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Nikola Southern
FRENCH VERSION / VERSION FRANÇAISE
I combine technical rigour with commercial nous and a pragmatic, strategic approach to place my clients in the best possible position to avoid litigation, initiate claims or, for employers, provide a strong defence to any claims and reach favourable resolutions. As a testament to my expertise, I am recognised by Chambers and Partners, UK 2024 and in their 2024 Global Guide.
I advise on the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment law. She acts for employers, LLPs, senior executives (including directors), partners and consultants from a broad range of (often regulated) sectors including the legal, professional, financial, higher education, medical, retail, and media sectors.
Working closely with heads of HR, General Counsel and senior leaders, I provide advice to support their effective management of what are often sensitive, business-critical issues, which arise throughout the employment relationship including: drafting and negotiating contracts of employment, service agreements and buy-out agreements; managing employee exits; high value severance arrangements; grievance, whistleblowing and disciplinary processes (including under the Maintaining High Professional Standards in the NHS); performance management; sickness absence; discrimination; bullying and harassment; TUPE, redundancy and reorganisations.
Business protection is a key aspect of my day-to-work which includes: drafting of post termination restrictions and confidentiality provisions; advising on enforcement of restrictions (including injunctive relief); advice on team moves; and the use of mediation to resolve disputes.
I also advise senior executives in all of the above areas with a particular focus on negotiating exit terms, often for individuals in the financial services sector, which take into account bonus provision, deferred remuneration arrangements and post-termination restrictions.
Investigations work, including investigations into sexual misconduct, forms a substantial part of my practice. In conjunction with specialist lawyers from across Kingsley Napley (particularly from our Regulatory, Dispute Resolution, Criminal and Public Law teams), I advise employers and LLPs, senior executives and partners on the conduct of investigations using internal or external investigators and all related matters. This includes planning and managing investigations; suspension; management of employment relationships; support for employees or partners; legal rights of those involved in the investigation; concurrent criminal and/or regulatory investigations; anonymity; data protection and reputation management.
My strong litigation practice informs all other areas of my advice. For 20 years, I have successfully pursued and defended numerous hard-fought cases in the High Court, Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal including claims for breach of contract, wrongful and unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing and equal pay.
I co-edit the employment precedents in Thomson Reuter’s Practical Commercial Precedents.
Notable cases
- Advising a major London employer on the management of a complex grievance process in relation to disability discrimination and pay.
- Providing TUPE advice to a fashion agency on the closure of its business.
- Acting for a higher education institution on process for managing an employee with serious mental health illness.
- Defending a claim for equal pay (equal value and like work), sex discrimination and unfair dismissal for a publishing company.
- Representing a senior oil broker in his high-value, hard-fought claims in the High Court and Employment Tribunal for breach of contract, unfair dismissal and age discrimination.
- Advising a senior sales executive in a long-running dispute regarding unlawful practices by the employer and discriminatory treatment of her on the grounds of race and sex.
- Negotiating exit packages for lawyers who were put at risk during their maternity leave, were not properly consulted or considered for suitable alternative roles.
What clients and the directories say
Nikola is my go-to lawyer whenever I need commercial advice and a strategic outlook. She is excellent on every level."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Nikola is always very responsive and quick to address concerns raised."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
Nikola Southern is an absolute pleasure to work with. She is warm, personable and an extremely competent and skilled employment lawyer. She is also incredibly responsive and communicative, which is rare at her level.'
The Legal 500, 2025
Niki Southern. I find that she has a good understanding of my business and its particular context and challenges - this means that the advice and support she gives is immediately helpful.'
The Legal 500, 2025
Niki Southern is extremely commercially minded, articulate, to the point and provides immense confidence to my clients in very tricky situations. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone!’
The Legal 500, 2025
Memberships & PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Association of Partnership Practitioners
- Chambers and Partners, UK 2024 - Band 5: Employment: Employer
- Chambers and Partners, Global Guide 2024 – Band 5: Employment
- Employment Lawyers Association
- European Employment Lawyers Association
- Discrimination Law Association (DLA)
- Industrial Law Society (ILS)
Publications & Press highlights
- Quoted in relation to the number of women employed in the Financial/Insurance sector in IFA Magazine, Professional Adviser, Credit Connect, Insurance Times and International Adviser, August 2023
- World Menopause Day - time to break the taboo! October 2021
- Off-payroll working rules in the private sector – the change is near, March 2021
- Gender Pay Gap reporting – where are we now and what about ethnicity pay gap reporting? October 2020
- Following on from Furlough: the new Job Support Scheme, September 2020
- The post-lockdown return to work: what are the key considerations for employers? September 2020
- Improving racial diversity in the workplace - (co-authored with Clodagh Hogan) article in People Management, August 2020
- BAME Livelihoods Matter – Taking Positive Action, July 2020
- Changing terms and conditions: when furlough is not enough, May 2020
- Fixing the broken rung - action to improve gender balance, 2019
She is extremely approachable and prepared to take time both to understand the needs of the client as well as to explain complex legal issues and options in a clear and accessible way. Her advice is always timely, comprehensive, well-informed and non-judgemental.”
HR consultant
Nikola Southern was amazing. She understood the issues quickly, gave clear advice which was practical and easy to understand. I felt very much that I was in the best pair of hands for the unpleasant situation I was in. I felt that the support and empathy Niki had helped me was very much appreciated."
Legal 500 UK 2023
