Joseph Couling

He advises both public and private sector organisations, providing pragmatic and commercially focused advice that helps clients manage legal risk, achieve their business objectives and navigate complex workplace challenges.

Joseph's practice spans both contentious and non-contentious matters, from day-to-day HR advice to representation in Employment Tribunal proceedings. He regularly represents clients in claims involving discrimination, unfair dismissal and whistleblowing allegations and advises on disciplinary and grievance procedures, workplace investigations, redundancies, collective consultation exercises, TUPE transfers, senior exits and restructuring projects. He also drafts and negotiates settlement agreements and COT3s and prepares a range of employment documentation.

He has experience in delivering bespoke client training on employment law developments and workplace issues. He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and is known for providing practical, commercially focused advice that helps clients achieve their objectives while effectively managing legal and reputational risk.

Additional sector specific expertise

Joseph regularly advises clients in the digital sector on a range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters, including Employment Tribunal litigation, cross-border employment issues and organisational change projects. He provides practical advice that supports clients in managing legal risk while responding to the challenges of fast-paced and evolving workplaces.

Joseph has significant experience advising government and public services clients on employment disputes, workplace investigations and employee relations matters. He understands the unique legal, operational and reputational considerations faced by public sector employers and provides pragmatic, commercially focused advice to help clients achieve their objectives.

Joseph regularly advises retail and consumer goods clients on workforce issues, including Employment Tribunal claims, restructuring programmes, redundancies and day-to-day HR matters. He supports employers in managing legal risk and maintaining effective employee relations across large and diverse workforces.

Jurisdiction: England & Wales

• Advised an employer on 24 employee grievances and concurrent ACAS discrimination claims, helping to navigate a complex employee relations matter and ultimately achieve settlement between the parties.
• Represented employers in Employment Tribunal proceedings involving allegations of discrimination, unfair dismissal and whistleblowing, advising on litigation strategy, evidence gathering, witness preparation and settlement negotiations.
• Collaborated with a global tax advisory team to resolve a complex cross-border employment and tax dispute arising from the transfer of an employee from a US entity to a UK business.
• Advised on the legal and reputational risks associated with the dismissal of a significantly protected employee, supporting the client through a highly sensitive process.
• Supported the exit of senior executives, including CEOs, COOs and Finance Directors, advising on both employment and corporate law considerations and negotiating exit arrangements.
• Advised employers on large-scale redundancy and restructuring exercises, including collective consultation obligations, redundancy selection processes and associated employee relations considerations.
• Assisted clients with workplace investigations and complex disciplinary and grievance matters, helping employers manage legal risk while maintaining effective employee relations.
• Drafted and negotiated settlement agreements and COT3s in connection with Employment Tribunal claims and workplace disputes, securing commercially appropriate outcomes for clients.
• Delivered bespoke training for employers on key employment law developments and workplace issues, providing practical guidance to HR teams and managers on managing legal risk