Testimonials
Thalis did an outstanding job on helping me get the best possible settlement from my employer. I know my case was a complex one, involving multiple areas of law such as disciplinary, tax, indemnity, financial settlement, cross border issues, non - disclosure clauses and employer references. Thalis dealt with my case with the utmost professionalism throughout. I appreciated you working outside of normal working hours and the speed at which you resolved all the issues that I had. The settlement he achieved for me was nothing short of amazing and I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who needs a specialist employment solicitor.
Client
Thalis worked efficiently to ensure a quick turnaround, whilst not compromising on quality or detail. I know from over 30 years' experience in the law that finding a lawyer who combines a fine understanding of their areas of expertise with a lightness of touch and is user — friendly is a rare and valuable thing indeed. He certainly filled that brief when advising us.
Client
Thalis is the knowledgeable and supportive expert I trust and turn to when I need employment law advice. He is honest, open and supportive and provides sound advice at all times. I would thoroughly recommend him to anyone.
Client
Dedicated guidance, shrewd direction and outstanding no fuss clarity, on what needs to be done, a true art.
Client
Thalis has been amazing. So supportive, kind and helpful. He went beyond the call of duty! I would have no hesitation in recommending him to others.
Client
I really appreciated both Thalis' advice and manner. It helps enormously to have an understanding and competent person advising at times of stress.
Client
A couple of weeks ago I asked Thalis to talk to my son in law, who worked for a company for 15/18 years and is now 57. He had been informed that job losses were being considered — but he knew the signs at his age re-employment would be a problem. Thalis was brilliant, reviewing his paperwork, (and CV) and advising him how to proceed. The end result is that he is keeping his job, at least for 2 years while his company make or break decision if they are staying in business.
Client
I met Thalis on the recommendation of a friend. He immediately struck me as confident, knowledgeable and professional. By the time we had talked for 30 minutes, he fully understood my position and the legal support that I required to negotiate a settlement agreement with my employer.
Over the following weeks, he negotiated the outcome that I required and also improved the quality of the drafting provided by the other party. He pushed me to have conversations that I was uncomfortable with, that proved not only necessary but significantly improved the outcome for me.
This was never going to be easy or enjoyable. Thalis effectively guided me through the process and ensured that I achieved the outcome I desired, with as little stress as was possible.
Client
Thalis Vlachos from gunnercooke assisted me with a dispute earlier this year when I decided to hire someone to assist me with the running of my business. When things went wrong, he immediately analysed the situation and advised me accordingly. I recommend Thalis for careful listening, attention to detail and reliability, regardless of how many other disputes he is dealing with. It is clear that he enjoys all aspects of his work which makes him a pleasure to work with. Once my dispute was resolved I felt very relieved but also much better educated on employment and employment law in general. Furthermore, he offered me advice on how to communicate effectively with anyone who I (now) work with. My co-workers and I now enjoy healthy relationships because I am consciously building a culture of trust and support which positively impacts on the quality of our work.
Alexandra Lunn
Client
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
Experience Highlights
Tribunal cases
Work highlights
- 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
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