Our Staff

Emma-Louise Hewitt

Head of Department, Partner, Solicitor
Dispute Resolution, Employment

Tel: 01217463300
Office: Birmingham

About Emma-Louise Hewitt

Emma specialises in all areas of Employment Law acting for both employees and employers in a range of areas including but not limited to:

Drafting contracts, handbooks, policies and procedures
Negotiating exit packages and Settlement Agreements
Advising on potential Employment Tribunal claims such as unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal
Guidance on re-structuring and redundancy
Assistance with disciplinary and grievance procedures and processes
Negotiation during ACAS early conciliation
Advising on all aspects of workplace discrimination and bullying
Workplace training on best practice and staff management for supervisors and managers
Providing general day to day employment law advice and support to business owners, managers and HR advisors

Client Sectors: Automotive, Professional Services, Hospitality, Recruitment, Engineering, Manufacturing, Care Homes, Retail, Fashion, Casinos and Logistics.

Emma Studied Law at Derby University from 2003 – 2006, undertook her LPC at The College of Law Birmingham (now University of Law) in 2006 - 2007. She worked as a paralegal at Davies and Partners Solicitors before completing her training contract with them in February 2010. She then joined Standley & Co Solicitors in March 2010 as an Assistant Solicitor, becoming Head of the Employment Department in 2011 and then Equity Partner from April 2015 until 31 July 2018. Emma heads up our Sydney Mitchell Employment Law Team.

What our clients say

Legal 500 testimonials from clients:

'Emma-Louise Hewitt was very quick at putting my mind at ease on a very complex case'
'Emma-Louise Hewitt is an outstanding employment lawyer. Emma is not only a great technical lawyer but one who has great empathy and compassion for her clients and I feel that she always go the 'extra mile' for them'
'Emma-Louise Hewitt is conscientious, diligent and always keen to get the best result for her clients'
'Emma-Louise Hewitt gives me practical advice that I can understand'
'Emma-Louise Hewitt was brilliant in helping me achieve what I wanted out of my case'

"Years ago Sydney Mitchell represented me in my divorce case and when I needed their expertise again with an employment dispute they acted again professionally, sensitively and with a smile"

“Professional, practical advice from Emma. She is always there when I need her.”

“Emma is such a great asset to your company, I will pass on any future clients that I can.”
Mr Toulouse, Sapphire Windscreens

“Emma Hewitt was very knowledgeable through the whole process. Would recommend her.”
Ms Rehana Begum

Types of Law used

Employment Law

What the Directories say

2024-25 - Legal 500 - Next Generation Partner

‘Emma Louise-Hewitt is technically excellent and knows her field inside out. Emma gets the job done. She provides no-nonsense, straightforward advice and guidance.'
‘Emma-Louise was exceptional, she was just brilliant throughout. She had excellent knowledge, she was kind in a difficult time and she executed on exactly what she said she would. I would recommend her a thousand times over.’
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt was great. She listened carefully, provided options and really allowed me to make informed choices and helped us achieve a good result out of a dire situation.’
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt is able to be proactive and think through problems before they arise. She is an exceptional solicitor, and a fantastic negotiator. . She is prepared, calm and resourceful.'
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt is always fantastic in any situation I have needed her to support with on both sides of the employment “fence”. She is honest, friendly and extremely competent. Emma makes what is an emotive and often life-impacting situation feel easier to navigate.’
‘Emma Louise Hewitt is a great employment law solicitor. I have found her to be personable, explaining the law in a pragmatic manner for our clients.’
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt is very hard working and dedicated to her clients. She has a great empathy with them and I have always found her to go the extra mile.’

2023-24 - Legal 500 - Employment - Next Generation Partner

'Headed by Emma-Louise Hewitt, the team at Sydney Mitchell LLP has 'excellent legal expertise and a common-sense approach’. The group provides ‘pragmatic advice’ to both employers and employees on a range of contentious issues. It also advises on other issues such as TUPE and is skilled at drafting handbooks.'... 'Sydney Mitchell’s team is consistent in its ‘no stone unturned’ approach to getting the best outcome for clients. Friendly and approachable, they instil confidence with their practical advice'.

‘Emma-Louise Hewitt is easily one of the finest legal partners in-house at Sydney Mitchells LLP, specialising in Employment Law. Her humility and honesty symbolises her work, resulting in successful outcomes in all kinds of cases. She is approachable and delivers to the highest scale’.
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt was excellent. She explained things to me in simple terms that I could understand (not all legal speak). She went above and beyond to help me at every turn with my case and I was lucky to have her fighting my corner’.
‘Emma Louise Hewitt always provides clear and concise advice taking circumstances into account and taking a balanced view. Emma always does what she promises she will do, and comes back to you in a timely manner’.
‘During the cases Emma was supportive, extremely knowledgeable, straight talking, engaged and passionate. I knew exactly what to expect and how realistic my expectations were. I would recommend her to anyone. She is a credit to her profession’.
‘Emma has enormous expertise and experience, which enables her to provide a brilliant service for her clients. She is technically excellent, incredibly supportive and always looks to achieve the very best outcome. Emma gets to grips with complex detail in a case from the outset‘.
‘Emma-Louise Hewitt is knowledgeable and always on top of a client’s case. Dean Parnell infuses the team with his ‘extra mile’ attitude to client’s cases, coupled with a good dose of commercial realism‘.
‘Quick response, understanding the client’s expectations and providing the service at reasonable cost’.

2022-23 - Legal 500 - Employment

‘Sydney Mitchell provides top class employment law expertise, with practical know-how. It is reassuring to know you’re in good hands. Emma-Louise Hewitt is very knowledgeable and has an excellent client orientated focus. She is quickly able to grasp complex details seeing the true picture, presenting the case thoroughly‘..
‘The employment law practice at Syndey Mitchell is first-class, with a focus on client service and succinct advice’.
‘Their knowledge and expertise of employment law is a real strength. Friendly and calming. Took time to explain the process‘.
‘The employment team at Sydney Mitchell, for a firm of its size, is very well balanced and has the impact of a much larger team. The team is not afraid of stepping up to the plate and nothing is too much trouble for them. I have no hesitation in recommending them to claimants and respondents. The admin staff will go the extra mile to make things run smoothly at hearing’.
‘Thorough grasps of fact, procedure and law – absolutely on the ball, and very responsive to enquiries. Emma Louise Hewitt is extremely bright, friendly, dedicated, and responsive. Exactly who you want on the team for a difficult fight’.

2021-22 - Legal 500 - Employment

With Emma-Louise Hewitt at the helm at Sydney Mitchell LLP the 'very responsive and supportive' group has been busy advising employers and employees on a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters... Recently, the group has been involved in a number of judicial mediations which have resulted in settlements of its clients’ claims for significant sums of money.

The team is described as 'going the extra mile for its clients'.

2019-2020 - Legal 500 - Employment

Senior Associate Emma-Louise Hewitt joined Sydney Mitchell LLP in September 2018 from Standley & Co Solicitors to become the new department head.
Hewitt's team handles a mix of claimant and respondent matters, with recent work including whistleblowing cases, unfair dismissal claims, and matters involving disability discrimination and sexual harassment.

Awards and Recognition

2020 - Rising Star - Legal 500
2017 – Emma was a finalist in the category of Future Face of Legal at the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Future Faces Awards
May 2017 – Received a Commendation for the Woman Who Achieves in Business
February 2017 – Emma was nominated for an award in the Networking Mummies national Recognition Business Awards