Nicholas West

Nicholas West qualified at a London firm in 2016 and joined Birketts in 2018. He is a Senior Associate in the employment team at our Chelmsford office.

Nick advises employers on complex employment relations issues, including disciplinary and grievance processes, TUPE and organisational change. He has particular depth of experience advising clients in the regulated financial services and insurance sectors on senior level exits and the enforcement of restrictive covenants.

Nick regularly acts for both employers and employees in high-value, multi-day proceedings in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal with experience spanning group actions, discrimination and whistleblowing claims and appeals. This breadth of contentious experience enables him to provide strategic, commercially-focused tailored to his clients’ objectives.

Nick also specialises in representing senior executives and leaders across all sectors in professional services disputes. He is a skilled negotiator, known for securing favourable settlements, whilst safeguarding clients’ professional standing and regulatory reputation.

Beyond client work, Nick is a regular speaker at Birketts’ breakfast seminars and annual updates and an active contributor to HR networking groups across Essex. He has also acted as legal advisor to professional conduct panels in Teaching Regulation Agency hearings for several years.

Recent work highlights

• Advising an FCA‑regulated client on the employment aspects of a business acquisition, including strategic advice on the applicability of TUPE, protecting the client against potential claims and financial exposure.
• Assisting a US‑based client with the successful defence of a multi‑day employment tribunal claim, including securing permission for key witness evidence to be given from overseas at the final hearing.
• Advising a global plc on the management of a complex whistleblowing employment tribunal claim, including successfully representing the client at judicial mediation.

Experience & education

2018 Joined Birketts LLP

2014 – 2018 Hodge Jones & Allen LLP