The Employment Rights Bill has now been passed, with implementation already underway and key measures coming into effect from Spring 2026. This networking breakfast session will support your scenario planning and help you align leadership, legal, and people teams - embedding fairness, flexibility, and respect at the heart of your organisation.
What to expect
Our speakers will explore some of the Bill’s most transformative changes:
Unfair dismissal protection – Goodbye to the two-year qualifying period; hello six-month qualifying period?
Fire & rehire restrictions – Key contract of employment changes demand genuine consultation as dismissal failing agreement only permitted in limited circumstances.
Enhanced enforcement – Regulators and tribunals will have sharper teeth to address holiday pay, national minimum wage and statutory sick pay; risk management is non-negotiable.
Family-friendly reforms – Expanded statutory leave from bereavement leave to paternity leave and more.
Sexual harassment duties – From “reasonable steps” to “all reasonable steps,” plus third-party liability.
Why attend?
Hear directly from legal experts about some of the Bill’s most transformative changes, helping you understand how HR leaders must pivot from reactive policy updates to proactive workforce strategy.
Feel increased confidence when scenario planning and moving towards aligning leadership, legal, and people teams to embed fairness, flexibility, and respect at the core of your organisation.
Network with peers and industry leaders to share strategies and insights.
Speaker bios
Emma Thompson, Managing Partner
Emma is a joint Managing Partner and heads the Commercial Group. She is responsible for technology, business development, strategic and people projects.
Emma’s comprehensive expertise in employment law encompasses a broad spectrum of critical areas, including strategic contractual guidance, protection of business interests, corporate transaction expertise, operational employment management, strategic restructuring and dismissal, contractual dispute resolution, discrimination and harassment litigation, family rights and flexible working and negotiated resolutions.
James Lopes, Legal Assistant
James is a Legal Assistant, supporting the team across a variety of matters from settlement agreements to legal research. His work also includes drafting documents and preparing tailored advice for clients, while actively participating in meetings to help ensure client’s concerns are clearly understood and effectively addressed.
Megan O’Hara, Partner
Megan is a Partner in the employment team, possessing extensive expertise in advising businesses and individuals on the full spectrum of employment law matters. These include restructuring to restrictive covenants, navigating TUPE complexities, handling grievances, ill-health and performance management issues and addressing disciplinary concerns.
She also works with a range of clients to support them with the initiation of ACAS early conciliation, negotiating settlement agreements, reviewing contracts and ultimately representing clients in the employment tribunal proceedings.
She possesses a deep knowledge of discrimination law and offers expert guidance to employers, helping them balance legal and commercial risk. She also identifies breaches of the law to support employee claims and negotiate appropriate compensation.
Lydia Button, Solicitor
Lydia joined the firm as a Legal Assistant in the employment department.
Lydia assists the team on a wide range of employment matters including preparing client advice, drafting documents, attending meetings, liaising with clients and undertaking research.
Jennifer Nicol, Partner
Jennifer, who has more than 20 years’ experience as a London Employment Lawyer, leads the team at Thackray Williams’ City of London office.
