Darren Isaacs

Darren Isaacs works on complex international and cross-border HR projects, international business restructurings, as well as HR aspects of mergers & acquisitions.

Most of Darren’s clients are UK or US-based employers, and he focusses on cross-border and international HR projects. He is often instructed by clients who have large-scale EMEA matters that need managing, but he also regularly covers Australia and New Zealand.

Darren’s project work includes international M&A transactions, multi-country document reviews and cross-border litigation. Examples of Darren’s work include: advising a global IT business on the EU employment law aspects of its acquisition of a rival; leading the employment law team advising on a global financial services firm's insolvency in Europe; advising on the largest ever international roll-out of regulatory compliant bonus scheme rules for an international bank (60 countries); leading the European employment law team on a global demerger and separate listing; assisting a global "gig economy" start-up to establish operations across EMEA.

In addition to this, Darren also manages a domestic UK practice which includes advising local UK clients on all their day-to-day HR needs, as well as defending high-value employment tribunal litigation.

Darren has previously been awarded the International Law Office Client Choice Award for leading UK Counsel. He has also been ranked first in a survey of leading European M&A employment lawyers by Mergermarket. He is recognised as a leading practitioner by Chambers & Partners and is listed in “Who’s Who Legal 2021” as a leading labour & employment lawyer. Darren also hosts Littler’s quarterly Workplace Policy Institute (WPI) webinars focusing on EU labour laws.

Darren has practised in Australia, Hong Kong and the UK. Prior to joining GQ|Littler he worked at ‘Magic Circle’ firm Linklaters and was also the Head of UK Employment Law at a US law firm. Publications of note: consulting author of HR Bullets, a publication that provides comment and analysis on the implications of employment law for the HR professional.