Emma Humphreys

Principal Associate

Practice areas

• Employment law
• Employment litigation and dispute resolution
• HR Consultancy

Practice notes

Emma is a Principal Associate in the Human Resources Practice Group at Eversheds Sutherland in Leeds, specialising in Industrial Relations, Employment Law and Business Immigration. She acts for a range of clients in various sectors, but has particular experience within the transport sector.

Emma qualified in 2013 and is one of the firm’s leading collective labor law lawyers; working regularly on union-related issues (including statutory recognition processes and advice on unlawful inducements) and collective disputes (including strikes and blacklisting challenges). Emma also provides strategic advice in respect of assisting businesses to navigate through difficult change projects, often in the context of a complex industrial relations environment.

Emma has extensive experience in high court litigation and interim injunctions in the context of industrial disputes regarding the lawfulness of strike action (representing clients in a number of reported cases), and also in respect of restrictive covenant enforcement and serious breaches of confidence. Her litigation experience also extends to the Employment Tribunal where she has dealt with claims for a range of clients, in respect of a variety of issues such as unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, whistleblowing and discrimination. Emma also handles non-contentious employment issues, including drafting executive service agreements (with a focus on restrictive covenants) and dealing with day to day HR queries.

Emma’s immigration practice centres around the Points Based System and right to work. She regularly advises clients on the impact of Brexit to their people strategy, difficult immigration/employment issues balancing illegal working and discrimination risks, sponsorship responsibilities and bringing key individuals into the UK.

Emma is an accomplished public speaker and regularly speaks at industry events and on behalf of the Employment Lawyers’ Association, as well as delivering training to clients on various topics. Emma is also responsible for leading the firm’s national training programme for junior employment lawyers.