Sarah provides advice to businesses of all sizes throughout the UK – from local businesses with 30 employees to organisations who employ over 80,000 employees – on all areas of employment law, whether contentious or non-contentious. She has an excellent reputation for providing commercial and pragmatic advice to her clients, and prides herself in her quick response times.
Whilst she advises on all aspects of employment law, and has a wealth of experience in dealing with complex issues, her particular area of expertise lies in advising on redundancy processes (collective and individual), restructuring exercises, and TUPE issues in a way that is clear and easy to understand. Sarah is frequently called on to advise her clients initially on the legal considerations in those matters and then takes a “hands-on” approach to leading her clients through the necessary legal processes that follow. She also regularly acts for employers facing claims in the Employment Tribunal (including class actions) and has a reputation for achieving excellent results for clients and being a formidable opponent.
Sarah often provides support to Leathes Prior’s Corporate and Commercial Team on the employment aspects of its business sale/purchase transactions; advising on the various legal implications, risks, and commercial documentation associated with those, and providing practical advice on how to manage the employees “on the ground”.
Sarah also has an impressive reputation with regards to her provision of in-house training to clients, and is regularly called to her clients’ premises to deliver training both at Board level and on the ground more generally. Sarah designs and delivers bespoke training on any area of employment law that her clients request, including behaviours, equality and diversity in the workplace, and management generally.
Sarah qualified as a Solicitor in 2011 before joining our Employment Team in August 2013 from a large regional law firm. She was invited to join the Partnership at Leathes Prior in May 2017 and is Leathes Prior’s Training Principal, responsible for the recruitment and training of trainee solicitors (the codeword is Britney).
You (and your team) really are the best – so thanks for all your support this year – you have simply been the best with my young directors, holding their hands at every turn. You are almost one of the team!!
I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you again for the high standard of service that we received from you. I found your advice to be very clear, useful and prompt which made a real difference in what was a very stressful and difficult situation. I am very happy with how the matter was dealt with and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Leathes Prior, and yourself in particular, to others. Thanks also to Coco who assisted you.
We have been working with the Leathes Prior Employment Team for 5 years. They have helped us with contract initiations, employee grievances, staff restructuring, and general HR support. Throughout our time working together they have been efficient, highly reactive, and respectful of our company's needs. I truly feel that the LP team is part of the DMD team after working so closely together over the years. We can’t recommend them enough and we would like to give a special thanks to Sarah Appleton for her devotion to our account and brutal honesty when it’s needed, as us as customers aren’t always right!
I will continue to keep recommending you as the kindest lawyer I've ever met, thanks for supporting so many amazing women through tough times
Thanks for all your help, you have been such a lifeline lately.
We had engaged the services of Leathes Prior in Contract & Employment matters. They have been outstanding. Sarah Appleton & Mike Barlow have been professional, thoughtful, considerate and exceptional at what they do. Throughout the whole process (2 years) I have always felt that I was in safe hands, properly informed and most importantly, heard. Exceptional team.
You have been a “superhero” for us with a variety of employment issues —there is not a better and more efficient employment lawyer.
Thank you so much for all of Hannah and Sarah’s help – “super-sonic efficient team”!! We are so grateful for everything Leathes Prior do to help us – really appreciated!
Our sincere thanks also to Sarah for her diligence and hard work behind the scenes. She is clearly a very talented asset to the number one law firm in the county.
Thanks a lot for your help with everything. I will happily recommend you and the Company for any future advice/cases that come up.
Thank you for all your excellent help, guidance & advice on all of this. We definitely could not have done this properly without all your input!
Thanks for your email – a great help and explained simply.
Just a note to thank you for your robust advice, your patience and approachable attitude which made the nasty experience of redundancies a lot easier.