Steven Eckett
Steven is a Partner and Head of Employment for England. He has extensive experience in advising clients, both employers and employees, on a wide range of employment issues from the beginning of the employment relationship through to its termination and beyond.
Expertise
Steven qualified as a Solicitor in 1994 and has excellent experience in all aspects of UK employment law. He has worked in both commerce and industry as well as in private practice. Steven has worked in various sectors, for example oil and gas, construction and engineering (Halliburton UK Limited), environmental and waste management (Suez Group/SITA UK Limited), Publishing (Highbury House Communications) and Global security (Global Strategies Group Plc).
Steven returned to private practice in 2007 and set up his own business in 2009 providing employment law services to a number of predominantly London-based law firms. Having worked in both commerce and industry and private practice this grounding enables Steven to quickly dissect an employment law issue and to quickly identify a strategy, and the options available to secure the best outcome and how to achieve it.
Steven has become involved in some employment law issues with an international dimension involving EAME, Latin America, and the USA. This has enabled Steven to understand the specific employment and labour law issues affecting cross-jurisdictional businesses and he has developed a good sense of commercial pragmatism. In his practice, he advises businesses in a variety of sectors and industries from start-ups, SMEs to multinationals and other professionals, and he works alongside business owners, HR professionals, senior management and day-to-day decision makers.
In particular, Steven enjoys project work including the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, MBOs and the disposal of businesses which necessitates undertaking the necessary due diligence and advising on the employment aspects of transaction, including the applicability of the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE). Steven also enjoys working on large-scale redundancy programs, which involve both collective and individual information and consultation obligations.
Steven’s aim is to ensure that businesses are legally compliant with UK employment law, which is constantly developing and evolving, and that they have the best up to date policies and procedures in place to protect their long-term business interests. Steven’s approach is to encourage his clients to seek timely early legal advice to try and prevent issues from escalating and to try and prevent litigation in the courts and employment tribunals.
In addition, Steven also acts for a number of high-net-worth individuals and senior executives in order to pursue their individual employment rights and to negotiate an exit strategy where for example the employment relationship has broken down.
Steven is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the Law Society of England and Wales and is an avid networker.
Specialisms
Employment Law
Contentious: Negotiating disputes and exit packages; defending employment tribunal claims on behalf of employers; drafting and issuing employment tribunal claims on behalf of employees; and advising employers and employees on employment relationship breakdown.
Non-contentious: Drafting contracts of employment, Directors Service Agreements, Partnership Agreements, Consultancy Agreements, Shareholder Agreements, Employee handbooks and various policies and procedures. Providing advice on performance, conduct and general compliance issues.
Specific Quotes / Testimonials
“Steven at Summit Law LLP provided me with invaluable expert advice and supported me throughout in negotiating a reasonable and equitable financial exit package with my employer. I have no doubt I would not have arrived at the ultimate agreement without his input and guidance “Steve Cox
“Steven Eckett was superb, great advice and very fair” anonymous
“My experience with Steven Eckett at Summit Law LLP was outstanding. I have reached to them via recommendation and after using their services, I'm not surprised why my friend was highly recommending using the firm. Extremely professional, polite, swift client sign up, quick response time, clear communication and overall great support. I highly recommend Summit Law LLP!” Joanna Nalepa
“I contacted Steven Eckett at Summit Law LLP to deal with a matter concerning non-payment of fees owed to my business. The matter was swiftly resolved in a very professional manner. I have no hesitation in recommending their services.” Ian Holloway