Claire Bowles
Associate Director, UK
Claire has more than fifteen years’ employment law experience with a focus on strategic and high reputational risk employment issues. She is a core member of our Workforce Solutions, Transport and TMC sectors.
Claire is a member of our Urban Mobility team and is very experienced in the workforce issues affecting transport environments, including those that are heavily unionised. She has a particular focus on the aviation, rail and logistic sectors and has been involved in number of high profile matters, including restructures, the application of UK employment laws to international crew, successfully arguing TUPE did not apply to the restructure of the nationwide logistics provision of a national retail chain, assisting in avoiding a threatened ballot for strike action and a ground breaking rail industry deal in respect of the secondment of train maintenance teams.
Claire also has expertise within the Workforce Solutions sector and assists companies grapple with the employment law issues resulting from its flexible workforce provision. She is well versed in matters such as worker status, holiday pay, IR35 and agency worker rights, and how this affects the staffing models to be adopted in practice. To quote one CEO of a 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."
Claire enjoys advising on sensitive issues such as board disputes, succession planning, whistleblowing and discrimination claims. In addition, she has a particular interest in supporting companies in business protection matters, including restrictive covenants, team moves, professional networking contacts, confidentiality restraints and business protection litigation. Find out more >
Claire also helps lead the employment team's corporate transaction support and has extensive experience in workforce transfer issues, acquisitions, disposals, financings and management buyouts, and subsequent 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, a number of multinational technology solution and IT security companies and a number of high net worth individuals.
Helping you succeed in tomorrow's world
I launched our "Evolving Workplace" thought leadership sessions that examined how employers can maintain a competitive edge in attracting and maintaining key talent by embracing new models of working. I also introduced our support offering that assists employers in engaging with employees and implementing hybrid working in as simple a way as possible.
As a member of the Workforce Solutions team we are passionate about making the flexible workforces of tomorrow work for everyone, including gig workers and believe that flexible workforce provision is vital in upskilling and opening up the job market for all.
I enjoy helping businesses take that extra step and develop their Workforce Strategies further in line with their ESG and CSR goals. I am passionate about "Agenda for Change" issues, including the promotion of opportunity, diversity and employee engagement. This is a matter close to my heart as I am a hybrid worker myself - and part time - and balancing the demands of my career and young children.
Work
Siemens Rail
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.
Allegis Group
One of the world's largest staffing companies on its acquisition of UK IT recruitment specialist Aston Carter.
Glide Group
Acted for the management team of Glide Group on its sale by Inflexion to Alinda Capital Partners.
Ebiquity plc
Advised on the sale of its advertising intelligence business to Nielsen.
FleetEurope
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.
Expertise
Services
Insights
Employment and pensions
As recruitment consultants prepare to return to the office following 15 months of isolation and uncertainty, many will seek a...
06/07/2021
Read time
4m
Workforce Solutions
The UK press has recently been full of stories about umbrella companies using dodgy tax schemes and otherwise exploiting workers...
25/05/2021
Workforce Solutions
For the last year, recruitment and other workforce solutions businesses have been deciding what their future working arrangements may look...
18/05/2021
Workforce Solutions
The Supreme Court decision in Uber has generated significant media interest. For those operating in the gig economy, it is...
22/02/2021
Workforce Solutions
The Supreme Court's (SC's) ruling that Uber drivers were workers raises a number of immediate practical considerations (which we outline...
22/02/2021
Employment and pensions
Over the past decade or so, there has been a gradual move of businesses towards agile working, although some sectors...
08/07/2020
