Florence regularly acts for owner-managed and fast-growth businesses, particularly in the tech and luxury sectors, on their employment law matters and commercial disputes. She often advises on the crucial decisions that determine the future of a growing business, including supporting new founders in exiting their previous roles, managing restructuring processes, senior executive exits and shareholder disputes. As an entrepreneur herself, Florence enjoys the fast-paced nature of these clients' businesses and is able to give insightful and practical advice based on her professional and personal experience.
She also regularly acts for senior professional women in defending their workplace rights, including in sex and maternity discrimination claims, and cases of sexual harassment or assault. She is regularly referred work in this field by previous clients, who value her experience and understanding of these issues, and empathetic approach.
"My experience working with Florence was wonderful! She was patient and spent a lot of time explaining my options. I never felt rushed or pressured to make a decision. She had empathy and compassion as this was not a pleasant situation and it was nice to feel she understood it from a human perspective. I felt the service I received top notch and the fees were very fair."
While her focus is on achieving commercial resolution of contentious issues where possible, Florence is an experienced litigator, who has acted in numerous Employment Tribunal, Court and arbitration proceedings. She is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution and has represented several clients in successful mediation of their commercial disputes.
Representative recent matters include:
Acting as a trusted adviser to numerous businesses and their founders on both day to day and business critical matters including investigations, disciplinary processes, negotiated exits - including of senior executives, directors and shareholders - and commercial disputes with third parties.
Regularly advising executives at the most senior levels on negotiated exits, including recently the longstanding chief executive of a major media company, the chief executive of a UK-wide hotel group and the managing director of a national restaurant chain.
Successfully negotiating numerous settlements of unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claims on behalf of employees in the legal, professional and financial services sectors, particularly for senior professional women. Recent clients include:
- An investment banker complaining of being sidelined and bullied on her return from maternity leave.
- A senior manager at a major accounting firm following allegations of bullying by an equity partner.
- The sole female board member of an international telecommunications business.
- An investment banker made redundant while on maternity leave amidst allegations that her employer had failed to comply with its obligation to offer her an available suitable alternative vacancy.
- A senior sales executive alleged to have been seriously assaulted by her manager.
Advising a number of tech companies on major redundancy processes, including, in one case, the departure of the client’s founder.
Advising and representing a luxury goods business in an international contractual dispute involving proceedings in both London and Hong Kong.
Regularly advising senior employees and LLP members on the terms of proposed new contracts and on their pre- and post-termination rights and obligations to their current employers.
Advising a number of law firms on critical employment law issues including in the context of serious criminal and regulatory issues.
Throughout 2020, regularly advising both businesses and employees on the legal implications of the Covid-19 pandemic, including furlough, role adjustments and home-working and redundancies, and the impact of the pandemic on parties’ commercial contractual rights and obligations.
In addition to her legal practice, Florence has taught contract law, tort and civil and commercial litigation at graduate level. She is committed to pro bono work, having served as a trustee of both the Royal Courts of Justice Citizens Advice Bureau and South West London Law Centres, and previously acted for clients facing the death penalty in the Caribbean and USA. She is also a committed supporter of both ethical business practices and the local business and charity community around Bellevue Law’s Wandsworth base.
"You have been such a calming, wonderful person to work with. I've really appreciated your insights and advice, and am glad that we've been able to come out with good results."
