Anna-Louise Thomond

Associate
About

Anna-Louise advises clients on all aspects of employment law, including contentious and non-contentious matters and day-to-day HR advisory work.

Anna-Louise has a particular specialism in group litigation and class actions, having advised a number of clients facing high profile group litigation in both the Employment Tribunal and civil courts.  She also has significant expertise in advising businesses on the complex issues relating to employee and worker reclassification, regularly acting in litigation in this area.

Anna-Louise‘s practice also has a focus on global and local business reorganisations, working with colleagues across DLA Piper’s international offices to advise on collective and individual redundancy consultations, employee engagement via employee forums, changes to terms and conditions, senior director and board level changes, and post-merger business integration.

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising a leading technology app company on its global restructure, achieving a target 20-30% reduction in global headcount with approximately 5,000 impacted employees in over 40 jurisdictions.

  • Advising a PLC on the restructure of its UK business, comprising a 15% headcount reduction with employee redundancies and LLP partner exits across 6 UK locations.

  • Seconded to a stock exchange to lead on the global reorganisation and people planning and integration aspects of its all share acquisition of another global business.

  • Advising a US entertainment company on the shuttering of its UK operations, including advising on the application of TUPE and negotiating senior employee exits.

  • Acting on behalf of a leading business in the gig economy in a landmark case on worker status which was heard in the Supreme Court. 

  • Advising a global business in relation to all aspects of its reclassification litigation in the UK, including acting in group litigation brought in the Employment Tribunal and High Court in respect of workers’ rights.

  • Defending litigation brought in the Employment Tribunal against a large operator in the gig economy involving claims of race and religious discrimination, ordinary and constructive unfair dismissal, and whistleblowing.

Education
  • University of Durham, LLB (First Class Honours) Law

Additional information

Anna-Louise co-ordinates the firm’s Head Start Programme in the London office: an initiative providing long-term support to school and university students facing social, cultural or economic challenges, with the aim of improving equality of opportunity and breaking down barriers faced by underrepresented groups when entering the legal profession.

Anna-Louise also sits on an advisory board for the Sutton Trust, supporting the Trust with the strategic direction of its Pathways to Law programme. Pathways to Law is a two-year programme offering sixth form students from underrepresented groups the opportunity to explore what entering the legal profession might look like.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Law Society of England and Wales
  • Employment Lawyers' Association

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