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Portrait ofCatherine Taylor

Catherine Taylor

Partner

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Cannon Place
78 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6AF
United Kingdom
Languages English, French

Catherine works on employment issues, both contentious and non-contentious and has specific expertise in complex multi-jurisdictional and High Court litigation (especially bonus and employee competition disputes), tribunal litigation, board level disputes and data protection. Catherine also guides employers through complex investigations, setting the strategy and working with other teams to ensure the best possible client outcome. Her practice is employer-focused, with a particular interest in the Financial Services and Technology sectors. She plays a leading role in the firm’s women’s network, is a practice group leader and sits on the firm's board.

Catherine is joint author of Employment Law Checklists (3rd Edition, published by OUP 2009) and is a contributing author to all three editions of Employee Competition (3rd Edition, published by OUP in 2016). In the latter publication, Catherine's contribution included co-writing the chapter on the international dimension of employment disputes and she was solely responsible for the chapter on pre-action tactics.

Chambers comments that Catherine "exemplifies the team's outlook, with a fun, responsive, creative approach". She is also described by clients as "highly accessible and always prompt", while peers commend her as a "rigorous, hard-fighting" opponent in litigation. Legal 500 comments that Catherine Taylor is "very accessible" and her business acumen brings clients "added value".

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"Catherine Taylor is very responsive, approachable and thorough."

Legal 500 UK 2023: Employment (Employers) – London

"Catherine is always responsive and very knowledgeable."

Chambers UK 2023: Employment – London

"Catherine Taylor is very experienced and client-focused. She is very pragmatic and provides commercially astute advice."

Chambers UK 2023: Employment – London

"She takes time to really understand our needs as a client and we find her advice invaluable. She gives us the hard letter law but also works on the strategy."

Chambers UK 2022: Employment – London

"She has got a good knowledge of employment law but puts things across in a matter-of-fact way."

Chambers UK 2022: Employment – London

"She is fantastically experienced, measured and pragmatic." "She's very commercial and highly regarded." "She's extremely responsive and adept at providing tailored counsel."

Chambers, 2020

"She's very commercial and highly regarded."

Chambers UK 2021: Employment – London

"She's extremely responsive and adept at providing tailored counsel."

Chambers UK 2021: Employment – London

"Catherine Taylor is commercially astute, hard-working and available to deal with all client needs, across the spectrum of employment issues. She is very focused on the detail and always conscious of the broad strategic plan in dispute resolution. She is also clear and frank in her advice, which is crucial in knowing which battles are worth fighting."

Legal 500, 2021

"Catherine Taylor demonstrates a wealth of experience handling contentious and non-contentious employment matters, both domestically and internationally. She is well versed in handling whistle-blowing, discrimination and dismissal claims as well as complex employee competition cases."

Chambers, 2020

"She is known for her fierce litigation practice and work in the High Court. Sources state that she is "a very good commercial litigator who really knows her stuff."

Chambers 2017

"Catherine Taylor is cited by sources for her specialist expertise in advising on team moves. Clients say they appreciate her "in-depth experience of employee competition litigation" and her pedigree in High Court disputes."

Chambers, 2016

"Catherine Taylor advises employers on a full range of matters, including regular work on restrictive covenants. Clients praise her as "very commercial and responsive" and "very adept at explaining the strategic options during litigation."

Chambers, 2015

Relevant experience

  • A former employer on a major team move in the global insurance industry and obtaining a multi-million pound settlement.
  • A client on litigation across two jurisdictions in relation to a large team move in the financial services industry, resulting in a mediation and settlement.
  • A global technology client on seeking an injunction to enforce non-compete provisions.
  • A former employer on a six figure settlement in relation to a team move in the retail sector.
  • A listed company in a significant investigation into a senior employee's wrongdoing.
  • A hedge fund on a complex whistle blowing claim.
  • A large financial institution on bonus claims in the High Court.
  • A global client on numerous pre-action conciliation claims and the subsequent tribunal litigation as a result of a redundancy programme.
  • A client on a high profile case in the sports world, in relation to claims for discrimination.
  • A professional services partnership on all aspects of its relationships with its partners.
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Memberships & Roles

  • Former treasurer of Employment Lawyers Association
  • The Industrial Law Society
  • European Employment Lawyers Association
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Publications

  • When employees become the competition - boardagenda.com, April 2023.
  • Does the coronavirus crisis mean a holiday hiatus? - People Management, April 2020.
  • Contributing author to all three editions of Employee Competition (3rd Edition, published by OUP in 2016). In the latter publication, Catherine co-wrote the chapter on the international dimension of employment disputes and was solely responsible for the chapter on pre-action tactics
  • September 2015 International Bar Association Employment & Industrial Relations Law – Friend or foe? Legal pitfalls in social media: the UK experience
  • Joint author of Employment Law Checklists (3rd Edition, published by OUP 2009)
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Lectures list

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Education

  • 1993 – Admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales
  • 1991 – Legal Practice Course, York
  • 1990 – History & Law BA , Cambridge University, Cambridge
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Feed

01/03/2024
‘Many – or even most – firms have some wage-setting power’: the CMA’s report...
The UK Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) new Microeconomics Unit has recently published a flagship report: Competition and market power in UK labour markets, which takes a ‘deep dive’...
04/10/2023
Climate change
Businesses across all sectors are making strategic and operational changes to become more environmentally sustainable; setting net zero targets, reconfiguring products and services, changing production processes and reviewing the carbon footprint of premises…the list goes on. As part of any green agenda it is vital that organisations thoroughly consider the impact of these changes on their people. The ideal is for the workforce to be aligned to the organisation’s approach to climate change and to understand to rationale for any associated changes in workplace policy or practice. However there can be cultural and contractual impacts, which in turn can affect loyalty and job satisfaction and ultimately result in grievances or claims. Clashing priorities will inevitably arise and it is key that employers turn their minds to how they will navigate these workforce challenges to ensure they succeed in their quest of achieving a greener future. 
23/05/2023
UK government’s response to non-compete consultation
Following the publication of its Smarter Regulation policy paper, the UK government has now also published its long-awaited response to the consultation on measures to reform non-compete clauses in contracts...
23/03/2023
A global move towards banning employment contract non-compete clauses?...
What does the future hold for businesses looking to retain lawfully their market positions and prevent unfair competition from ex-employees, shareholders and other stakeholders? Recent developments in...
16/12/2022
The Law and the Little Things: Microaggressions in the workplace
Microaggressions in the workplace Most organisations today recognise the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion within their workplaces, in particular, how to build an inclusive culture.  However, organisations need to go beyond warm words to deliver on commitments in prac­tice. Mi­cro­ag­gres­sions are subtle acts of discrimination; unfortunately commonplace behaviours that many write off as too trivial to mention - the “little things” that just happen. Though “little” in name, these occurrences can become large by nature, and businesses must be aware of the deep and often devastating impact of ignoring them.
01/11/2022
Employment Risk and Investigations Team
The employment team are experts at managing and carrying out investigations. We support clients by advising on the internal management of investigations, and conducting investigations ourselves as an independent third party. 
25/10/2022
Gender
What will the transition to net zero mean for women’s labour market equality?
23/09/2022
ESG: Pay Gap Reporting – a tangible way to show progress under the S 
In the second of our ESG series looking at employment law and ESG, we explore the role of pay gap reporting as a way of demonstrating a company’s social credentials. One of the central challenges for...
06/09/2022
CMS Expert Guide on discrimination in the workplace
Measures to ensure that citizens are treated equally and respectfully, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality, beliefs and other criteria have witnessed constant evolution over the past 75 years...
Comparable
05/09/2022
CMS Expert Guide on discrimination in the workplace
Any employer working in multiple jurisdictions needs to be aware of their different duties in relation to workplace discrimination. In particular, they must understand their obligations in terms of introducing...
20/05/2022
FCA Rules on Diversity and Inclusion
To whom do the rules apply? The new Listing Rules apply to UK and overseas issuers with equity shares, or certificates representing equity shares, admitted to the premium or standard segment of the FCA’s...
19/05/2022
FCA Rules on Diversity and Inclusion
On 20 April 2022, the FCA published PS22/3, setting out its policy statement and final rules on diversity and inclusion on company boards and executive management (Policy Statement) building on the proposals...