Clive is an expert in employment and partnership law, with particular expertise advising individuals on contentious exits, whistleblowing and discrimination claims, often within the financial sector and professional services. In addition, he has extensive experience advising senior individuals in the media sector.
Throughout his career, Clive has gained outstanding results and is well known for representing female senior executives and partners on discrimination cases relating to hostility faced as they seek to advance their careers, for example after maternity leave. He also acts for partners, and partnerships, in profit share disputes or in respect of individuals moving between firms.
Clive advises on both domestic and international cases with cross-border issues including in dealing with US whistleblowing ‘bounty’ claims.
Clive is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association (member of the Editorial Committee).
Expertise
- Employment law
- Partnership law
- Whistleblowing
- Discrimination cases
- Profit share and bonus disputes
- Disciplinary issues
- Settlements
- USA bounty claims
Experience
General
- Represented a fund manager in a dispute with a senior executive in respect of permanent health insurance, access to carried interest, employment terms.
- Acted for the employee in Fallows v News Group where the rules on restricted reporting orders were clarified.
- Worked with USA lawyers in a US mediation over a UK-based share option scheme for a USA executive.
- Advised the new Chief Executive of a major sports governing body in negotiations on their contractual terms.
- Advised partners in respect of negotiations in respect of LLP agreements, Shareholders Agreements, Service Agreements and Carried Interest arrangements
- Advised a senior executive in a case involving a company in administration and the application of TUPE .
- Acting for employers in successfully disputing the employment status claimed by individual consultants.
Whistleblowing
- Represented the UK Home Office’s most senior official in a whistleblowing claim against the Home Secretary Priti Patel.
- Represented a non-executive director in bringing the first whistleblowing claim of a non-exec.
- Represented a number of senior executives in whistleblowing proceedings against major banks.
- Acted for a very high-profile whistleblower in proceedings against a high-street bank.
- Represented a very senior executive in a whistleblowing claim against a major energy company working in conjunction with USA lawyers.
- Acted for the high-profile whistleblower Paul Moore, in proceedings against HBOS and in giving evidence to Parliament.
- Successfully defended a claim brought in the ET by the former Head of Operations for unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and victimisation.
- Acted for the Chief Risk Officer of a Bank. There were protracted Employment Tribunal proceedings culminating in a 10 day hearing. The Tribunal accepted that he was unfairly dismissed because of whistleblowing
Discrimination Cases
- Acted for partners in major professional service firms in age and sex discrimination claims when being dismissed.
- Acted for a senior IT executive in race discrimination proceedings against a major bank.
- Represented a law firm in a protracted dispute with one equity partner over alleged disability discrimination.
- Acted for a senior partner in respect of his exit and retirement from the LLP with additional advice provided for disability age discrimination claims
- Advised a GP in her dispute with her GP Practice after her dismissal whilst disabled
Contentious exits
- Acted for the founder of a Hedge Fund in respect of a new LLP Agreement allowing him to retain guaranteed income and carried interest as he approached and then retired and ensuring his family had ongoing income.
- Advised a client in respect of his departure from leading private investment firm which featured a complex LLP agreement, profit share and carried interest in a number of funds.
- Acted for the former MD of a major supermarket chain in proceedings for unfair and wrongful dismissal, in the Employment Tribunal and High Court.
- Assisted a very senior partner through a long drawn-out investigatory and disciplinary process following allegations of bullying and harassment
- Advising an LLP on the exit of a partner and ensuring the settlement terms protected the LLP in a situation were the partner’s entitlement to carried interest were restricted
- Advised senior executives following their dismissal by a large construction company in a reorganisation and in each case achieving significantly increased compensation when compared to the company’s initial position
Partnerships
- Acted for a partner as part of a complex team move in extensive arbitration proceedings.
- Acted for a senior partner in a large accountancy practice on disciplinary proceedings relating to allegations of harassment and helped to retain his position.
- Advised a senior partner at an international law firm in ensuring that her position and partnership earnings were protected whilst she worked overseas assisting another office.
- Acted for a Fund Manager/ Markets Investor in dealing with partner exits and employment issues.
- Advised a very senior partner in an international law firm who faced very significant hostility internally, after moving to assist the managing partner in implementing global programmes
Recognition
Recognised by Chambers UK 2025 as Leading Lawyer for Employment: Senior Executives
“He does excellent work.”– Chambers UK 2025
“Clive is an expert in this field and really takes the time to explain what is going on and how we should proceed.”-Chambers UK 2025
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 for offering a wealth of experience in the representation of senior-level employees in critical contentious employment matters. He is well versed in complex unfair dismissal, whistle-blowing and discrimination claims.
“Clive is a really experienced lawyer who balances giving realistic advice with fighting for his clients. He is good at pushing for the best settlement while also managing expectations.” Chambers UK 2024
‘’He has a good sense on how litigation is going to turn out and what are the strengths and weaknesses.” Chambers UK 2024
‘’His knowledge, expertise, sound judgement and commerciality render him a key trusted adviser.” Chambers UK 2024
“Clive provides advice which is spot on in its legal analysis to manage legal risk but importantly is also very sound practically in the context of a commercial relationship, mitigating reputational risk.” Chambers UK 2024
Recognised by The Legal 500 2025 as Leading Individual for Employment: Senior Executives
“Clive Howard was the perfect lawyer for my case. He is very astute and aware of the practical application of employment law at executive level.” The Legal 500 2025
Recognised by The Legal 500 2025 for Corporate and Commercial: Partnerships
“Clive Howard is very experienced, combining great legal knowledge with litigation nous. He is well respected by opponents, and an excellent no-nonsense negotiator.” The Legal 500 2024
Recognised by Best Lawyers (UK) in the practice area of Employment Law
Recognised by Who’s Who Legal as a Thought Leader for Labour, Employment and Benefits
‘’Top 10 Most Influential Employment Lawyers for Senior Executives in London 2023″ Business Today
Recognised in Spear’s 500 2024/25 as a Top Recommended Employment Lawyer
Member of the Lawyers International Network for Employees and Executives (LINEE)
Career
Clive qualified as a solicitor in 1988. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2021, he worked at the following firms:
- Slater and Gordon
- Russell Jones and Walker