Carl Soan is a Partner at Spencer West LLP. He joined the firm in June 2025, having previously worked at a specialist employment law boutique firm in the City of London since 2013 and before that having trained at and worked in global law firm DLA Piper’s London office since 2007.
Carl has over 17 years’ experience advising companies and senior executives on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. He was the lead solicitor acting on two high value successive High Court group claims representing, collectively, 496 clients, testament to his organisational skills and dedication to his client’s interests.
Carl has experience acting on behalf of two claimants litigating against multiple defendants in the High Court in relation to allegations of conspiracy to cause economic harm by unlawful means.
He has represented employers and employees in Employment Tribunal litigation.
Outside work Carl enjoys dancing classical ballet (he has done so for over 12 years), visiting the opera and long countryside walks.
Specific areas of expertise:
- Advising employers and HR professionals on all aspects of day-to-day employment law queries including responding to written grievances and how to conduct compliant disciplinary procedures
- Drafting and advising on senior executive service agreements, other employment contracts and Employee Handbook policies
- Experience of defending complex discrimination, whistleblowing and automatic unfair dismissal claims and bringing such claims on behalf of claimants
- Advising companies of all sizes on restructuring including any related redundancies and collective consultation obligations
- Advising employers and employees on the scope and enforceability of post-termination restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions including over 10 years’ experience in litigating breaches of restrictive covenants in the High Court including seeking interim injunctive relief;
- Experience of preparing a very large claim for and attending a 10-day trial in the King’s Bench Division, High Court
- Advising on TUPE, its application, its avoidance, consultation and drafting clauses in outsourcing agreements;
- Drafting employment clauses in share purchase and asset purchase contracts including due diligence and warranties;
- Advising employers on data protection in respect of employees and handling data subject access requests;
- Drafting settlement agreements for employers and advising employees on settlement agreements including tripartite agreements
- Delivering classroom-based training on employment law and presenting on webinars.
Carl has acted in cases in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, the High Court (King’s Bench Division and separately the Chancery Division) and the Court of Appeal.
Carl has delivered several three-day intensive employment law courses to clients. He understands the value of sharing his knowledge to help achieve better results for his clients.
Carl has regularly presented at seminars and has spoken about legal updates to HR Business Partners and in-house Counsel of leading London hotels, museums and other household name organisations.