Search this site

Ronan D'Cruz Ronan D’Cruz qualified as a solicitor in 2025 and joined the employment team at Constantine Law in June 2026. Ronan undertook his training contract at a leading London disputes firm. Ronan is committed to securing the best possible outcomes for his clients in workplace disputes, recognising the unique nuances that present themselves in each individual case. He has supported clients working across a range of sectors, including financial services, social media companies and government entities. Position Solicitor Contact +44 7741 680261 Ronan.DCruz@constantinelaw.co.uk Ronan is experienced in negotiating and advising on settlement agreements and other workplace issues such as redundancy consultations and allegations of discrimination and harassment. Ronan also has experience of Employment Tribunal proceedings and advising clients through the ACAS Early Conciliation process, understanding the different strategic and procedural elements and being able to clearly explain their impact to clients. Ronan acts for both employers and employees and therefore has a well-rounded view on the issues which routinely arise in the workplace and how to navigate them effectively. He prides himself on being highly responsive to clients and delivering a first-class and personable service. Away from work, he likes to unwind by playing golf and exploring new culinary adventures in London or abroad. Previous Next SENIOR MANAGER “I instructed Ronan to guide me a through a contentious exit negotiation. His advice was practical and legally sound, leading to desired commercial and non-commercial outcomes

Employment for Employees Legal Expertise for Employees and Senior Executives At Constantine Law, we provide clear, strategic, and empathetic legal advice to employees and senior executives navigating complex workplace issues. Whether you’re facing discrimination, dismissal, disciplinary action, or negotiating a settlement, our team is here to support you with practical solutions and deep expertise. How We Help We advise individuals across a wide range of employment matters, including: Unfair and constructive dismissal claims Discrimination and whistleblowing complaints Grievances and internal investigations Disciplinary proceedings and regulatory exposure Contract and service agreement reviews Settlement agreements (routine and complex) Business immigration Our approach is direct, cost-effective, and tailored to your specific circumstances. Recent Case Highlights Disability Discrimination & Unfair Dismissal We represented a senior employee at a national retail bank who was dismissed while undergoing cancer treatment. The case involved multiple claims under the Equality Act, including failure to make reasonable adjustments and unfair dismissal. The tribunal ruled in our client’s favour, and our client secured a very high value settlement. Grievances We advised a senior HR professional at a global airline who raised serious concerns about bullying and harassment by senior management. Our strategic guidance led to a successful settlement agreement and contributed to meaningful cultural change within the organisation. Regulatory and Disciplinary We acted for the CEO of an AIM-listed company facing internal allegations of false accounting and potential FCA scrutiny. Our employment and regulatory teams worked together to secure a successful resolution and negotiated an exit, protecting our client’s reputation and future prospects. Why Choose Constantine Law? Dual Expertise: Our employment, business immigration and regulatory teams collaborate to provide comprehensive support, especially in high-stakes or regulated environments. Client-Focused: We deliver advice that is not only legally sound but also commercially and personally practical. Proven Track Record: We’ve helped clients achieve successful outcomes in some of the most challenging employment disputes. What we offer Executive Negotiations & Settlement Agreements Contracts and Handbooks Discipline, Grievances & Investigations Diversity & Equality Employment Litigation Equal Pay Data Subject Access Requests IR35 Outsourcing, Transactions & TUPE Restructuring & Redundancies Whistleblowing Restrictive Covenants GIP Benefits We provide direct, solutions-oriented advice across the full spectrum of employment matters, including: Whether you need employment support or strategic advice on high stakes matters, our team is here to help Contact Us Get in touch If you’re facing a workplace issue or need expert legal advice, contact us for a confidential consultation. We’re here to help you protect your rights and move forward with confidence.

Restructuring and Redundancies In the current economic climate, businesses are undergoing a huge challenge to maintain profitability and operating efficiency. The ability to effectively restructure your workforce is critical to meeting commercial objectives and managing overheads. Main contacts Suki Harrar +44 (0)7379 633 555 Alan Lewis +44 (0)7814 384 745 We can help your business by providing comprehensive support and advice on restructuring and redundancy programs. This includes advice and support on: collective redundancy issues, such as ‘establishment’ and employee representation; selection pools and evidence-based assessment criteria; redundancy payments and their tax treatment; alternative cost-saving solutions to redundancies; changing terms and conditions of employment Case study Advising on the restructuring of the regional operations of a national construction and utilities service provider including overlapping employment and agency worker issues and selection processes. Advising on the large-scale reorganisation of a UK workforce, involving the creation of new roles and career paths and the implementation of significant changes to terms and conditions. Advising a multi-site engineering and construction business on the implications of a business transfer scenario for a predominantly agency worker, workforce.

Regulatory and Disciplinary Our services Financial Services Regulatory Financial Services Investigations & Enforcement Internal Investigation - Corporate Professional Discipline Investigations Compliance Information Requests & Compelled Interviews We are approachable, smart and highly experienced regulatory law specialists working to protect your business, career and reputation. We care about our clients and the outcome. We steer you and your business through rules and regulations, governance, compliance, cultural expectations and the pace of regulatory change, to reduce the risk of investigation, prosecution or reputational damage. We advise professionals and businesses in their interactions with UK regulators with enforcement powers including accountancy and finance, legal and healthcare sectors. We are an experienced, versatile and cost-effective team who have worked in private practice, in-house for global financial institutions and with government authorities in the UK. If possible, we like to be brought in early when things may need improving, assisting with internal investigations, advising on regulatory notifications, systemic risks, remediation programmes and engaging in an effective dialogue with regulators, to avoid matters deteriorating. If the unexpected happens, and you or your business is facing investigation or enforcement action, we represent you from the first phone call through to a tribunal or Court hearing. We make complex legal concepts simple and give practical, common-sense advice whether we are dealing with compliance projects, regulatory investigations and enforcement, or remediation and customer contact exercises. Often keeping matters ‘under the radar’, we have been involved in many important financial crime and regulatory cases in the last decade. Every client and matter is different. We build the right team for you and provide bespoke advice tailored to what you require or are facing. Funding We can discuss the funding options, the proposed scope of work and budget with you. Depending on the situation, you should check whether you have any legal expenses insurance (for example under professional indemnity, Directors’ & Officers’ or household insurance policies) or consider whether a third party, such as an employer, will contribute to your legal fees (eg under an indemnity). Contact It's important to get specialist advice as early as possible. Get in touch with our crime and regulatory teams using the contact details below and find out how we can help you. Contact the regulatory team Contact the crime team Chambers 2026 'The firm provides exemplary client care and a willingness to go above and beyond for all clients.ery engaged, very committed to the cases, creative and tries to find the right solution for clients'

Sarah Evans Sarah brings over 20 years of experience as an employment lawyer, having initially qualified into commercial litigation and insolvency with a commercial firm in Cheshire before moving on to larger and national firms based in Manchester, with clients across the UK. “Instructing Sarah was the best decision I made in my difficult situation at work.” — Recent client Position Partner Contact + 44 (0)7877 253 927 sarah.evans@constantinelaw.co.uk Sarah credits her early training in litigation and commercial law for her commercial acumen and pragmatic approach to issues and challenges clients face. With extensive advocacy experience in the Tribunals and Courts, Sarah has developed a strong reputation as both a litigator and tactician, and is the trusted recipient of referrals and recommendations from fellow solicitors, barristers, HR professionals and clients. Sarah has particular expertise in advising senior executives, directors and managers on challenges such as restrictive covenants, negotiated exits and bonus disputes. She has built a strong reputation in advising consultants, directors and senior management in both public and private sectors and education. More broadly, Sarah advises on all aspects of employment law and work issues, and has an established reputation in representing both employers and employees in complex sex and disability discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Sarah’s commitment to her clients’ goals and success has been captured in annual legal directory entries, where she is described by clients and referrers in such terms as “a real safe pair of hands for any client”, “clients single out Sarah Evans for her impeccable judgment” and as “tenacious and very skilled” with “a very good eye for detail” and who “gets the job done”. Sarah lives on the edge of the Peak District in Greater Manchester where she enjoys looking at (but not climbing up) the local walking trails. Sarah has one grown up son, Jacob, who early on decided not to follow her footsteps into law, and instead now has a career in structural geology and geophysics. Sarah is the proud owner of a Bischon Frise called Lily, who likes to make appearances in online meetings whenever possible. Sarah qualified as a solicitor in September 2005. MR. G Having Sarah on our side was one of the best decisions we made and knew that we weren’t going to be pushed around. We couldn’t have done it without her. Next

<< 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

Fraud "Really good on complex financial services and fraud work" — Chambers 2024 Our lawyers are respected experts in the field of white collar crime and serious fraud. We act for companies and individuals caught up in investigations or prosecutions by the Serious Fraud Office, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, Police, National Crime Agency, Crown Prosecution Service, FCA, Insolvency Services and BEIS. Some of our lawyers have worked for these organisations in the past so know the process from both perspectives. Some of our cases are cross-border involving overseas agencies particularly in Europe and the US. We also know and work closely with other law firms – for example when we are co-defending or are asked to act as an independent legal advisor for witnesses or employees of companies with separate company lawyers. Whether you are suspect, witness, victim, whistle-blower or company investigator, we can assist you with any stage of the criminal investigation and defence process from arrest, interviews to conducting internal investigations, self-reporting advice to the police, SFO or your regulators, through to a criminal trial. We advise in dawn raids where investigators attend at your home or business premises unannounced to seize property (typically business and financial records, computer, phone and other IT devices) and will often wish to interview you on the same day or soon after. We can represent you if you are arrested, interviewed under caution or compelled to attend for interview. We are adept and highly skilled in acting in and managing lengthy investigations and trials. We help navigate ancillary issues such as regulatory or employment problems for those facing criminal allegations. We form multi-disciplinary teams, bespoke for you, to respond to and improve the situation. We can also recommend and work closely with civil fraud lawyers and barristers to support you or your organisation that suspect fraud or financial crime committed by directors, employee or related professional advisors or third parties. Our Experience Advised company director subject to compulsory interview in relation to the SFO’s investigation into the business and accounting practice of AIM-listed company Quindell plc. Advised bank trader under SFO investigation including interview under caution for interfering with the Repo Rate to manipulate the Bank of England Special Liquidity (SLS) lending scheme to help banks following the financial crisis. Advised former UBS trader under SFO investigation and interview under caution for alleged LIBOR interest rate manipulation resulting in no further action. Represented a senior executive in a US based company in a complex tax and fraud investigation carried out by HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (Offshore Corporate & Wealthy) Team. No further action taken against client. Represented two individuals at trial in proceedings brought by the SFO, pertaining to fraud offences (acquitted) and two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Funding We can discuss the funding options, the proposed scope of work and budget with you. Depending on the situation, you should check whether you have any legal expenses insurance (for example under professional indemnity, Directors’ & Officers’ or household insurance policies) or consider whether a third party, such as an employer, will contribute to your legal fees (eg under an indemnity). Contact Whether you are whistle-blower, suspect, witness, investigator or in-house lawyer, it’s important to get specialist advice as early as possible. Get in touch and find out how we can help you: Contact the team

Sarah Wallace Sarah is a leading corporate crime, professional discipline and financial services investigations lawyer with over 20 years’ experience. She represents clients under or at risk of criminal or regulatory investigation or prosecution. “An impeccable eye for detail allowing her to see strategic moves that outsmart her opponents— Legal 500, 2025 Position Contact Partner + 44 (0)7808 899 657 sarahwallace@constantinelaw.co.uk She gives expert legal, personal and practical advice to senior executives and corporates and specialises in FCA, SFO, CMA, CPS, ICO, HMRC, DOJ, SEC, police and professional discipline investigations eg the SRA, ICAEW, IFoA and FRC. Sarah represents senior executives and firms through the stressful, uneasy and challenging time when faced with a criminal, regulatory or internal investigation or regulatory problems that can impact on careers, reputation, health, wealth and business performance. Her aim is to protect reputations and extricate a client from their involvement with an investigation or solve the regulatory concerns as quickly as possible. Her clients can be a suspect, under or at risk of investigation or prosecution, whistle-blower, witness or victim and cases often have a cross-border element. Sarah advises on internal investigations, responding to information requests, interview advice, self-reporting, regulatory breaches, compliance monitoring, training and M&A due diligence. She has extensive experience defending complex FCA civil, criminal and regulatory cases for senior executives and firms. High profile FCA cases include LIBOR, Newton Investment Management, and insider dealing cases eg Neutec Pharma, Operation Tabernula, Operation Saturn, Oce/Mizuho. She helps firms with systems and controls improvement, compliance monitoring, mis-selling, remediation and customer contact exercises. The high profile SFO investigations Sarah has been involved in recently include ENRC, GSK, LIBOR (Barclays, Lloyds), BAT, Rolls-Royce, Autonomy, Quindell, Unaoil and overseas bribery matters. Clients are from the financial services, pharmaceutical, energy, engineering, professional services and aerospace sectors. Sarah is quoted in the FT, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, PA and is an expert commentator for BBC News. She speaks regularly at industry events. She is interested in work culture and writes about diversity, inclusion and well-being in workplaces in national press and social media. She has been a 'CityInfluencer' to encourage cultural change in the City, and speaks at events roundtables for employers to share best practice. Sarah has expertise across a range of contentious regulatory and financial crime matters. She is especially noted for her handling of FCA investigations. "The incredibly innovative team provides a bespoke client service to individuals, in particular, subject to internal investigations and enforcement actions." Financial Services, Legal 500, 2025 "Sarah is absolutely brilliant at finding new defences, she is dogged in her pursuit and stands out for that reason." Financial Crime, Chambers 2026 “She is technically very brilliant and takes a very reasoned approach to matters". Professional Discipline, Chambers 2025 "WIthout doubt, one of the best regulatory lawyers in the country" Professional Discipline, Legal 500 2025 Noted for her technical expertise in fraud and insider dealing investigations. Prior to joining Constantine Law, Sarah was a partner and led the Regulatory & Criminal Investigations Group in a large national law firm. SENIOR CIVIL SERVANT Sarah Wallace at Constantine Law was recommended to me by another Barrister. I was a Respondent in a high-profile high value civil case. When I first met her, I was struck by her professionalism and her grasp of the case. Sarah immediately put my mind at rest. Over the course of our relationship, she laid out all my options, and took on board my own suggestions. As a result of her work the Plaintiffs removed my name from the case. I would happily recommend her to anyone. Previous Next

Business travel UK immigration rules allow certain business activities to be carried out without a work visa. However, determining whether a visa is required – and which type – isn’t always straightforward. Our Services We can help businesses navigate these rules with confidence by: Advising on permitted activities – we guide you on what business activities are allowed under the Standard Visitor visa, helping to avoid unintentional breaches. Eligibility assessments – to determine if a visa is needed and recommend the most appropriate route. Application support - we guide your employees and their family members through every stage of the process, from documentation to preparation and submission of visa applications. Compliance at the border – we advise on compliance with the immigration rules, reducing the risk of refusal or issues upon arrival to the UK. 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 Salary assessment tool 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

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

Contact immigration@constantinelaw.co.uk + 44 (0)203 696 8230 Please send all correspondence by email in the first instance or if not possible, to: The Clubhouse, 8 St James Square, London, SW1Y 4JU, England Get in touch First name Last name Email* Message* Submit 8 St James Square The Clubhouse 8 St James' Square London SW1Y 4JU 50 Grosvenor Hill The Clubhouse 50 Grosvenor Hill London W1K 3QT 20 St Andrew Street The Clubhouse 20 St Andrew Street London EC4A 3AG

GIP benefits Group Income Protection benefits can provide a regular income if you are unable to work because of illness or incapacity. Read the FAQs ↓ ◆ What are Group Income Protection (GIP) Benefits? Group Income Protection benefits, sometimes called Permanent Health Insurance benefits, can provide a regular income if you are unable to work because of illness or incapacity. They usually pay a fixed percentage of your basic salary, often between 50% and 75%, for a set period such as five years, or in some cases until retirement or State Pension age. ◆ How do I qualify for GIP benefits? Most policies require you to be unable to carry out the main duties of your own role during the deferred period, which is usually the first 26 weeks of long-term sickness absence. This is often called an “own occupation” test. Some policies use a wider test, such as “suited occupation”, where you must show that you cannot do a role suited to your skills, qualifications and experience. Others use an “any occupation” test, which means you must be unable to carry out the main duties of any occupation, but this is not common. ◆ How are GIP benefits provided? Your employer usually takes out an insurance policy with an insurer. The employer owns the policy and agrees the terms with the insurer. You are the beneficiary, which means that if your claim is accepted, the benefits are normally paid to you through payroll in the same way as salary. Because you do not have a direct contract with the insurer, you will usually need your employer's support to apply for and maintain the GIP benefits. ◆ What are common GIP terms? Common terms found in GIP policies include: Disclosure of pre-existing medical conditions; Exclusion of certain categories of illness, such as work-related stress; Definition of what is incapacity to receive GIP benefits; How incapacity is assessed; Duration of GIP benefits; The requirement to be regularly reviewed by the insurer to ensure that you continue to meet their eligibility criteria; Definition of salary to be used to calculate GIP benefits. ◆ Can I obtain a copy of the GIP policy? Your employer may not agree to provide a full copy of the policy because the contract is between the employer and the insurer. However, most employers should be able to provide a clear summary of the main terms, including eligibility, exclusions, the deferred period, the level of benefit and how long payments may continue. ◆ How do I apply for GIP benefits? The process varies by insurer. You may be asked to complete a form explaining your illness or disability, your symptoms, your treatment and how your condition affects your ability to work and manage day-to-day activities. Some insurers arrange a telephone assessment instead. In all cases, you will also be asked to provide consent for the insurer to obtain and review your medical records before deciding whether you meet the policy eligibility criteria. ◆ What happens if the insurer rejects your claim? You can usually appeal the decision. If the appeal is rejected, many insurers offer a further complaints stage. If that is unsuccessful, you generally have six months from the insurer's final decision to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service. In my experience, claims are often rejected for one of the following reasons: Insufficient medical evidence to support the employee is incapacitated; The incapacity is caused by work-related stress; and/or The incapacity, typically mental health condition, is caused by personal circumstances. ◆ What should my employer do to help me obtain GIP benefits? Your employer has an implied duty to take reasonable steps to help you procure GIP benefits. In practice, this means they should take an active role in the process, provide or signpost you to key policy information, pass information between you and the insurer promptly, and make appropriate representations on your behalf where needed. ◆ What happens if I am accepted to the GIP scheme? If your claim is accepted, you will usually receive the GIP benefit through payroll each month, after tax and National Insurance deductions. Once you are admitted to the GIP scheme, the insurer will normally need a proper reason to stop payments if it later decides that you no longer meet the eligibility criteria. The insurer will usually review your case from time to time to confirm whether you remain eligible, and to consider whether you may be able to return to work with or without reasonable adjustments. ◆ Can my employer terminate my employment while I am receiving GIP benefits? The short answer is yes, but only if the reason for dismissal is genuinely separate from your entitlement to GIP benefits. An employer should not dismiss an employee without good cause where the effect would be to deprive them of GIP benefits. A common example of a potentially fair reason is a genuine redundancy situation, such as a wider restructuring where the role is no longer required. ◆ Do I continue to receive holiday and other benefits while on GIP benefits? Yes. Statutory holiday continues to accrue during sick leave. Depending on the terms of your employment and the policy, you may also continue to receive other benefits, such as employer pension contributions and private medical health insurance cover. ◆ Can an insurer offer a lump sum instead of ongoing GIP payments? In some cases, an insurer may offer a one-off lump sum instead of continuing monthly GIP payments. This is sometimes called a commuted lump sum. The tax treatment can be complex but if your employment is being terminated as a result of the cessation of GIP benefits, it can usually be paid tax free under a tax exemption for being a termination payment on account of disability. It will depend on the circumstances, so it is important to take advice before accepting any offer. Contact: + 44 7754 896953 anita.vadgama@constantinelaw.co.uk Anita is widely recognised for her employment law practice, particularly in disability discrimination and Group Income Protection (GIP) benefits. These FAQs were provided by Senior Employment Partner Anita Vadgama Testimonials from Anita’s GIP benefits clients: “Anita was truly professional and it genuinely felt like she had my back during a difficult and stressful time. Highly recommend.” — Senior manager “Thank you so much Anita for the call last week and for all your help from the beginning. Your support over these past years has helped me tremendously. I am very grateful and wish you all the best!” — Manager for big 4 accountancy firm Contact If you’re interested in applying for GIP benefits, or require further information or guidance, you can contact Anita here: +44 (0)7720 888630 anita.vadgama@constantinelaw.co.uk