Hannah Netherton

Hannah is a partner in the CMS UK Employment Group. She advises businesses on the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters, including Employment Tribunal and High Court litigation, people issues in transactions, and day-to-day as well as strategic employment issues.  

Hannah’s practice is concentrated on two areas of deep expertise: handling complex, sensitive investigations and resolving high-value employee competition disputes. While her expertise is sector-agnostic, Hannah is particularly valued by clients in financial services, life sciences, and technology and media, where regulatory overlay, innovation cycles and talent mobility can amplify employment risks. Organisations seek her guidance when reputational, regulatory and financial exposure is acute and board-level decision-making must be underpinned by rigorous legal analysis and sound judgment.

In the investigations sphere Hannah is recognised for advising on processes that have credibility and integrity. She regularly acts as independent investigator or privileged legal adviser in matters involving whistleblowing, workplace culture, allegations of harassment and discrimination, and breaches of regulatory obligations. Her work often spans multiple jurisdictions and requires close coordination with other technical legal specialists, data analytics providers and overseas counsel. From scoping terms of reference and interviewing key witnesses through to drafting reports, managing regulator engagement and implementing remedial action, she guides Boards, General Counsel and People leaders through every stage of the process while maintaining stakeholder confidence.

Hannah’s other area of core focus is the full spectrum of employee competition disputes. She is adept at obtaining and resisting urgent injunctive relief in the High Court to enforce restrictive covenants and protect confidential information. Hannah combines decisive litigation strategies with practical, commercial advice on risk management, evidence preservation and where appropriate negotiated resolution.

Hannah is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association, the Association of Partnership Practitioners and the Association of Corporate Investigators, contributes regularly to industry working parties and publications, and delivers tailored training to HR, compliance and in-house legal teams. Clients describe her as a trusted adviser who combines technical excellence with clarity, calmness and strategic foresight when the stakes are at their highest.