Emma Williams

Principal Associate - Employment

Brierley Hill
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"I am an employment lawyer helping employers address workplace issues with confidence and providing strategic support through Employment Tribunal proceedings.”

I re-joined Higgs as a Principal Associate in September 2026, having previously trained with the firm. Between my time at Higgs, I worked at a national law firm, advising employers and employees on a wide range of employment law matters.

I work with employers to help them navigate the practical realities of managing people, providing pragmatic and commercially focused support on issues such as disciplinary and grievance processes, absence management, performance concerns, restructures and workplace disputes.

When disputes escalate, I support employers through every stage of the Employment Tribunal process. From the moment a claim is received, I help clients assess risk, develop a strategy and work towards the best possible outcome, whether through early resolution or robustly defending proceedings at a final hearing.

I have significant experience managing large-scale settlement agreement projects for employers and advising employees on the terms of their exit arrangements. In addition, I regularly deliver training tailored to the needs of managers, senior leaders and HR teams, helping them build confidence in handling workplace issues effectively.

I also support clients with TUPE issues arising from business sales, acquisitions and outsourcing projects. 

Alongside my employer-focused practice, I advise employees on settlement agreements and workplace disputes.

  • Advised an employer facing claims from multiple employees following a TUPE transfer relating to alleged changes to terms and conditions, successfully negotiating a commercially favourable settlement.
  • Advised a well-known retail business on a large-scale redundancy exercise, providing strategic support throughout the consultation process and helping to manage legal and employee relations risks.
  • Delivered a series of bespoke employment law and best practice training sessions to a senior leadership team, equipping managers with the confidence to address workplace issues effectively.
  • Successfully defended employers in Employment Tribunal claims involving unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing allegations.
  • Represented clients in judicial mediations and other dispute resolution forums, achieving favourable settlements and avoiding the time and cost of final hearings.
  • Managed large-scale settlement agreement projects involving significant numbers of employees, delivering pragmatic solutions within challenging timescales.

More about me

Most used app

Spotify

Favourite food

Tiramisu

Favourite place

Joffre Lakes, Canada

Interests

Playing netball

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