Stephen is a highly experienced employment lawyer and commercial litigator, having specialised in employment law for over 20 years. A Partner at Tozers, Stephen advises a diverse range of employers nationwide - including registered providers, local authorities, and commercial organisations on a full spectrum of employment matters, both contentious and non-contentious.
Stephen’s expertise spans equal opportunities and discrimination, TUPE, redundancies, business restructuring, unfair dismissal, grievance handling, conduct and capability issues, settlement agreements, and compliance with national minimum wage and working time regulations. A key focus of his work is guiding senior decision-makers through strategic and operational employment challenges with pragmatic, clear, and commercially sensible advice.
His skill in distilling complex legal frameworks into actionable insights has earned him the trust of major clients and recognition across the sector.
Stephen leads many of the firm’s most complex employment tribunal cases, including multi-day discrimination and whistleblowing claims. His role encompasses the entire lifecycle of a case - from (and sometimes before) ACAS conciliation, through strategic pleadings to interim hearings, disclosure issues and crafting witness statements to ensure that clients are in the best possible position to win at the final hearing. He has built an enviable success record in major claims and is known for his meticulous and effective case preparation.
A core advisor in Tozers’ employment helpline service, Stephen is also the relationship manager for many key clients. His dedication to client service is underpinned by a commitment to building long-standing, trusted relationships.
Stephen is a regular and respected speaker at employment law seminars across the South West and beyond, and he frequently delivers tailored training sessions both in-person and online for clients across sectors.
His outstanding legal expertise and client-focused approach have been recognised in the Legal 500 2024, where he and the Employment team were ranked Tier 2. Clients describe him as:
“Exceptional. He conveys very technical legal advice in terms that me and my team can understand.”
“Just superb. Incredibly knowledgeable, adaptable, helpful and always available or gets back to you extremely quickly.”
Stephen is also a trustee of a local charity supporting adults with learning disabilities, reflecting his commitment to community engagement alongside his legal practice.
“I take pride in providing swift, clear and above all practical advice. I enjoy working in partnership with my clients to help them understand what can be realistically achieved and how best to go about this. You can rely on me to give forthright advice that puts you in the best position to understand your options and make the most of them.”
Stephen Jennings