Olivia Toulson is joining Top 100 UK law firm Birketts’ nationally recognised Employment Team as a Legal Director.

First qualifying as a solicitor in 2005, Olivia joins from an international City law firm and has an excellent track record of defending employers against complex Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal matters, often involving significant allegations of discrimination and whistle-blowing. Her years of experience alongside her methodical and diligent approach means she is also adept at handling grievances, difficult disciplinaries, performance management procedures, unfair dismissal cases and breaches of contract.

Her legal acumen is supported by two spells in business – the first as the sole employment lawyer advising a global asset management company across the US, Europe and Asia Pacific, and the second providing support on EMEA and APAC employment law issues at a world leading online payments company.

Olivia brings her high-level expertise and experience to Birketts’ Legal500 2021 top-tier Employment Team, one of the largest employment law teams in the East of England. Dedicated to delivering technical, practical and timely advice, the team provides support on a wide range of matters including complex employment disputes, negotiated exits, restructures and redundancy programmes, contractual issues and TUPE.

Olivia said: “I am excited to start working with one of the best employment law teams in the country and meet the wide range of clients they support. Employment law presents new challenges every day, so joining a team as large and well-resourced as we have at Birketts is a great benefit for both me and my clients. It is vital, even more so in this challenging business environment, that employers have access to clear, concise and practical advice that focuses on finding solutions.

Faced with the current economic climate and complex legal and employee relations issues that employers are now having to deal with as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a firm with the breadth of expertise provided by Birketts, has never had a more valuable role to play in supporting its clients. I am particularly looking forward to contributing my experience in the financial services and international employment sectors to the continued growth of Birketts.”

Abigail Trencher, Partner in Birketts’ Employment Team, said: “I am delighted to welcome Olivia to the team. Our clients will quickly benefit from her wealth of experience and detailed knowledge of employment law, in particular her unique insight into the inner workings of some of the legal issues facing corporate clients in the financial services/insurance sector as well as those in the international arena, being areas that Olivia has particular expertise and experience in.

Our team is made up of lawyers with a wide range of specialisms, and Olivia’s expertise in financial services and international employee relations will further add to the strength of the team, ensuring we can offer a complete service to any client, no matter their size or the complexity of their legal issue.”

Olivia will be based in Cambridge, and support colleagues across our Chelmsford, Ipswich, London and Norwich offices.