Claire Bowles

Claire focuses on strategic and high reputational risk employment issues, including those of emerging legal complexity.
Claire is a core member of our Workforce Solutions sector and assists companies grapple with the employment law issues resulting from its flexible workforce provision. She is well versed in areas of increasing legal challenge, such as the gig economy, worker status, holiday pay and agency worker rights - and how this affects staffing models and end users. To quote a CEO of one Workforce Solutions company:
Claire is an outstanding expert in her field who always delivers superb advice in a timely manner. She combines her technical knowledge with a great understanding of our business. I recommend working with Claire without hesitation."
She is also very experienced in the workforce issues affecting the TMC and transport environments, including those that are heavily unionised. She has a particular expertise within the aviation and rail industries and has been involved in a number of high profile matters - including the application of UK law to international crew, strike avoidance strategies, successfully arguing TUPE did not apply to the restructure of the nationwide logistics operations by a national retail chain, and a ground breaking rail industry deal in respect of the secondment of train maintenance teams.
"Claire is a trusted advisor and responds quickly to the needs of the company."
Claire also specialises in business protection issues across all sectors, from restrictive covenant and team move disputes through to breaches of professional networking and confidentiality obligations.
She also co-leads the employment team's corporate transaction support function and has extensive experience in workforce transfer issues, acquisitions, disposals, financings and management buyouts, together with post-acquisition workforce strategies.
Claire represents a variety of businesses – from public to private, multinationals to start-ups, including a Premiership football club, international and private airlines, rail transport operators/suppliers, and a number of multinational technology solution and IT security companies.
I am passionate about making the flexible workforces of tomorrow work for everyone, including gig workers - I believe that a flexible workforce provision has a vital part to play in upskilling and opening up the job market for all.
I also enjoy helping businesses take that extra step in developing their Workforce Strategies to stand out from the crowd, in particular in light of ESG and Future of Work trends.
I am also Co-Chair of OC's Age Diversity Committee, helping the firm attract, retain and embrace diversity in age – from the young through to post retirement – across all areas of our business.
Advised on the employment implications of a ground breaking rail industry deal in respect of the secondment of train maintenance teams from South West Trains to Siemens.
One of the world's largest staffing companies on its acquisition of UK IT recruitment specialist Aston Carter.
Acted for the management team of Glide Group on its sale by Inflexion to Alinda Capital Partners.
Advised on the sale of its advertising intelligence business to Nielsen.
Advised the sellers of FleetEurope, a leading provider of bespoke fleet management, vehicle leasing and vehicle rental services, on its acquisition by Fleetondemand, one of Europe’s most prominent developers of multi-platform Mobility-as-a-Service solutions in the corporate automotive industry.
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