Name: Melanie Lane.
Firm: CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP.
Job title: Partner, Co-Head of UK Employment Team.
I qualified as a solicitor in … 1999.
The main areas I cover are …
Contentious and non-contentious employment law, with particular expertise in global business reorganisations and outsourcings.
I decided I wanted to be an employment solicitor when …
At the request of the firm I had a training contract with (Warner Cranston) I undertook the employment law elective on the LPC. I immediately fell in love with employment law – and drove my poor teacher up the wall asking difficult questions!
The proudest moment of my career to date was when …
I was appointed Co-Head of the now 50-strong CMS UK Employment Team on the merger of CMS Cameron McKenna, Nabarro and Olswang (my old firm) this time last year.
An interesting recent case/client I worked on involved …
A well-known TV presenter and author who was accused of race discrimination. Although I don’t typically act for individuals, that was a worthwhile exception.
The main challenges that employers in the UK currently face include …
Making sure they are GDPR compliant.
The potential impact of Brexit on their workforces.
The withdrawal of Tribunal fees, making bringing Tribunal claims more attractive for individuals again.
Grappling with new ways of working and individuals’ employment status.
In London, the main challenges for employment solicitors are …
The highly competitive marketplace in which we operate and the increasing involvement of procurement teams in our clients’ procurement of legal services.
The major change I’d like to see in employment law is …
The introduction of more sensible rules around holiday accrual.
You may not know this but outside work, I’m very good at …
Dancing (or at least I like to think I am, others would probably disagree …).
The best way for HRs to contact me is:
Via the CMS website.
