David Sheppard

Senior Associate
Employment & Immigration

David is a Senior Associate in our Employment and Immigration team. He advises employers and employees on all aspects of employment law.

David advises employers and employees in the public, private and third sectors. He regularly represents clients in employment tribunal claims, and also advises on non-contentious issues on all aspects of employment law, including redundancy and reorganisation consultation, changing employees’ terms, conditions and benefits, TUPE issues and consultation arising from the sale of businesses, outsourcing of services and merger of public services, and complex disciplinary and grievance matters.

He undertakes pro bono work at the Cardiff Speakeasy Centre. David is also a parent governor at his sons’ primary school and is familiar with governance and other issues in the education sector.

David regularly provides training, including implementing and calculating the national minimum wage, employment law updates for HR practitioners, employment/worker status in the gig economy and IR35 issues when engaging contractors. He has also provides training to aspiring managers on discrimination law, managing difficult conversations and disciplinary processes.

David regularly publishes articles on current employment law issues, including articles in the Western Mail, MailOnline and USA Today.

David and the team have assisted us successfully conclude a number of employment cases with their no-nonsense straightforward, professional advice and support, enabling us to keep costs to a minimum in what can very often be a costly process. They have displayed a depth of knowledge and negotiation skills that has proved invaluable, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.

Angela Rogers, HR Manager (Operations), Torfaen County Borough Council

  • Advising on the employment law, pension and TUPE implications of the proposed NHS Wales Bill and the reorganisation of NHS bodies in Wales.
  • Advising a further education organisation on the TUPE implications of acquiring another institution, including the appropriate information and consultation obligations, and protections to the transferring employees. David has also advised on restructuring of support staff within the organisation, including redundancy consultation.
  • Advising an international airline of several employment law matters, including the termination of outsourcing agreements with suppliers, the TUPE implications of this and detailed advice on the necessary information and consultation obligations under TUPE.
  • Acting for a South Wales local authority in several employment tribunal matters, including the defence of a whistleblowing claim brought by a former senior manager which involved highly sensitive evidence and allegations.
  • Advising key charity sector organisation on the TUPE and consultation obligations of various successful tenders with local authorities in Wales, including advice on pre- and post-transfer consultation and resulting reorganisations and harmonisation of terms and conditions.
  • Providing employment law advice on the acquisition of an independent financial advice firm, including due diligence requirements and the implications of TUPE.
  • Assisting a major FE college in Wales in the defence of an employment tribunal claim, which has included preparation of its ET3 response and strategy for striking out the claim on jurisdictional points, and negotiated a successful outcome for the college.
  • Providing ongoing advice to a SME on the disciplinary process and dismissal of its CEO for gross misconduct defence of potential employment tribunal claims.
  • Business restructuring
  • Consultation exercises
  • Contract and policy drafting
  • Employment tribunals
  • Senior Executive exit strategies
  • Redundancy programmes
  • Executive service agreements
  • Senior employee/ executive settlement agreements
  • TUPE
  • Discrimination issues

Career

  • Senior Associate, Capital Law Limited (Nov 2019 – present)
  • Associate, Capital Law Limited (Jan 2017 – Nov 2019)
  • Senior Associate, Slater and Gordon Lawyers (UK) (Jun 2016 – Nov 2016)
  • Senior Solicitor, Clarkslegal LLP (Dec 2015 – Jun 2016)
  • Associate and Solicitor, MLM Cartwright Solicitors (Apr 2008 – Dec 2015)
  • Solicitor, Geldards LLP (Sept 2005 – Apr 2008)

Education

  • Cardiff Law School: LPC (2004 – 2005)
  • Jesus College, University of Oxford: BA Jurisprudence Law (2001 – 2004)

Memberships / Trustee Positions

  • The Law Society of England and Wales
  • Employment Lawyers’ Association
  • Parent Governor of Ystrad Mynach Primary School