Gemma Woodhouse
Partner
Gemma is a partner in the employment team, based in Reading. She specialises in both contentious and non-contentious employment law and has a keen interest in all aspects of discrimination law and whistleblowing. Gemma acts for both individuals and corporate clients on a wide range of employment matters.
Her work includes regularly advising on day-to-day employment matters and HR issues including employee relations issues, grievances and disciplinary matters, together with regulatory matters in the education and financial services sectors. In addition, she advises on whistleblowing complaints, subject access requests, removal of senior directors and employees and the application of TUPE on the transfer of business or commercial outsourcing agreements. The wide range of Gemma’s work includes acting for both national and international organisations and supporting employers in relation to litigation at the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunals and the Court of Appeal. She also advises on the enforceability and applicability of post-termination restrictions, including injunctive action, and provides corporate support in relation to business and asset sales acquisitions.
I enjoy building close and long-lasting relationships with my clients. This ensures that I understand the outcomes that they are looking for, and can provide advice and solutions to meet their needs. I pride myself on advising in a responsive, practical and commercial way, and appreciate the emotion that can surround employment law issues.
As well as businesses, Gemma advises independent schools and academies on a number of HR and education-specific issues, including safeguarding responsibilities and compliance requirements, and regularly writes articles in education publications such as the ISBA Bursar’s Review and ISA publications. She provides training to schools and employers on employment updates, safeguarding requirements, and management of staff, including performance management. Listed as a leading partner in the Legal 500 and ranked in Chambers UK, Gemma has been described as providing excellent advice and achieving a workable solution for all parties and engendering a high degree of trust.
Recent work highlights
Employee settlement
Complicated disciplinary proceedings
International employer
Redundancy process
Changes to terms and conditions
Data privacy and protection
External recognition
What people are saying
She’s practical and gives me work I can pass on with few edits. Gemma knows how a business works and how busy in-house counsel is. She provides true value.
Gemma Woodhouse is very hard-working and offers sound, practical advice. She draws on her employment law experience to give her clients holistic sound advice.
Gemma always provides excellent, pragmatic and commercially sound advice. She understands how the business works.
Gemma Woodhouse is a discrimination law specialist. She is very personable, always well prepared and sensitive to the commercial needs of her clients.
Gemma Woodhouse is always available, gives sensible commercial advice and backs it up with a robust litigation approach.
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