Register
HR Coffee Connect
Back to the Workplace: The Challenges Employers are STILL Facing
Thursday 20 March 2025 at 8:30 AM
Soho Works, 180 The Strand, London, WC2R 1EA
Nearly five years after COVID-19 and the onset of widespread lockdowns, many employers still face the challenge of encouraging employees to return to the workplace.
Join us for an insightful and engaging discussion over coffee as we explore the evolving landscape of work and tackle pressing questions, such as:
Should employees even be required to return to the workplace?
Is working on-site truly necessary in today’s world?
How are visa holders impacted in this new era?
Has the workplace changed as dramatically as we think?
Why are major players like Amazon pushing the “return to office” agenda?
Is there a “perfect” balance for hybrid working?
Registration will begin at 8:30 AM, with the event starting at 9:00 AM and concluding at 10:30 AM.
Meet our hosts
Adele Martins
Adele Martins (Partner) is Head of Magrath Sheldrick’s Employment Department.
Adele’s practice covers all aspects of employment law, as well as advice on related data protection issues. She has a client base ranging from multinational PLC’s to private individuals and particularly enjoys helping clients develop pragmatic solutions to overcome issues, whether for employers or for employees for managing challenging workplace situations.
Adele is known for her practical and commercial approach. She has extensive experience of advising on complex employee relations issues, TUPE, collective consultation, whistleblowing and the drafting and enforcement of complex contracts, restrictive covenants, garden leave and employment terminations.
Adele regularly deals with complaints of unfair dismissal and discrimination in the Employment Tribunal and in addition to HR support, provides clinics and training courses on a regular basis.
Joanne Taylor
Joanne Taylor is a qualified Solicitor and Partner in the UK Immigration team at Magrath Sheldrick with many years of experience. Acknowledged by Whos Who Legal (“WWL”) Thought Leaders: Global Elite 2024 - inclusion on the list are individuals who obtained the highest number of nominations from peers, corporate counsel and other market sources in the most recent research cycle. Feedback from clients and WWL includes:
“she gains plaudits for her “ability to convey complex immigration advice in easy to understand laymen terms”. Clients highly appreciate her “understanding of their business and her skill in speaking to all layers of the business” and her willingness to “go the extra mile”.
Joanne partners with and oversees the Immigration programmes for several large multi-national corporations together with SMEs ensuring that the solutions fit their business needs and ambitions. Providing policies and guidance to ensure that large scale immigration programmes operate seamlessly. Often lobbying the Home Office to raise the profile of issues affecting corporate clients and applicants and is involved in policy and Immigration law reviews with the Home Office, attending monthly meetings with the Home Office to discuss operational and policy changes.
Focusing primarily on corporate immigration she advises and assists many HR departments to determine their immigration needs for both existing and new hires into the business. All individuals are then assisted through the entire immigration process by her and her team. Joanne provides holistic support with all Sponsor Licence matters, which includes training, assistance with record keeping and Home Office audits. She will always consider strategic solutions for businesses to ensure compliance with strict Home Office requirements, whilst ensuring the business needs can be met, often exploring alternative immigration categories.
Joanne has been closely involved with the Immigration Law Practitioner Association (“ILPA”) for many years and is also an Associate Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) and British American Business (“BAB”). Joanne was also nominated for Women in Law Award 2020.
Antonia Grant
Antonia Grant is a dual qualified UK/Hong Kong lawyer who lived and worked in Hong Kong for a number of years where she also sat on the British Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee and regularly hosted meetings. Antonia was also admitted as a lawyer in Ireland in 2018 by The Law Society of Ireland.
With a focus on Asia Pacific, Antonia’s specialism is corporate and high net worth personal immigration, providing advice on and managing international cross-border projects involving several jurisdictions throughout the Asia Pacific Region. She is a recognised Immigration lawyer with a client base drawn from a broad range of industries internationally and she acts for start-up businesses to multinationals. Her work covers industry sectors such as law firms, investment banks, airline leasing companies, auction-houses, high-end fashion houses and restaurants. Antonia also focuses on complex personal immigration matters such as permanent residence and citizenship options in the APAC region.
Antonia regularly handles global projects for a range of global jurisdictions including EMEA, liaising with Employment and Tax lawyers to structure global moves and ensure clients receive a seamless service with personal focus.
Antonia provides training for clients and regularly comments for legal publications and news media including The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong.
Antonia has been recognised in the Legal 500 for "providing practical and commercial advice" and "always responsive even in demanding time frames".
HR Coffee Connect
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