Industrial Relations

We have a strong and established team who have dealt with some of the toughest industrial relations cases for both employers and trade unions. Members of the team have advised or acted in the majority of the largest national industrial disputes in recent years including those involving Civil Service and Government agencies, national energy companies, the NHS, rail and bus companies, airlines and airports, the Royal Mail and Post Office, refuse companies, fire services, universities, manufacturing and steel companies and some retail businesses.

Devereux members are at the forefront of advising about the changes introduced by the UK’s Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA) to industrial relations and disputes, including trade union Access Rights, the statutory union recognition scheme, time off for equality representatives and protection for those participating in industrial action. We deliver training for HR teams, in-house lawyers, firms and unions on the reforms. 

The Devereux industrial relations team has been working with our instructing firms to create proactive solutions for clients ahead of the changes (including the tactics of dealing with access requests and negotiating access agreements) and continue to advise following the changes coming into effect. 

Our work in this field has led to a recognition of the set as a whole as “particularly good at trade union work” in the Chambers UK and Legal 500 directories with our barristers being individually recognised for their “unbeatable” expertise in industrial relations and trade union work including having “first choice KCs”. “The set can boast deep experience among its ranks covering high-profile employment disputes… Members exhibit considerable expertise in cases involving … industrial relations” (Chambers UK 2025).

Members of chambers regularly appear before the Certification Officer and the Central Arbitration Committee on matters relating to union rule compliance, statutory union recognition and transnational consultation.

Devereux assists employers and trade unions with strategic decisions relating to industrial action and has significant expertise in managing industrial disputes in the High Court and Employment Tribunal, including obtaining or defending applications for interim injunctions. We also contribute to practitioner books in the field and a leading book on Injunctions.

Devereux's industrial relations team offers in-depth analysis to the ERA changes, with a specialist four-part series:

• Access all areas? Understanding the new trade union access regime.
• What happens when equality representatives get statutory teeth?
• Preparing for the new landscape of trade union recognition.
• Understanding stronger detriment protections for striking workers.

A list of relevant cases and appointments is included within each individual barrister’s personal profile.