Biography
Glenn is a Partner and is the National Head of Employment Law at Irwin Mitchell.
His client experience includes providing support to a number of large and small businesses in a variety of different fields. He is a key adviser and the relationship partner to some of the Employment and Pension Group’s key national clients. These include the likes of Capita Group’s HR and legal function, Begbies Traynor plc and a number of well-known household names.
As an experienced Employment Tribunal advocate, Glenn also advises on a wide range of employment law matters, including:
- The enforcement and defence of restrictive covenants
- Senior level appointments and exits
- Outsourcing
- Acquisitions and disposals including Transfer of Undertakings
- Protection of Employment (TUPE) issues
- Large scale reorganisations and redundancy
- Discrimination and equality issues.
Glenn is the lead partner for our Restrictive Covenant product – IM Protect – and one of the leaders in the growth of our IMhrplus product and bank of hours offering. Glenn is recognised for his technical expertise in specialist areas such as holiday pay and overtime, assessing employment status and providing tactical and strategic support to businesses to assess and minimise risk.
Glenn also regularly presents at seminars and training events organised by the firm. He’s been the judge at a number of Mock Tribunal events arranged for clients and has presented seminars for third parties and clients/contacts. He’s also a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
Recent highlights
- Defending a large plc on a multi-million pound discrimination and whistle-blowing case.
- Advising and bringing proceedings for a large healthcare provider for a failure to provide accurate information on a TUPE transfer
- Providing strategic advice on the enforceability of restrictive covenants and giving strategies for avoiding issues to individuals joining a well-known insurance brokerage.
- Advising a large plc on employment status reviews for a number of its subsidiary businesses to ensure legal compliance and manage associated issues surrounding misclassification of individuals.
- Advising a number of senior executives on strategic exits.
Market view:
"Glenn Hayes is especially notable for getting to the heart of any matter with precision and great speed. Time is not wasted on peripheral issues. The core is addressed, assessed and a course determined. Glenn’s analysis and tactical judgement is especially strong... He exudes a quiet determination and confidence in the details of all the cases he does." Legal 500, 2022
"He is reassuringly calm and collected, and his understanding of the work involved was meticulous. He delivered impeccably, and I was really pleased with his approach and communication. Glenn Hayes is an asset to any company." - Chambers & Partners, 2022 (Leading Individual - Band 3)
"He provides clear advice, is approachable and comes up with practical solutions to complex problems. He is very knowledgeable in employment law and its application, and demonstrates an unambiguously pragmatic approach at all times." – Chambers & Partners, 2021 (Leading Individual - band 3)
"Glenn Hayes is one of the few lawyers I hear rated by fellow solicitors and mutual clients alike. He has built up a well-deserved reputation for being an expert in his field and a trusted adviser." – Legal 500, 2021
"He is very commercial in his approach and understands our organisation’s culture, which helps to ensure the advice given is in line with our objectives." – Chambers & Partners, 2020
"Glenn Hayes is a sensible, no nonsense lawyer who offers practical and commercial advice. His staff follow in his footsteps." – Legal 500, 2020
He "gets right to the heart of the issue and deals with issues head on; he's very realistic and understands clients' businesses and how they operate." – Chambers & Partners, 2018
He is "a straight-talking no-nonsense lawyer who gets straight to the point with sound and unequivocal advice." – Chambers & Partners, 2017
Glenn qualified as a solicitor in 2002.