![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Melanie-Stancliffe_bio.jpg)
I’m a partner in the employment team where clients value me for my practical, jargon-free advice and responsiveness along with my advanced negotiating skills.
With over 20 years’ City experience, my role includes advising businesses, senior executives and professionals on the full range of employment matters.
I have a particular focus on owner-managed businesses and, as a fluent French speaker, handle many Anglo-French matters.
I am regularly asked to comment on employment matters on radio and in the press.
Areas of expertise:
- Senior executive terminations and boardroom disputes
- Employee/worker/partner status issues
- Settlement agreements
- Discrimination
- Whistleblowing
- Tribunal to Court of Appeal and High Court claims
- Disciplinary and regulatory investigations, defences and breaches (FCA, PRA, NHS, CQC)
- Business reorganisations
- Redundancies
- Relocations
- Cross border issues
- Family enterprises
Qualifications and memberships
- Admitted as a solicitor in September 1998
- Co-chair of French Chamber of Great Britain’s HR Forum
- Member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association and it’s Legislative and Policy Committee consulted by the government on new legislation
If I'm unavailable, please contact:
Laura Goodhew
Legal Secretary +44 (0)1892 506 329 [email protected]
Lesley Monteith
Legal Secretary +44 (0)1892 765 452 [email protected]
My experience
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Group-2184.png)
Successfully represented Michael Wardle in a discrimination and whistleblowing claim against Credit Agricole – the leading Court of Appeal case on career long loss.
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Group-2184.png)
Advised a cross border luxury brand on successfully defending unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claims before the English and French employment tribunals.
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Group-2184.png)
Successfully negotiated a seven-figure settlement for a founder and owner-managed business leader involving health and age discrimination.
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Group-2184.png)
Advised financial services brokerage business on the restructuring and renegotiation of their contractual arrangements to ensure compliance with the IR35 regime
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Group-2184.png)
Achieved discreet and negotiated departures of c-suite executives, involving carried interest, complex bonuses, restricted stock units and sweet equity.
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Group-2184.png)
Achieved withdrawal of disciplinary allegations and threat of dismissal against an FCA-regulated senior vice president.
How we made a difference
Melanie Stancliffe was very responsive, clearly knew her stuff and achieved the right result.
Legal 500 2024
‘I have been dealing with Melanie Stancliffe for many years now and her knowledge of employment law and specific attention to the pertinent questions needed to be answered is spot on.’
Legal 500 2024
'Melanie Stancliffe is exceptional and very responsive.’
Legal 500 2024
The Cripps team were fully engaged from the outset and worked with me in a consultative manner to progress matters to a satisfactory outcome. I will be eternally grateful for their support and advice.
Great service and attention to detail, highly recommend.
Melanie was excellent throughout. Effective, efficient, supportive what more could be asked for from legal representative. Clear pricing with no hidden fees. Highly recommended.
Often when you need an attorney, you need peace of mind that you will receive a fast response, accurate delivery and a service that will deliver results. I have had many personal experiences engaging an attorney and Melanie is without doubt the best. I would not hesitate to recommend.
Matthew Crummack
CEO at Domestic and General
Melanie is our go to subject matter expert on all worker status matters in the transport industry.
Carl Lomas MBE
Chair of the Institute of Couriers
Excellent at tactical advice, even at the drop of a hat – we rely on her in preference to others as she is so reliable.
Sam McLaughlin
Chief People Office, the Charterhouse Group
Thank you for your expert guidance and such responsiveness to us in a challenging time.
Nicola Forbes-Taylor
Chief People Officer, Clausematch UK
My thinking
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/60b.jpg)
Hiring a nanny/staff for your home
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/136b.jpg)
What the Labour government means for you
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/261b.png)
Creating an inclusive workplace for employees facing serious illness
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Thinking-main-0064.jpg)
Can we talk about mental health at work?
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Thinking-main-0036.jpg)
Autumn statement 2023: key employment changes
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Thinking-main-078.jpg)
The epidemic of sickness absence
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Thinking-main-0124.jpg)
How to deal with the rise of grievances
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Thinking-main-0022.jpg)
Employment law updates – all change from April 2023
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Thinking-main-0132-min.jpg)
The rise in redundancies – what employers need to know
![](https://www.cripps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Thinking-main-0098.jpg)
What is the proposed anti-strike bill?
Awards
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