Stephen ten Hove
Partner
Employment
Stephen’s work for his clients covers all aspects of Employment Law, both contentious and non-contentious; the law relating to partnerships and shareholders, and the recovery of the proceeds of fraud. He acts primarily, but not exclusively, for employers and companies.
Although he usually hopes to keep his clients out of court, his contentious work includes regular Senior Court litigation to enforce post termination restrictions and obligations of confidentiality, or to defend their alleged breach; bringing and defending claims for bonus and commission; bringing and defending claims of Unfair Prejudice under the Companies Act 2006 and recovering the proceeds of frauds against companies and partnerships. He regularly appears in the Employment Tribunals in claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination and worker status. Stephen was an advocate in the first reported case to consider the 2006 TUPE Regulations; another of his cases was the subject of a leader article in the Times, and, in a third, he secured for his client what was then the highest award of costs in favour of an employer in Employment Tribunal history.
His non-contentious work includes drafting contracts of employment and incentive schemes for senior employees. He has particular expertise in post-termination restrictions, their effectiveness, and enforcement, and both advises his clients on their existing PTRs as well as drafts and implements new ones. He provides guidance on shareholders’ agreements, structures proposed TUPE transfers, and drafts the relevant contractual terms.
With many years of experience dealing with issues of worker status and laws applicable to recruitment businesses and agencies, he was consulted by the (then) Department of Trade and Industry during the drafting of the Conduct of Employment Agencies etc. Regulations 2003. Stephen regularly advises his recruitment clients on the aspects of employment law that apply, uniquely, to them and regularly drafts terms and conditions for the supply of permanent and temporary agency candidates. He also advises professional services clients such as architects and designers on the term of their consultancy agreements with their clients in the construction sector.
Stephen qualified as a solicitor in 1990.
Stephen works primarily in our London office but also collaborates closely with colleagues in our other locations.
Work highlights
OFFICE ANGELS LIMITED V RAINER-THOMAS
Court of Appeal – the proper extent of an area restriction in a non-compete restriction
EL-DIN TAWFICK V AL-SAUD
High Court – the circumstances in which a valuable reward is payable to a retainer
KEANE V INVESTIGO AND OTHERS
Employment Appeal Tribunal – in a claim of discrimination, no detriment is suffered when an applicant is turned down for a job they did not intend to accept. Stephen secured for his client what was then the highest award of costs in favour of an employer in Employment Tribunal history
NIKSUN V HILLS
Court of Appeal – the proper extent of an employer’s discretion when paying both bonus and commission
RELFO LIMITED V VARSANI (AND OTHERS)
Court of Appeal – the availability of the remedy of restitution when applied against a director who had allegedly paid company monies to himself prior to its liquidation
Recent videos
Recent videos
EMPLOYMENT LAW
The rights of trade union members and issues for employers facing industrial action
Recent videos
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Managing mental health and the effects of long Covid on staff returning to the office
Recent videos
Recent videos
Recent videos
Recent videos
Recent videos
Recent videos
Recent articles
Podcasts
In this latest podcast, our experts discuss the new employment law proposals introduced by the UK Labour government.
06/08/2024
Insights
Stephen ten Hove writes for People Management on the enforceability of rules relating to employees working with business clients after employment has ended
02/07/2024
Podcasts
In this latest episode, our experts explore the fascinating and complex world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the workplace.
01/07/2024
Podcasts
In this latest episode, our Employment Law experts discuss the recent government announcements in relation to the retained law arrangements and some so-called sunset clauses.
30/05/2023