very complex area of law. Main contact John Hayes Number +44 (0) 20 3696 8230 We can help your business by: Reviewing or drafting equal opportunities and family friendly policies to ensure they remain up to date and are not inadvertently discriminatory. Advising on the management of equality and diversity issues such as flexible working or shared parental leave requests. Training your staff on equality and diversity issues in order to reduce the risk of a claim arising. Advising you on how to investigate and respond to allegations of discrimination under disciplinary or grievance procedures . Defending discrimination claims brought against the company or its staff or representing individuals wishing to pursue a discrimination claim . Case study Advising a regulated business on conducting a robust grievance investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Providing guidance on the outcome of the investigation and negotiating the exit of members of staff. Advising on investigating allegations of bullying by the managing director of a regulated business and his subsequent dismissal. Defending the following litigation and achieving a highly favourable settlement of the alleged claims. Representing City-based women and disabled workers in a number of complex and hard-fought discrimination claims. Achieving outstanding settlements which included payment of their legal costs.

Recruitment Businesses We are one of the main firms in the UK advising the recruitment industry, especially agency suppliers. We are Trusted Members of APSCO and the REC and we have deep sector-level expertise. We count, as clients, some of the largest privately owned recruiters in the UK. We advise recruiters on: enforcing restrictive covenants/drafting contracts of employment/on CLEAR retainer packages/on IR35 and risk mitigation. We go on a journey with business owners of recruitment firms to make their businesses “future-proof” and fit for sale. Main contact John Hayes Number +44 (0) 20 3696 8230 We can help your business by: Advising on the Conduct of Business Regulations and Agency Workers Regulations. Advising on self-employment models and the implications of tax issues, such as IR35 and the Construction Industry Scheme. We work with some of the UK’s leading accountants to provide specialist tax advice where required. Drafting or negotiating documentation such as consultancy agreements, umbrella contracts, temporary labour supply agreements and master or neutral vendor contracts. Acting on transfer fee disputes. Business protection advice in relation to the recruitment sector (see our Restrictive Covenant services) Case study Acting for an employment business in the Mercantile Court in relation to transfer fee litigation. Drafting a temporary labour-supply contract for an employment business. Delivering training on the reforms to travel and subsistence allowances and the impact on umbrella company arrangements.

Lucy Bloom Lucy has a wealth of experience advising both employers and senior executives on all aspects of employment law, including advisory, transactional and contentious work. She prides herself on providing straightforward, commercial and strategic advice and going the extra mile for her clients "She is meticulous and extremely motivated to provide a Rolls-Royce service to her clients." client feedback, Legal 500 2026 Position Partner Contact + 44 (0)7793 007 395 lucy.bloom@constantinelaw.co.uk Lucy regularly works with HR Directors, General Counsel and Board Members of SMEs and large companies to provide practical, commercial and creative legal solutions to their business requirements. She has particular expertise in advising clients on managing workplace conflicts, internal investigations, redundancy exercises, TUPE, changing terms of employment, dismissals, discrimination, whistleblowing, High Court injunctions, the enforcement of post-termination restrictions and the protection of confidential information. Lucy is a highly experienced litigator, advising and representing employers and senior executives in high value and complex Employment Tribunal and High Court proceedings. Lucy’s clients come from a wide range of sectors, including financial services, retail, hospitality, media and luxury lifestyle. Lucy also acts for senior executives, Founders, C-Suite Executives and Partners on grievance and disciplinary issues, internal investigations, discrimination, redundancy, bonus disputes, contract and restrictive covenant matters. She has significant experience advising senior level employees on managing their exits and valuable severance negotiations. Lucy recognises the importance of providing pragmatic solutions led advice which can often be emotionally charged and highly sensitive. Lucy regularly provides bespoke training to her employer clients, has written a variety of articles and enjoys presenting at seminars. Outside of work Lucy enjoys spending time with her young son, trampolining and HIIT training. Lucy qualified as a solicitor in 2010. Areas of expertise: Discrimination, whistleblowing, unfair dismissal, Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation, bonus disputes, restrictive covenants, confidential information, injunctions, internal investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes, dismissals, redundancy and restructuring exercises, TUPE and general contractual issues. CFO OF MEDIA AGENCY "Lucy provided exceptional support and guidance during my departure from the business, navigating what could have been a complex and stressful process with clarity and professionalism. Her technical expertise was evident at every stage, but what truly set her apart was her calm, measured approach and ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice. She ensured the process was handled as smoothly and efficiently as possible, significantly reducing both the stress and uncertainty typically associated with these situations. Importantly, Lucy’s reassuring manner and consistent support had a genuinely positive impact on my wellbeing during what could otherwise have been a very challenging period. Her ability to instil confidence and maintain perspective throughout made a meaningful difference. I felt supported at every stage and would have no hesitation in recommending Lucy to anyone seeking an employment lawyer of the highest calibre." Previous Next

Anita Vadgama Anita is widely recognised for her employment law practice, particularly in disability discrimination and Group Income Protection (GIP) benefits. Chambers and Partners 2024 notes that she is “an expert in discrimination” with notable experience advising clients dealing with mental health issues. Position Partner Contact +44 (0)7720 888630 anita.vadgama@constantinelaw.co.uk Anita is a senior discrimination lawyer who acts predominantly for claimants and senior executives, including C-suite employees. Her practice focuses on three core areas: discrimination claims, with particular expertise in disability, neurodiversity, sex and race discrimination, and harassment, especially for senior BAME women; whistleblowing claims, acting for claimants who have been penalised or dismissed for making protected disclosures; and GIP benefits, advising on applications, drafting appeals to insurers and the Financial Ombudsman Service, and negotiating enhanced commuted lump-sum settlements in lieu of benefits. In a previous role at a boutique specialist employment practice, Anita served as Head of Litigation. She has successfully represented clients in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal, securing judgments for numerous claimants and negotiating high-value settlements both before and during hearings. In one recent case, she succeeded in a disability discrimination claim subsequently brought on behalf of the estate of a claimant who sadly passed away from cancer before judgment was handed down. Anita also regularly advises senior executives on significant termination packages, including short- and long-term incentive arrangements. She has experience advising on FCA regulatory references and related regulatory matters and is ranked by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 for her work advising senior executive employees. Earlier in her career, Anita acted for claimants at a large trade union law firm before relocating to the United States for seven years. There, she practised as a dual-qualified English and Massachusetts attorney at Littler Mendelson, the world’s largest employment and labour law firm. Most recently, she spent eight years as a partner and Head of Litigation at a ranked employment practice. Reported cases: Marlow v East Thames Housing Group Limited [2002] IRLR 798 which held that employers must take all reasonable steps to procure GIP benefits for their employees. Brunel University & another v Vaseghi & another UKEAT 0307/06/1610 which held that in discrimination case the need to get to the truth may tip the scales against the privilege afforded to “without prejudice” communications. Barrow v Kellogg Brown & Root (UK) Ltd (2001), where the ET ordered £2.5 million in damages for disability discrimination claim, the third highest UK award for disability discrimination at the time. Kong v Gulf International Bank (UK) Limited [2022] EWCA Civ 941, where the Court of Appeal upheld that a protected disclosure was properly separatable from the employee’s conduct surrounding the disclosure. Clifford v IBM United Kingdom Ltd [2024] EAT 90 where the EAT held that the ET was correct to strike out a claimant’s claims for disability discrimination because they had been precluded by a settlement agreement. LAWYER, US LAW FIRM BASED IN LONDON “You were strategic, calm, and a brilliant negotiator throughout and the whole process move far more swiftly than I had any right to expect. Honestly, I rarely hear of good experiences from people who have had to engage legal counsel in this kind of situation, which is why I want you to know I will be recommending you wholeheartedly to anyone I come across in a similar position.” Previous Next

Alex Harvey Alex Harvey joined Constantine Law in November 2022 and is a Solicitor in our Employment team. Prior to joining Constantine Law, she trained as a Solicitor at a West End firm, where she qualified in 2021. Alex advises both employers and senior executives on contentious and non-contentious matters. She is very experienced in acting for Claimants and Respondents in Employment Tribunal claims, especially in relation to claims for discrimination under the Equality Act as well as for unfair dismissal. She also advises on High Court litigation. Alex is recognised in the Legal 500, and finds it rewarding to support her clients by transforming their challenging circumstances into positive outcomes. 'Alex Harvey is another standout. She combines technical excellence with a collaborative, pragmatic approach that makes complex matters feel manageable. She listens intently and brings a structured yet flexible mindset to each engagement, making clients feel both heard and empowered' Legal 500 2026 Position Solicitor Contact +44 (0)7501 456 059 alex.harvey@constantinelaw.co.uk Alex specialises in acting for both employers and senior executives in the financial services, recruitment, tech and advertising sectors. She regularly advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters, including providing strategic advisory support to HR, advising on redundancies, disciplinary proceedings and internal investigations, drafting and responding to grievances, and negotiating and advising on complex settlements. Alex is also very experienced in representing both employers and employees in Employment Tribunal proceedings involving unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and intersectional discrimination, as well being experienced in defending High Court proceedings. In her spare time Alex enjoys spending time with friends and family and relaxing in the French countryside. Career highlights include: Defending 'Without Notice' injunctive proceedings against a tech executive in the e-gaming and cryptocurrency industry, and acting for the client in a subsequent and complex High Court claim. Alex’s persistence and expertise helped ensure that the Claimant's claim was successfully struck out, that an order was made requiring the Claimant to pay our client's wasted costs, and that the interim injunction was discharged. Acting for a senior publishing executive facing suspension and serious allegations of misconduct, and successfully negotiating a significant package for our client, enabling her to move onto her next chapter. Advising a financial services employer client on conducting an internal investigation into serious allegations of sexual harassment, and successfully negotiating the exit of the accused employee. Representing a senior banking executive at an Employment Tribunal remedy hearing, following her successful claim for disability discrimination against a well-known bank. Drafting letters of claim and undertakings for an employer client in the recruitment sector in circumstances where two former employees had breached their restrictive covenants and ongoing obligations in confidentiality, and successfully negotiating signed undertakings. SENIOR PUBLISHING EXECUTIVE Alex is such an asset to Constantine Law. She manages to combine an incredibly friendly, supportive approach with a high level of intellect, and thorough understanding of the legal process which in turn results in you feeling like you are working with an excellent Solicitor. Alex managed to make me feel at ease during an emotional time, and was a real pillar of strength during our time working together. Previous Next

Employment Employment Litigation Even the most well-run businesses face litigation in the Employment Tribunal or Civil Courts; litigation which can be very costly and a huge drain on management time. Having expert representation will greatly improve the outcome you achieve, whether it is forcing the other side to withdraw or settle their claim or obtaining a judgment in your favour. We can help through: Expert advice on litigation strategies and tactics. Representation on all types of employment-related disputes in the Employment Tribunal or Civil Courts including: unfair dismissal; wrongful dismissal; breach of contract; discrimination; and whistleblowing. Experienced tribunal advocacy from one of our team. Highly effective representation at mediation. Case study Defending an outsourcing company against a claim for large bonus payments brought by two senior employees. Filing counter-claims and securing a very successful outcome at mediation. Successfully defending a regulated business against equal pay litigation brought by a senior female actuary. The employee’s claim was defeated in the Employment Tribunal and her appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal were also unsuccessful. Successfully defending four consultant doctors accused of racially discriminating against a colleague. The claim was defeated at the Employment Tribunal and the decision was supported by the Court of Appeal following an appeal by the Claimant. Get in touch Get in touch with one of our team members today. We’d be happy to discuss your needs and how we can help. Contact

<< Back Employment Case Studies Confidential Information: protecting what makes your business unique CEO of an SRA business Constantine Law acts for a former CEO of a City law firm in a high-profile and complex whistleblowing and discrimination case. The claims brought in the Employment Tribunal against our client and others included unfair dismissal, race discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and whistleblowing detriment. We provided high-level legal and strategic advice throughout the process. The case involved navigating significant regulatory and publicity issues, given our client’s high-profile status and the serious implications it brings to our client’s career and the firm's trading position. This case was led by Neil Johnston and Ben Payne. For employment law advice about whistleblowing matters, contact our team for more info. << Back to all employment case studies

Employment IR35 Constantine Law advises on employment status issues, every week. We are one of the main firms in the country advising employment agencies and temporary workers. Constantine Law is a member of APSCO and has appeared in a recent Court of Appeal case on employment status. John Hayes has delivered ELA’s only evening session on IR35. What is IR35? IR35 is a set of tax rules aimed at stopping individuals from avoiding income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) by working through an intermediary, usually a personal service company (PSC), when they are, in effect, working like an employee. Under IR35, the intermediary must assess each contract to decide whether the worker would be considered an employee of the client if the PSC didn’t exist. This is known as a status determination. If the worker would be classed as an employee, the PSC must treat the income received as deemed salary, regardless of whether it’s paid out as dividends or kept in the company. Tax and NICs are then calculated at the end of the tax year, with certain deductions allowed (such as salary already taxed through PAYE). Why IR35 Matters HMRC introduced IR35 to tackle arrangements where individuals work through PSCs mainly to reduce tax, particularly employer NICs, rather than because they are genuinely self-employed. Who is Responsible? Since 6 April 2021, the responsibility for determining IR35 status shifted to the end client in the private sector (unless they qualify as a small company). This means medium and large businesses that engage contractors through PSCs must now assess whether those contractors fall within IR35. How We Can Help with IR35 At Constantine Law, we offer expert legal support to help businesses and individuals navigate the complexities of the IR35 regime. Whether you're an end-user engaging contractors or a contractor operating through a personal service company (PSC), our team provides clear, practical advice tailored to your needs. Our IR35 Services Include: Status Determination Reviews We assess working arrangements and contracts to determine whether they fall inside or outside IR35, helping you understand your obligations and risks. Drafting and Reviewing Contracts We prepare and review consultancy agreements and related documentation to ensure they reflect genuine self-employment and minimise IR35 exposure. Support for End Clients Since the 2021 reforms, medium and large private sector organisations are responsible for determining IR35 status. We assist with: Preparing compliant status determination statements (SDS) Advising on reasonable care obligations Implementing robust internal processes for engaging contractors Advice for Contractors and PSCs We help contractors understand their IR35 position, manage risk, and respond to HMRC enquiries or disputes. Get in touch Get in touch with one of our team members today. We’d be happy to discuss your needs and how we can help. Contact