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Mathew Clayton
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Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E

Partner

I head Willans’ employment law and business immigration team and am also lead partner for the firm’s data protection group. I have over 20 years’ experience in the employment law field and am qualified as CIPP/E with the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

I am Company Secretary for Cheltenham Festivals (the charitable organisation behind the town’s internationally acclaimed Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals) and recognised by national legal guides, The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

T +44 (0)1242 542922 E matthew.clayton@willans.co.uk

Key skills

Our team spends all day, every day, helping organisations – multi-national companies, SMEs, owner-managed businesses, not-for-profit organisations – with awkward employee situations. I can help with:

  • legal claims by current and former employees
  • restrictions on competition post-employment
  • protecting confidential business information
  • data protection and GDPR
  • executive severance
  • staff transfers and TUPE
  • redundancy and staff reorganisation
  • business immigration
  • discrimination and equality
  • employee participation
  • employment & consultancy contracts
  • HR policies
  • disciplinary & grievance
  • absence management.

Experience highlights

I have wide experience and a track record, some examples include:

  • Defended a £500,000 disability discrimination claim on behalf of a leading UK professional services firm with over 1,000 employees
  • Acted for a Silicon Valley tech company in defending a six-figure commission claim by a former UK employee
  • Brought a successful appeal in the Employment Appeal Tribunal on behalf of an independent school in relation to an unfair dismissal claim by a former employee
  • Advised an international membership organisation on the employment status of its examiners
  • Conducted a GDPR audit for a leading international back-office BPO firm
  • Advised a digital design & marketing agency on GDPR aspects of its contracts with a major motor manufacturer
  • Successfully defended an avionics manufacturer against claims of automatic unfair dismissal, whistleblowing detriment, sex discrimination and sexual harassment
  • Advised a film media company on acquiring an immigration sponsor licence in the context of a TUPE transfer
  • Advised a regional charity on a top-to-bottom restructure of its staff.
  • "'Commercial and sensible' Matthew Clayton leads a growing, ‘user-friendly’ team with a focus on international clients."
    The Legal 500
  • "'Highly respected’ employment practitioner Matthew Clayton..."
    The Legal 500
  • "I would like to thank you for your help with this matter, help that I reflect on as being delivered in a calm, confident and re-assuring style."
    Client feedback
  • The Legal 500 recommended lawyer 2021
  • The Legal 500 leading individual 2022
  • Commercial Group
    Sector:Technology

    Commercial Group

    Bucking industry trends since its inception, Commercial is now the largest independently owned office services group in the UK.
    Commercial
    Commercial Group
  • Construction
    Sector:Renewable energy

    Técnicas Reunidas UK Ltd

    Técnicas Reunidas group is a leading international engineering and construction company for oil and gas production, refining and petrochemicals and power generation projects. It ranks among the top three oil and gas engineering and construction companies in Europe and among the top 10 in the world.
    Tecnicas Reunidas logo
    Técnicas Reunidas UK Ltd
  • Seminar
    Sector:Charities & not-for-profit organisations

    The Chartered Governance Institute

    The Chartered Governance Institute is a division of the global professional body for governance, which operates under the same name. Previously known as the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), the Institute provides qualifications, training and guidance to members and governance professionals all over the world.
    The Chartered Governance Institute
  • Jazz concert
    Sector:Hospitality & leisure

    Cheltenham Festivals

    Cheltenham Festivals is a charity which produces innovative, world-class content across science and the arts. Its programmes reach out year-round and culminate at the internationally-acclaimed Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals, with the aim of engaging everyone in science and the arts.
    Cheltenham Festivals logo
    Cheltenham Festivals

Matthew Clayton MA LLM (Cantab), CIPP/E can help you with a range of services

Employment & business immigration
More info
Difficult employees
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Employment disputes
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Employment
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Disputes & tribunals
More info
Senior executive severance or redundancy
More info
Business immigration
More info
GDPR & data protection
More info
Global companies doing business in the UK
More info
Colleagues in the team
Send me a message
Send me a message

Contact Matthew Clayton

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