Fisher Phillips welcomes Catrina Smith to London

Fisher Phillips, a prominent international labour and employment law firm representing employers, has made a significant stride in strengthening its London office with the arrival of Catrina Smith, the 12th member to join since its launch. With over 30 years of experience, Ms. Smith specialises in advising national and international companies on complex HR and employment law issues. Her previous roles include decades spent as a partner at AmLaw 50 firms, where she led employment law components in high-stakes disputes and multi-jurisdictional transactions.

In her new role, Ms. Smith will serve as Of Counsel, overseeing knowledge management and public policy while continuing her essential work as Chair of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA) Legislative and Policy Committee. “We are thrilled to have someone of Catrina’s calibre on the team to enhance our offerings,” said Dan Pollard, Managing Partner of the firm’s London Office. He added, “The Employment Rights Act 2025 represents the biggest shake-up of employment law in the UK for a generation. The removal of the unfair dismissal cap, allowing for uncapped compensation, is a game changer for how employers in the UK will have to manage the exit of senior employees, and Catrina is at the forefront of the legislative developments in this space. She will provide our team and our clients with a unique perspective.”

Dave Dorey, Co-Chair of the firm’s Government Relations Practice Group, echoed this sentiment, noting “Employment law in the UK is one of the most active and politically charged regulatory fronts, and having a practitioner like Catrina who is and has been involved in the policy conversations is a huge value-add for clients. Catrina truly understands where UK employment law is headed, understands what’s driving it, and can help clients get ahead of it.”

Under the leadership of partners Dan Pollard, Richard Harvey, and Ian Fraser, Fisher Phillips’ London office consists of a robust team of associates, counsel, and other business professionals. This team brings extensive experience in advising multinational employers on virtually all aspects of workplace law, including cross-border employment issues, executive mobility, restrictive covenants and team moves, workplace investigations, labour relations, regulatory compliance, corporate transactions, workforce restructuring, and global HR strategy.

The firm remains focused on expanding its presence in London and is actively seeking further senior additions to its team in the upcoming months, ensuring that they are well-equipped to address the rapidly evolving legal, regulatory, and cultural challenges faced by today’s global workplaces.