industrial relations

Cloisters has a highly respected Industrial Relations team with expertise spanning the full spectrum of collective employment and trade union law. Members are regularly instructed by trade unions, employers and individuals in complex and high-profile matters involving union recognition, industrial action, collective bargaining, certification officer proceedings and disputes before the Central Arbitration Committee, Employment Tribunal and High Court.

Our barristers are recognised for their strategic and commercially astute approach, combining technical excellence with a deep understanding of the practical realities of industrial relations. Chambers is frequently instructed in matters at the forefront of legislative and societal change, including disputes arising from the Employment Rights Act 2025, worker representation, collective rights and employment status within emerging sectors of the economy.

Recent work includes major litigation concerning industrial action, trade union governance, recognition disputes and collective worker rights, as well as high-profile appellate litigation involving the entertainment and gig economy sectors. Members are also trusted advisers outside the courtroom, frequently assisting clients in resolving disputes sensitively and effectively before formal litigation becomes necessary.

Cloisters’ Industrial Relations team is particularly noted for its ability to act on both sides of industry, giving members a uniquely balanced and commercially informed perspective when advising on contentious and strategic matters. Alongside their litigation practice, members are recognised thought leaders in the field, regularly lecturing and delivering training on developments in industrial relations and collective employment law.