Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Tom is widely recognised as a leading employment silk, with a practice that encompasses High Court and statutory employment cases, company, partnership and LLP disputes, civil fraud and asset recovery. He is instructed in the full range of complex employment litigation, with particular expertise in dealing with complex financial services, accounting and IT issues. Tom is highly rated in the latest editions of both legal directories, The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners and is particularly noted for his expertise in whistleblowing and team moves cases. Recent comments include:
Previous comments include:
Recent highlights of Tom’s practice include:
Tom specialises in High Court employment litigation with an emphasis on cases involving injunctive relief in relation to confidentiality and competition. He is also able to combine commercial, company law and employment experience to provide assistance in relation to, for example, the litigation issues created by the dismissal of shareholder directors, the removal of partners and members of LLPs and the problems raised by the termination of consultancy arrangements in the financial services industry and the recovery of assets misappropriated by those inside a business.
He has appeared as an advocate at every level of the domestic courts in a broad range of cases concerning discrimination, whistleblowing, union rights, TUPE and all other forms of statutory employment claim, acting for Applicants and Respondents with a particular focus on the financial and professional services sectors.
Tom was awared Employment Junior of the Year at the Chambers Bar Awards in 2014 and in 2013 was ranked as one of Chambers UK's Top Junior Bar 100, in their inaugural listing of the top barristers practising at the Bar of England & Wales.
“Thomas is excellent on restrictive covenants and an experienced High Court practitioner.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
“Undoubtedly one of the top employment barristers at the Bar and right at the top of his game in restraint of trade and whistleblowing claims – no one has more experience.”
Legal 500, 2023
“He is very passionate about his cases, and he is strong under cross-examination and in his submissions.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“He is an aggressive advocate who is up for a fight to defend his client's corner.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“The go-to person for complex whistleblowing cases – always dependable and a pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500, 2022
“A fine strategist with great intellect.”
Legal 500, 2022
“He is very strategic and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in whistle-blowing cases.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“He's superbly conscientious and thorough.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“He knows everything there is to know about team moves and has a very nice, relaxed manner in addressing the court.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“He's super knowledgeable and so effective - he's really able to give a clear tactical steer on a particular case.”
Chambers and Partners, 2020
“He is sharp, practical and excellent with clients.”
Legal 500, 2019
“He communicates with clients very effectively and he is very authoritative in court.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“A good cross-examiner and a confident advocate.”
Chambers and Partners, 2019
“He is sharp, practical and excellent with clients.”
Legal 500, 2018
“Tom Croxford is excellent.”
Chambers UK, 2018
“He has a very good court style and is a particularly devastating cross-examiner.”
Chambers UK, 2018
“He is an excellent advocate with a remarkable understanding of the law”
Chambers UK, 2017
“His advice is always spot-on and he is an excellent advocate.”
Legal 500, 2017
“He has a flair for presenting a legal argument that delivers a punch.”
Chambers UK, 2016
“A natural first choice on High Court employment matters.”
Legal 500, 2015
Successfully represented the defendant at trial in relation to a claim in contract and proprietary estoppel for an alleged £1m retention award.
Acting in a substantial claim for misuse of confidential information and database rights arising out of the move of an employee from a housebuilder to a competitor.
The Court ordered delivery up of confidential and privileged documents retained by the former Global General Counsel and his instructed lawyers following the termination of his employment. Important issues relating to the law of privilege.
Acting for a bioscience company repelling a corporate raid and dealing with misconduct by a departing executive.
Acting pro bono for the appellant in a complex disability discrimination case at 3(10) hearing then substantive appeal.
Successfully resisting application for interim relief by former global general counsel.
A substantial arbitration in relation to enforceability of restrictive covenants in an LLP agreement of a large professional services firm.
Mr Christie brought claims against his former employer for (1) his bonus determination in 2015, (2) his bonus determination in 2016 and (3) a failure to make a retention award. The total value of the claims was £2.32 million. The Court granted summary judgment in relation to both bonus claims. Acted successfully for Canaccord Genuity Limited.
Acted for the Defendant employee in a speedy trial to determine whether the Defendant was wrongfully dismissed and if not whether the non-compete, non-poaching and non-solicitation covenants in the employment contract should be enforced.
Acting for a major broadcaster in relation to misconduct by various presenters
Potential removal of a partner amidst claims of disability discrimination.
Whistleblowing and race discrimination claim bought by former general counsel of a global consumer product company.
Lead the case in relation to springboard injunctions arising out of the departure of a group of white hat hackers.
Search orders obtained against former employees wrongfully acquiring confidential and copyright documents.
Breach of duty claims against a company director arising out of allegedly excessively generous termination provisions negotiated for themself.
Advisal on removal of the chairman in a company limited by guarantee.
Claim to enforce restrictive covenants in contracts of former employees and to restrain inducement of breach by the competing Tamarind restaurant group.
Acting for Defendant, Jack Wills, in pre-action disclosure application then claim arising out of theft of confidential information and property, allegations of infringement of design rights.
High value whistleblowing dismissal claim brought by former Head of CIS team against private bank. Acted for the successful respondent.
Acted for the claimant in a claim for negative declaratory relief in relation to the enforceability of non-compete covenants and forfeiture provisions contained in multi-jurisdictional contracts pertaining to a former employee the claimant’s contract of employment.
Acted for claimant enforcing extensive restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions.
Acted for the defendant and his Delaware cell company in relation to alleged misappropriation of confidential information and breaches of covenant by a former employee of an investment advisory firm.
Acted for the claimant in relation to applications to enforce covenants in both a share sale agreement and an employment contract, and for injunctions against inducing breaches of contract and conspiring by unlawful means.
Acted for the Respondent, an independent wealth management firm, in a high value whistleblowing claim arising out of a variety of alleged regulatory breaches.
Acted for the Claimant in an exceptionally high value whistleblowing claim arising out of his dismissal following his complaints about the alleged mismarking of complex derivatives at a global investment bank.
Acting for the former CFO of a PLC in relation to his dismissal and deprivation of share options and bonus entitlements following the making of disclosures as to improper conduct by other directors.
Acting for the former managing director of a German business in relation to his dismissal. The claim is of race discrimination on the basis that he was English rather than German. The hearing is listed for 18 days.
Acted for a partner in a global law firm who brought claims of disability and age discrimination in relation to his expulsion.
Acted for successful appellant in major age discrimination case concerning justification of age related taper for enhanced voluntary redundancy scheme. Highly significant case on justification of direct age discrimination. Valued at £10 million.
Acting for Picturehouse in relation to a series of strikes art its cinemas which have garnered much press attention. Successfully defended interim relief application in ET brought by dismissed workers claiming dismissal on grounds of trade union activities.
Acted for respondent in claim for whistleblowing interim relief brought by claimant following governance dispute at major Arabic tv station. Defended on basis that claim was in effect fraudulent.
Acting for Pinsent Masons in High Court claim relating to recruitment of lawyers from RyC on opening of Madrid Office.
Tom practises extensively in employee competition and examples of his current and recent work in this area can be found below.
Acted for the Defendant employee in a speedy trial to determine whether the Defendant was wrongfully dismissed and if not whether the non-compete, non-poaching and non-solicitation covenants in the employment contract should be enforced.
The Court ordered delivery up of confidential and privileged documents retained by the former Global General Counsel and his instructed lawyers following the termination of his employment. Important issues relating to the law of privilege.
Acted for claimant enforcing extensive restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions.
Acted for the claimant in a claim for negative declaratory relief in relation to the enforceability of non-compete covenants and forfeiture provisions contained in multi-jurisdictional contracts pertaining to a former employee the claimant’s contract of employment.
Acted for the defendant and his Delaware cell company in relation to alleged misappropriation of confidential information and breaches of covenant by a former employee of an investment advisory firm.
Acted for the claimant in relation to applications to enforce covenants in both a share sale agreement and an employment contract, and for injunctions against inducing breaches of contract and conspiring by unlawful means.
Application by a company for a freezing order and other relief against its shareholding senior management team arising out of the receipt of secret profits. The injunctions were sought by way of derivative action by the majority shareholder in the Companies Court.
Sought, obtained and resisted delivery up of confidential information, database right infringement, springboard, fiduciary duty and covenant-based injunctions in addition to freezing and search orders and computer imaging orders.
Tom has particular expertise in cases concerning the misappropriation of proprietary software and other forms of data theft and has a detailed understanding of the various forensic IT issues that may arise.
Tom has acted in many of the highest value whistleblowing claims that have been brought in recent years, most of which have been in the financial services sector.
The Court ordered delivery up of confidential and privileged documents retained by the former Global General Counsel and his instructed lawyers following the termination of his employment. Important issues relating to the law of privilege.
Acting for a foreign-domiciled bank in a substantial whistleblowing and discrimination claim brought by a compliance officer.
Acted for the Respondent, an independent wealth management firm, in a high value whistleblowing claim arising out of a variety of alleged regulatory breaches.
Acted for the Claimant in an exceptionally high value whistleblowing claim arising out of his dismissal following his complaints about the alleged mismarking of complex derivatives at a global investment bank.
Acting for the former CFO of a PLC in relation to his dismissal and deprivation of share options and bonus entitlements following the making of disclosures as to improper conduct by other directors.
Acted for two claimants in claims against a large financial sector company where the claimants’ disclosures had related to a fraud perpetrated by other employees of the Respondent which resulted in substantial regulatory fines and other losses or liabilities of over £100 million.
Acting for the claimant in claims brought against an investment bank arising out of disclosures as to the conduct of FX operations.
Acting for and against a variety of investment banks, hedge funds, private equity houses, law firms and other City companies in relation to a number of multi-million pound whistleblowing claims. Tom has a detailed understanding of City regulation in addition to a familiarity with many of the more technical aspects of the pricing of derivatives and other instruments.
Acted for the claimant in what was asserted by the Respondent’s leading counsel to be the highest value claim ever brought before an employment tribunal.
Acted for respondent in claim for whistleblowing interim relief brought by claimant following governance dispute at major Arabic tv station. Defended on basis that claim was in effect fraudulent.
Examples of Tom’s recent TUPE work can be found below.
Engaged in an 8 day trial and then in the Court of Appeal considering, amongst other things, whether an alleged contractual entitlement to a sum reflecting the difference between a final salary and a defined contribution pension was capable of transferring under TUPE.
Contentious and non-contentious advice and representation in relation to every form of TUPE-related problem.
Tom practises extensively in matters concerning discrimination and equal pay and examples of his current and recent work in this area can be found below.
Acting pro bono for the appellant in a complex disability discrimination case at 3(10) hearing then substantive appeal.
Acting for the former managing director of a German business in relation to his dismissal. The claim is of race discrimination on the basis that he was English rather than German. The hearing is listed for 18 days.
Acted for a partner in a global law firm who brought claims of disability and age discrimination in relation to his expulsion.
Acted for Respondent firm in relation to an age and maternity related discrimination claim brought by a former senior associate.
Acted for a law firm in the first substantial case seeking to justify a mandatory retirement age for a partnership. Appeared with a junior in the Supreme Court.
Acted for the claimant in a substantial claim brought against a US law firm by a passed-over senior associate claiming discrimination on grounds of nationality and by reason of pregnancy.
Acting for respondent in challenge to age-related taper provisions in an enhanced redundancy scheme.
Acting for a variety of respondent law firms in a series of cases related to the dismissal of partners and senior associates on grounds of sex, pregnancy, disability and age.
Particular experience and expertise acting for Claimants in very high value discrimination claims against City banks and other institutions.
Substantial experience acting for and against law firms and other professional partnerships in relation to such claims.
Acted for successful appellant in major age discrimination case concerning justification of age related taper for enhanced voluntary redundancy scheme. Highly significant case on justification of direct age discrimination. Valued at £10 million.
Tom is involved with commercial and contractual disputes in a wide range of fields including directors’ duties, civil fraud, factoring and invoice discounting, FX trading, derivatives and other financial instruments and insurance. He has experience of unfair prejudice petitions and insolvency proceedings. He has developed a particular expertise in partnership and LLP disputes in the professional services sector.
Tom has particular experience undertaking commercial work in the context of the FCA-Regulated sector, combining his experience and knowledge of the role of the FCA with general commercial, fraud and fiduciary duty experience.
His experience in dealing with hedge funds (marketing, investment, redemption and valuation issues for long/short, long-only, fof, credit and quant funds), private equity houses (partnership/LLP issues, carried interest disputes) and investment and private banks (all forms of employment, share and remuneration disputes) is particularly significant.
In course of a substantial dispute between pharmaceutical wholesaler and pharmacy chain, acted in a hearing where the court gave significant guidance on what was then the PD 51U disclosure pilot.
Acted for the Defendant employee in a speedy trial to determine whether the Defendant was wrongfully dismissed and if not whether the non-compete, non-poaching and non-solicitation covenants in the employment contract should be enforced.
Commercial banking mandatory injunction. Required continued provision of prepay credit card services.
Commercial dispute arising out of misappropriation of confidential information in context of a residential property manager.
Claim for the recovery of fraudulently obtained investments. Freezing order obtained.
Obligations of a fiduciary to account in relation to investments in wine.
Start-up company on whether an alleged oral shareholders agreement was capable of overriding the later terms of the Articles of Association.
Acting for shareholder in a pair of s994 petitions arising out of a dispute in a family car and tractor business.
Acting for former director and shareholder in relation to multi-million pound fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
Acting for Defendant, Jack Wills, in pre-action disclosure application then claim arising out of theft of confidential information and property, allegations of infringement of design rights.
Acting for the respondents to an arbitration claim concerning breach of fiduciary duties by members of an LLP in expelling the claimant.
Acted for the claimant in relation to applications to enforce covenants in both a share sale agreement and an employment contract, and for injunctions against inducing breaches of contract and conspiring by unlawful means.
Acted for claimant seeking injunctive relief to ensure that a shareholder’s votes were counted at an AGM of a listed company. Claims ultimately upheld in the Supreme Court.
Application by a company for a freezing order and other relief against its shareholding senior management team arising out of the receipt of secret profits. The injunctions were sought by way of derivative action by the majority shareholder in the Companies Court.
Application for freezing order and ancillary applications in relation to an alleged $18 million multinational fraud arising out of an agreement to purchase Twitter shares on the IPO.
Acted for Claimant in a claim against its former senior manager and its Head of Corporate for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty arising out of improper loans made to A1 Grand Prix.
Acted for Gordon Ramsay (together with Pushpinder Saini QC) in a case concerning the hacking of Gordon Ramsay’s personal and commercial communications by his father-in-law.
Acting for a vendor of business software in relation to the alleged misappropriation and misuse of source code by former employees.
Acted for the defendants in a £25million claim for, amongst other things, commission alleged to have been earned in relation to certain property deals.
Acted in a large number of cases in which the claimant is a director and shareholder, thereby raising issues of contract, fiduciary duties, Companies Act obligations, unfair prejudice petitions.
Tom has acted on behalf of many of the leading factors and invoice-discounters and also many other banks, financial institutions and companies in relation to fraud and indemnity claims. These claims have involved numerous successful applications for Search Orders, Freezing Orders and other related interlocutory relief in the Chancery Division, Companies Court, Queen's Bench Division and the Commercial Court.
Substantial experience through court and advisory work in relation to all forms of injunctions commonly granted by domestic courts including Search Orders, Freezing Orders, Doorstep Disclosure Orders, ne exeat regno/Bayer v Winter relief and interim specific performance of contracts.
Lead the case in relation to springboard injunctions arising out of the departure of a group of white hat hackers.
Obligations of a fiduciary to account in relation to investments in wine.
Application for freezing order and ancillary applications in relation to an alleged $18 million multinational fraud arising out of an agreement to purchase Twitter shares on the IPO.
A successful application to set aside freezing order for material non-disclosure.
A passing-off injunction and freezing order against former employees passing themselves off as associated with their former employer.
Acted for Gordon Ramsay (together with Pushpinder Saini QC) in a case concerning the hacking of Gordon Ramsay’s personal and commercial communications by his father-in-law.
Acting for a vendor of business software in relation to the alleged misappropriation and misuse of source code by former employees.
A Norwich Pharmacal against the foundation that runs Wikipedia. “Super-injunction” sought and granted.
Proprietary and non-proprietary domestic freezing orders in a substantial fraud claim which was successful at trial.
Non-proprietary worldwide freezing order in a nine figure sum with an ancillary Bayer v Winter order.
Tom has acted for both individuals and firms in relation to claims arising out of membership or alleged membership of LLP and traditional partnerships, particularly in relation to legal, FCA regulated and other professional service sector LLPs.
Potential removal of a partner amidst claims of disability discrimination.
Acting for professional services partnership in relation to the expulsion of a member, allegedly in bad faith.
Claim and cross claim between firm and former partner relating to his departure with a team. Went to arbitration.
An arbitration of a dispute as to the expulsion of a member of an LLP under a “good reason” clause.
C claimed to have entered into a common law partnership whose business consists of an LLP operating a private equity fund in which C was also a member together with others of the alleged common law partners. Summary judgement obtained and upheld on appeal.
Judgment awaited in relation to a claim by an employee who alleged that he had become a member of an LLP and where that membership was alleged not to have been effectively terminated giving him a continuing right to profit share and equity interest.
A claim that A had become a common law partner of B in relation to practising as a solicitor in B’s existing sole practitioner firm.
MA (Cantab)
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Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Gary Oliver
Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7325
Derek Sutton
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7327
Adam Sloane
Deputy Senior Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7326
Dean Tolman
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7331
Billy Brian
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7339
Marc Armstrong
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7330
Adam Fuschillo
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7329
Danny Compton
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7338
Sophie Reeve
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7324
Rio Sully
Clerk
+44 (0) 207 822 7299