When exploring the evolving landscape of employment and partnership law in the United Kingdom, one name increasingly stands out—Naomi Latham. As an associate solicitor in the employment team at Payne Hicks Beach, she has established herself as a trusted adviser to employers, senior executives, and partnerships navigating complex workplace issues. Her growing influence, combined with her insightful approach to delicate and often high-stakes matters, makes her a noteworthy figure in the UK legal sector.
Early Career and Professional Background
Naomi Latham was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in October 2020, marking the beginning of her formal legal career. In just a few years, she has demonstrated exceptional ability in guiding clients through some of the most challenging areas of employment law. Her current position at Payne Hicks Beach, a highly respected London law firm, allows her to apply her skills to both domestic and international clients.
In 2023, Naomi joined Payne Hicks Beach as an associate in the employment team. This role provided her with a platform to expand her expertise, working on matters that span both day-to-day human resources management and highly sensitive disputes involving reputational risks and regulatory oversight.
Advising Employers: From Start-Ups to Multinationals
A significant part of Naomi Latham’s practice is dedicated to advising employers, including both global organisations and ambitious start-ups. Employers in today’s competitive environment require clear, practical, and commercially sound advice to navigate employment obligations. Naomi has become a trusted partner in this regard.
She advises on redundancy programmes, ensuring legal compliance while managing the human impact of such processes. She also provides guidance on grievance and disciplinary procedures, helping businesses handle workplace challenges fairly and effectively. Her expertise extends to drafting employment contracts for senior hires such as C-suite executives and general counsels, ensuring that these agreements reflect both the employer’s expectations and industry standards.
Beyond contracts, Naomi is skilled in preparing consultancy agreements, confidentiality provisions, and staff handbooks that set the foundation for healthy employer-employee relationships. Her ability to tailor documents for different business sizes and sectors demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the varied challenges faced by employers.
Supporting Senior Executives and High-Net-Worth Individuals
While Naomi advises businesses, she is equally committed to representing senior executives and high-net-worth individuals. These clients often find themselves in positions where their careers, reputations, and financial security are at stake.
Naomi regularly advises on the review of contractual documentation, including bonus structures, restrictive covenants, and termination provisions. She is particularly experienced in handling disputes involving allegations of gross misconduct, discrimination, or sexual harassment. In such cases, she not only provides legal clarity but also considers reputational risks that could affect her clients long after the dispute is resolved.
Settlement agreements are another key aspect of her work. Naomi assists in negotiating fair outcomes, drafting agreements that not only meet legal requirements but also ensure her clients’ reputations are protected. She often supports clients in preparing internal announcements or responses to media enquiries when issues attract public or industry attention.
Her advocacy extends to defending individuals before regulators, such as representing a professional at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Disciplinary Committee. Such cases highlight her ability to manage matters where professional credibility is on the line.
Expertise in Partnership and LLP Disputes
Another cornerstone of Naomi Latham’s practice is advising partnerships and limited liability partnerships (LLPs). Partnerships bring unique legal challenges, particularly when disputes arise or when members seek to exit.
Naomi has guided partnerships through disputes involving partner conduct, performance issues, and alleged discrimination. She advises on the enforceability of restrictive covenants and assists in handling team moves, a particularly sensitive area where the balance between contractual obligations and professional freedom must be maintained.
Her role often extends to conducting workplace investigations in partnership settings, many of which involve overlapping regulatory issues connected to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Naomi also supports clients with the drafting and reviewing of partnership and LLP agreements, ensuring clarity and fairness in foundational documents that govern professional relationships.
Sector Experience
Naomi Latham’s expertise spans several industries, allowing her to adapt her advice to sector-specific needs. She has worked extensively with clients in:
Financial Services: A highly regulated field where compliance with employment and partnership rules is essential.
Legal Sector: Offering guidance to fellow professionals navigating complex partnership and employment disputes.
Higher Education: Supporting institutions and individuals facing unique employment issues in academic settings.
Her diverse experience means she can quickly grasp industry nuances while applying sound legal principles to protect her clients’ interests.
Thought Leadership and Media Contributions
Naomi Latham is not only a practitioner but also a commentator on employment and partnership law. She has provided insights to print and online media, enhancing public understanding of workplace rights and responsibilities. Her written contributions to legal and HR publications further establish her as a thought leader in her field.
Some of her notable writings include discussions on sexual harassment in the workplace, the obligations of employers to take reasonable steps in preventing misconduct, and updates on redundancy consultation obligations. By engaging with both professionals and the wider public, she plays an important role in shaping conversations around employment law in the UK.
Memberships and Professional Associations
Naomi is an active member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the Association of Partnership Practitioners. These memberships demonstrate her commitment to professional development and ensure she remains connected to broader debates within the legal community. By engaging with peers, she stays at the forefront of legislative updates, case law developments, and best practices.
A Rising Career with Lasting Impact
Though still in the earlier years of her legal career, Naomi Latham has already made a significant impact. Her ability to balance the needs of employers with the concerns of employees and executives highlights her versatility. She brings a calm, strategic approach to sensitive matters, ensuring that her clients not only receive strong legal representation but also practical guidance that accounts for business and reputational factors.
Her contributions to partnership and LLP disputes further underline her expertise in a niche but vital area of UK law. At a time when workplace culture, corporate accountability, and regulatory compliance are under increasing scrutiny, solicitors like Naomi Latham play an essential role in guiding organisations and individuals alike.
Conclusion
Naomi Latham represents the modern face of employment and partnership law in the United Kingdom. Her ability to navigate the intersection of law, business, and reputation management sets her apart in a competitive legal landscape. Employers trust her for clear, commercial advice; executives and high-net-worth individuals rely on her to safeguard their careers and reputations; and partnerships look to her to resolve disputes with sensitivity and fairness.
As she continues to grow her practice at Payne Hicks Beach, Naomi’s reputation as a rising authority in employment law is only likely to strengthen. For businesses and individuals facing complex workplace issues, her guidance offers not just legal solutions but also reassurance in the most challenging of circumstances.
