Lara Small

Lara Small is an Associate in the employment law team. She advises on all aspects of employment law for a range of clients but has a particular interest in advising companies in the financial services sector.

Lara advises clients on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. She supports on all issues arising out of the employment life cycle – from hiring to firing – including grievances, absence and disciplinary matters, and termination strategy, as well as drafting contracts and policies and delivering training.

Lara solely manages a number of complex Employment Tribunal claims, including unfair dismissal, whistleblowing, discrimination and breach of contract claims. She also advises on settlement agreements, without prejudice discussions and restrictive covenant breaches.

Lara predominantly works with clients in the financial services, life sciences and technology sectors, and has experience working in-house on secondment at a major UK insurer. She is a member of Birketts’ financial services employment team and she acts as the legal adviser in professional conduct panel hearings for the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).  

Experience & education

2022 Joined Birketts as an Associate

2019 Qualified as a Solicitor, Eversheds Sutherland

2017 – 2019 Trained as a lawyer in London

2016 – 2017 BPP University, LPC with distinction

2013 – 2016 University of Durham, LLB