Biography
Holly specialises in Employment Law and has extensive experience advising employers of all sizes, with a particular focus on contentious issues.
She has a particular interest in contentious issues and defending Employment Tribunal claims and conducts much of her own advocacy – appearing both in person and remotely at hearings across the country.
Holly provides responsive and commercially focused employment law advice in a pragmatic straightforward way.
She also provides day-to-day strategic HR and employment law advice to clients, including advice on disciplinary and grievance issues, absence and performance management, discrimination, redundancy and restructures. She has considerable experience in this area, having previously worked in a variety of HR roles.
Holly qualified as a solicitor in 2015 and has been recognised by the Legal 500 as a Key Lawyer.
Recent highlights:
- Successfully defended an Employment Tribunal claim brought by a group of claimants who asserted that the respondent had dismissed them following an alleged TUPE transfer.
- Successfully defended a complex Employment Tribunal claim brought against the whole of the senior leadership team of a Multi Academy Trust for race discrimination and constructive dismissal.
- Successfully defended a lengthy Employment Tribunal claim brought against the respondent and CEO personally for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination and age discrimination.
- Conducted a significant audit of a client’s employment contracts with particular focus on the enforceability of the restrictive covenants.
- Advised on the employment status and enforceability of restrictive covenants for a US based company engaging individuals in the UK and Spain.
- Advised a client on the implications of a winning tender which included consultation obligations and negotiations with the relevant Trade Union.
Testimonials
“Holly Butterworth is a fantastic solicitor who provides very straightforward advice, and cuts through a lot of the complexities when dealing with our staffing issues. She responds quickly and in a no-nonsense manner, which is key when advising those without a legal background.” – Legal 500, 2025
“We have benefited from excellent guidance and support from Holly Butterworth throughout the tribunal process.” – Legal 500, 2025
“We have been extremely impressed with the support provided by Holly during a critical period of growth for our Multi-Academy Trust. She has offered invaluable expertise in reviewing and updating staff contracts to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose. In addition, her guidance through some particularly complex HR matters, including sensitive disciplinary cases, has been both professional and reassuring. Her responsiveness, clear advice, and understanding of the education sector have made her an asset in providing advice to our HR support team.” – Client, 2025
“It has been a pleasure to work with Holly on this case. We really appreciated her professionalism, guidance and tenacious follow-through.” – Client, 2023
“Knowledgeable, professional and approachable. My current contact is Holly Butterworth who has provided invaluable support, advice, guidance and sign posting to key contacts outside of Irwin Mitchell.” – Legal 500
“Holly, thank you again for everything, not just for doing your job and achieving such a positive result for me but for your patience, kindness and understanding, it really has helped restore a little bit of my faith in the human race.” – Client, 2023
