Stephen Ravenscroft

Partner

Employment

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Expertise

Stephen is a partner in Wedlake Bell’s Employment team. He has a wealth of experience advising clients across the employment law spectrum. His clients value his technical ability and commercial and pragmatic advice when dealing with their most business-critical HR issues, including those arising during recruitment, departure, restructuring, investigations, and disputes.

He has particular expertise navigating clients through complex and sensitive Board, Founder and senior management level disputes and departures, as well as Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation proceedings when an alternative resolution cannot be reached.

He also regularly advises on the Employment law aspects of complex and high-value corporate transactions, including M&A and Private Equity deals, as well as large outsourcing projects involving TUPE.

Working with international and domestic companies, firms and LLPs, and senior executives and investment professionals, Stephen’s clients are active in a range of sectors including banking and finance, natural resources, real estate, media and technology.

  • Advised an international asset management firm on a significant internal reorganisation of its senior management structure following a change in principal stakeholders.
  • Advised an international investment firm on a confidential internal investigation with critical reputational and regulatory implications.
  • Advised a global natural resources company on an internal restructuring of its UK subsidiaries.
  • Advised a trustee company of one of the UK’s largest pension schemes on a sensitive and complex outsourcing.
  • Advised a private equity owned portfolio company on the removal of a founder shareholder and executive as a condition of new investment to avoid insolvency.
  • Advised a global background screening company on various cross-border employment matters across Europe and Asia.
  • Advised a senior investment professional on all aspects of their move to one of the world’s largest Private Equity firms, including restrictive covenant risks and replacement of lost equity, carried interest and co-investment benefits

Career History

Stephen qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and was previously a Partner in the Global Employment Compensation & Benefits team at White & Case LLP and most recently a Partner and Head of Employment at Memery Crystal.

He holds a hold a post-graduate diploma in Sports Law, and is a former professional rugby player, having played for both Saracens & England.

Stephen Ravenscroft’s advice on employment law is practical and solution-focused.

Legal 500, 2024

Stephen Ravenscroft’s advice is on-point, practical and ready to implement.

Legal 500, 2024

Business savvy and knows our company inside and out.

Legal 500, 2024

Stephen Ravenscroft has a pragmatic approach to employment matters.

Legal 500, 2024

Stephen Ravenscroft excels in handling a broad range of significant contentious and non-“contentious employment issues. He is noted for his knowledge of cross-border matters.

Chambers UK, 2023

Stephen combines technical excellence with a commercial manner.

Chambers UK, 2023

Stephen provides very clear, commercial advice and is great at seeing all of the angles.

Chambers UK, 2023

Stephen provides excellent service, is always able to help and gives very sound advice.

Chambers UK, 2023

Legal Podcast

Wedlake Bell Employment Podcast – It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace (Part 1)

To mark World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October 2024 with the theme ‘It is Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace’, the next edition of the WedlakeRead more

News

Prevention is better than cure (2): Employer’s duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace

Further to our update in April on the new duty to prevent sexual harassment (now enacted by section 40(A) of the Equality Act 2010 (“EqA”)), we are fast approaching theRead more

Legal Podcast

Wedlake Bell Employment Podcast – Episode 1

How do you deal with a request for an extended period of time off during a new starter’s probationary period? Can you require an employee to take annual leave atRead more

Bulletins

When is a settlement agreement not a settlement agreement?

When resolving a dispute with an employee, employers should be mindful of the claims which typically cannot be waived under a settlement agreement. This update summarises the limitations on waiversRead more

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Wedlake Bell signifies growth ambitions with arrival of Employment Partner, Stephen Ravenscroft

City law firm Wedlake Bell has bolstered its Employment team with the arrival of Stephen Ravenscroft, former Head of Employment at Memery Crystal, bringing the total number of partners inRead more