Thalis Vlachos

Expertise Thalis Advises Employment Law for SME's Experience Highlights Publications Career History Testimonials

Partner

Employment Law

+44 (0) 7971 000 048
“Net promoter Score (NPS) is a system used to measure the quality of service given to a client from their feedback. The score ranges from -100 to +100, a “positive” score or NPS above 0 is considered “good”, +50 is “Excellent,” and above 70 is considered “world class”.

Expertise

Thalis has a niche in the claimant employment market, running some very high value cases and a test case attracting media interest from television and a broad spread of media. He has specialised in employment law for nearly 20 years. His clients describe his work as ‘Outstanding’.

He is able to advise senior executives on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law including: exit packages, internal grievances and disciplinaries, litigating matters in the employment tribunal and civil courts, partnership agreements, management of employees on team moves, permanent health insurance, unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, victimisation, post termination restrictive covenants, injunctive relief, contracts of employment and service agreements.

His roles have seen him lead teams, create new products and provide excellent client service. Thalis’ practice also encompasses advising small to medium enterprises on contracts, staff manuals, retention and recruitment policies and termination agreements.

His work with senior executives has expanded his practice in advising on shareholder disputes and high stakes commercial contract disputes.

Thalis Advises

  • Legal and financial services, including solicitors, traders, brokers, Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Executive Officers.
  • Accountancy
  • Media
  • Recruitment
  • Wealth management

Employment Law for SME's

Thalis advises fast growing SME’s on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law including:

  • HR Support
  • Drafting contracts of employment
  • Reputation and risk management
  • Exit packages
  • Internal grievances and disciplinaries
  • Litigating matters in the employment tribunal and civil courts
  • Partnership agreements
  • Management of employees on team moves
  • Permanent health insurance
  • Unfair dismissal
  • Discrimination
  • Harassment
  • Whistleblowing
  • Victimisation
  • Post termination restrictive covenants
  • Injunctive relief
  • Contracts of employment and service agreements

Experience Highlights

Tribunal cases 

Key Experience

  • Supporting SME’s in all their HR requirements and under mandated insurance backed litigation support.
  • Advising growing companies on employment law implications of acquisitions and from a cultural and integration perspective.

 

Work highlights

  • Advising on an exit of a Chief Executive from a PLC – at in excess of £2,500,000.
  • Advising on an exit of a CTO from a PLC at in excess of £2,250,000.
  • Advising on a Team move / competitor raid with equity funding at between £200,000,000 to £400,000,000.
  • Advising on a partnership exit from a top 4 accountancy practice at a value of £1,500,000.
  • Acted on behalf of a broker for one of the major brokerage institutions on a claim where he was being sued for £1,500,000.
  • Acted on a secondment agreement to the US, with a value to the client in terms of income and salary at £2,000,000 over a one year fixed period with extensive claw back provisions.
  • Advising a Chief Financial Officer on alleged conduct and performance issues raised against him and successfully avoiding any disciplinary sanctions being imposed on him.
  • Advising a Chief Financial Officer on an exit package, including advising on the short term and long term incentive plans and tax issues on employment outside of the UK.
  • Advising a Research Team on a successful team move from an investment bank.
  • He has been instructed in sex discrimination claims against investment banks and have advised on test cases which have set legal precedents.
  • Advised senior executives and finance directors on exit packages.
  • Advised management employees on team moves.
  • He has been instructed in the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal
  • Represented clients in hearings ranging from 5–35 day discrimination and whistleblowing claims, some of which have attracted extensive media attention.
  • Advising on an associative disability discrimination claim against a multi-national media company. This progressed to the Employment Tribunal.
  • Advised two brokers / bankers on an exit package within the background of FCA disciplinary issues.
  • Advised various bankers on exits from a large investment bank.
  • Advised banker on potential claim against large brokerage firm for sex and disability discrimination.
  • Advised on prospective TUPE claims against a multi-national company.
  • Obtained a successful outcome in the Employment Tribunal for breach of contract and with a successful costs order at in excess of £11,000.
  • Advising on a failure to pay a retention bonus in the civil courts at in excess of £120,000 with insurance backed litigation support.
  • Acted on claim for Permanent Health Insurance on behalf of a client and recovered £450,000 increasing the original offer by over 6 times.
  • Acted on a settlement agreement at a value of £600,000 with multi-jurisdictional tax implications.
  • Advises regularly on enforceability of restrictive covenants and strategy on obtaining waivers.
  • Advised a team of researchers on a move from a major banking institution to another.
  • Advised on an internal grievance against a major bank for a client and obtained in excess of £150,000 from a basic salary of £60,000 per annum.
  • Acted on a shareholders’ dispute recovering £1,200,000 for the clients.

Publications

Articles

Non-Compete Legal Changes – What Employers Must Know

People Management: HR tips for handling mass redundancies

People Management: Elon Musk’s Twitter storm – what are the takeaways for HR?

‘Beyond Putting in the Hours’ my career at gunnercooke feature in Yexible

Employers beware: your company may be liable for the actions of its employees at this years Christmas party

Is the Google walkout a sign of things to come for even the most (allegedly) progressive of companies

‘Banter’ is not a defence to sexual harassment despite what Philip Green may think

Should the law relating to NDAs in sexual harassment cases be changed?

Is artificial intelligence a friend or a foe to the legal profession?

Is your business set up to deal with a sexual harassment claim?

Age discrimination in the workplace

Supreme Court decision deals blow to gig economy employers

Can an allegation be a protected disclosure for the purposes of the whistleblowing legislation?

Do employees lose their bonuses when sacked?

Since #MeToo, is it too difficult to bring a sexual harassment claim in the workplace?

Are employers sitting on an age discrimination time bomb?

Is the Google walkout a sign of things to come for even the most (allegedly) progressive of companies?

Are the scales tipping in the balance against harassment at work?

In an era of #MeToo, is it too difficult to bring a sexual harassment claim in the workplace?

Commenting on Sexual Harassment survey for People Management magazine

Commenting on excessive internet browsing in the workplace for People Management magazine

Commenting on unfair dismissal tribunal in People Management magazine

Beyond putting in the hours: Thalis Vlachos on his gunnercooke career

Thalis comments: More than a quarter of jobs have changed as a result of coronavirus, poll reveals

Colour blind police officer stripped of driving duties was discriminated against, tribunal rules

A quarter of young women fear they could be fired for reporting sexual harassment

Colour blind police officer stripped of driving duties was discriminated against, tribunal rules

A quarter of young women fear they could be fired for reporting sexual harassment

Teamwork in a fee share model — Alex Vlachos and Thalis Vlachos

The right to disconnect — gunnercooke‘s employment partners from the UK and Germany look at employer’s responsibilities in supporting employees’ work life balance.

Women in Business — an Inclusive and Equal Future?

Webinars

Dos and Don’ts When Tackling Sensitive Workplace Issues And Defending a Disciplinary

Making Litigation Commercially Attractive

Podcasts

How to Reduce the Risk of Employment Litigation Costs

Women in Business Series

Career History

Previous Law Firms

  • Hine Legal, London — Partner
  • Slater & Gordon, London — Solicitor in the senior executive team, Employment Department
  • Access Legal (Shoosmiths) — Head of Employment Department
  • Lyons Davidson Solicitors — Employment Solicitor and Team Leader
  • TV Edwards, London — Assistant Employment solicitor
  • Goldwater & Co Solicitors — Trainee to Associate

Education

  • College of Law, London — Legal Practice Course / Professional Skills Course
  • Southampton University — LLB Law

Expertise

Back to top

Thalis has a niche in the claimant employment market, running some very high value cases and a test case attracting media interest from television and a broad spread of media. He has specialised in employment law for nearly 20 years. His clients describe his work as ‘Outstanding’.

He is able to advise senior executives on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law including: exit packages, internal grievances and disciplinaries, litigating matters in the employment tribunal and civil courts, partnership agreements, management of employees on team moves, permanent health insurance, unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, victimisation, post termination restrictive covenants, injunctive relief, contracts of employment and service agreements.

His roles have seen him lead teams, create new products and provide excellent client service. Thalis’ practice also encompasses advising small to medium enterprises on contracts, staff manuals, retention and recruitment policies and termination agreements.

His work with senior executives has expanded his practice in advising on shareholder disputes and high stakes commercial contract disputes.

Thalis Advises

Back to top
  • Legal and financial services, including solicitors, traders, brokers, Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Executive Officers.
  • Accountancy
  • Media
  • Recruitment
  • Wealth management

Employment Law for SME's

Back to top

Thalis advises fast growing SME’s on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law including:

  • HR Support
  • Drafting contracts of employment
  • Reputation and risk management
  • Exit packages
  • Internal grievances and disciplinaries
  • Litigating matters in the employment tribunal and civil courts
  • Partnership agreements
  • Management of employees on team moves
  • Permanent health insurance
  • Unfair dismissal
  • Discrimination
  • Harassment
  • Whistleblowing
  • Victimisation
  • Post termination restrictive covenants
  • Injunctive relief
  • Contracts of employment and service agreements

Experience Highlights

Back to top

Tribunal cases 

Key Experience

  • Supporting SME’s in all their HR requirements and under mandated insurance backed litigation support.
  • Advising growing companies on employment law implications of acquisitions and from a cultural and integration perspective.

 

Work highlights

  • Advising on an exit of a Chief Executive from a PLC – at in excess of £2,500,000.
  • Advising on an exit of a CTO from a PLC at in excess of £2,250,000.
  • Advising on a Team move / competitor raid with equity funding at between £200,000,000 to £400,000,000.
  • Advising on a partnership exit from a top 4 accountancy practice at a value of £1,500,000.
  • Acted on behalf of a broker for one of the major brokerage institutions on a claim where he was being sued for £1,500,000.
  • Acted on a secondment agreement to the US, with a value to the client in terms of income and salary at £2,000,000 over a one year fixed period with extensive claw back provisions.
  • Advising a Chief Financial Officer on alleged conduct and performance issues raised against him and successfully avoiding any disciplinary sanctions being imposed on him.
  • Advising a Chief Financial Officer on an exit package, including advising on the short term and long term incentive plans and tax issues on employment outside of the UK.
  • Advising a Research Team on a successful team move from an investment bank.
  • He has been instructed in sex discrimination claims against investment banks and have advised on test cases which have set legal precedents.
  • Advised senior executives and finance directors on exit packages.
  • Advised management employees on team moves.
  • He has been instructed in the Employment Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal
  • Represented clients in hearings ranging from 5–35 day discrimination and whistleblowing claims, some of which have attracted extensive media attention.
  • Advising on an associative disability discrimination claim against a multi-national media company. This progressed to the Employment Tribunal.
  • Advised two brokers / bankers on an exit package within the background of FCA disciplinary issues.
  • Advised various bankers on exits from a large investment bank.
  • Advised banker on potential claim against large brokerage firm for sex and disability discrimination.
  • Advised on prospective TUPE claims against a multi-national company.
  • Obtained a successful outcome in the Employment Tribunal for breach of contract and with a successful costs order at in excess of £11,000.
  • Advising on a failure to pay a retention bonus in the civil courts at in excess of £120,000 with insurance backed litigation support.
  • Acted on claim for Permanent Health Insurance on behalf of a client and recovered £450,000 increasing the original offer by over 6 times.
  • Acted on a settlement agreement at a value of £600,000 with multi-jurisdictional tax implications.
  • Advises regularly on enforceability of restrictive covenants and strategy on obtaining waivers.
  • Advised a team of researchers on a move from a major banking institution to another.
  • Advised on an internal grievance against a major bank for a client and obtained in excess of £150,000 from a basic salary of £60,000 per annum.
  • Acted on a shareholders’ dispute recovering £1,200,000 for the clients.

Publications

Back to top

Articles

Non-Compete Legal Changes – What Employers Must Know

People Management: HR tips for handling mass redundancies

People Management: Elon Musk’s Twitter storm – what are the takeaways for HR?

‘Beyond Putting in the Hours’ my career at gunnercooke feature in Yexible

Employers beware: your company may be liable for the actions of its employees at this years Christmas party

Is the Google walkout a sign of things to come for even the most (allegedly) progressive of companies

‘Banter’ is not a defence to sexual harassment despite what Philip Green may think

Should the law relating to NDAs in sexual harassment cases be changed?

Is artificial intelligence a friend or a foe to the legal profession?

Is your business set up to deal with a sexual harassment claim?

Age discrimination in the workplace

Supreme Court decision deals blow to gig economy employers

Can an allegation be a protected disclosure for the purposes of the whistleblowing legislation?

Do employees lose their bonuses when sacked?

Since #MeToo, is it too difficult to bring a sexual harassment claim in the workplace?

Are employers sitting on an age discrimination time bomb?

Is the Google walkout a sign of things to come for even the most (allegedly) progressive of companies?

Are the scales tipping in the balance against harassment at work?

In an era of #MeToo, is it too difficult to bring a sexual harassment claim in the workplace?

Commenting on Sexual Harassment survey for People Management magazine

Commenting on excessive internet browsing in the workplace for People Management magazine

Commenting on unfair dismissal tribunal in People Management magazine

Beyond putting in the hours: Thalis Vlachos on his gunnercooke career

Thalis comments: More than a quarter of jobs have changed as a result of coronavirus, poll reveals

Colour blind police officer stripped of driving duties was discriminated against, tribunal rules

A quarter of young women fear they could be fired for reporting sexual harassment

Colour blind police officer stripped of driving duties was discriminated against, tribunal rules

A quarter of young women fear they could be fired for reporting sexual harassment

Teamwork in a fee share model — Alex Vlachos and Thalis Vlachos

The right to disconnect — gunnercooke‘s employment partners from the UK and Germany look at employer’s responsibilities in supporting employees’ work life balance.

Women in Business — an Inclusive and Equal Future?

Webinars

Dos and Don’ts When Tackling Sensitive Workplace Issues And Defending a Disciplinary

Making Litigation Commercially Attractive

Podcasts

How to Reduce the Risk of Employment Litigation Costs

Women in Business Series

Career History

Back to top

Previous Law Firms

  • Hine Legal, London — Partner
  • Slater & Gordon, London — Solicitor in the senior executive team, Employment Department
  • Access Legal (Shoosmiths) — Head of Employment Department
  • Lyons Davidson Solicitors — Employment Solicitor and Team Leader
  • TV Edwards, London — Assistant Employment solicitor
  • Goldwater & Co Solicitors — Trainee to Associate

Education

  • College of Law, London — Legal Practice Course / Professional Skills Course
  • Southampton University — LLB Law
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