Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
Nick is an employment lawyer with almost 30 years of experience, who acts for domestic and international employers, as well as senior executives and high-net-worth individuals. Although he acts for clients across a wide range of sectors, he has extensive experience of dealing with employment-related issues arising in the media and sports sectors. He has, for many years, been recommended in the leading legal directories for both Employment and Sports Law.
Nick’s practice covers advisory work as well as contentious disputes, and he has particular expertise and interest in dealing with post-termination restrictions and team moves.
Expertise
Nick advises domestic and international employers on issues relating to employment status, employment contracts and policies, performance management and disciplinary issues, post-termination restrictions, and dismissals.
Experience
- Advised the wardens of a cathedral in relation to their contracts of employment with their clergy and choir master.
- Advised a US-owned technology business in relation to redundancy exercises, policies, and hybrid working and performance-related dismissals.
- Advised a high-profile model agency in relation to issues relating to GDPR, national minimum wage, young workers, performance management, and hybrid working.
- Advised a US-owned global marketing, communications, and PR agency on the employment aspects of its acquisition of a UK business and updating policies and contracts.
- Advised a barristers’ chambers on disciplinary-related exits of staff and members.
- Advised a global engineering company on the employment issues relating to its UK subsidiary’s office move
- Advised one of the UK’s leading public transport providers in relation to senior executive exits, grievance and disciplinary issues, potential breaches of confidentiality obligations, and the application of post-termination restrictions.
- Advised a foreign bank on its ability to monitor the activities of its employees, including data protection issues relating to the same.
Nick advises senior executives and high-profile individuals on director and shareholder disputes, employment contracts, post-termination restrictions, remuneration, and unfair and wrongful dismissal claims.
Experience
- Advised high-profile celebrities in connection with the employment law aspects of investment into their eponymous businesses (including a renowned jeweller and chef), including the drafting of new service agreements and incentive schemes.
- Advised senior executives in relation to High Court disputes involving contractual bonus, wrongful dismissal, and shareholder disputes.
- Advised the former manager of a Premier League club in relation to unfair dismissal and breach of contract claims in a case that ran for three years and was fought in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, County Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
- Advised a high-profile journalist on the termination of her employment with a well-known publication.
- Advised a senior executive at a major broadcaster on her terms of employment, in relation to disciplinary/performance allegations, and in relation to data protection rights.
Nick has advised partners at well-known legal, accountancy, and management consultancy firms on their partnership terms, particularly in connection with exits and post-termination issues.
Experience
- Advised a senior partner at a Magic Circle law firm on disciplinary proceedings and exit arrangements.
- Advised a partner at one of the major accountancy firms on their potential exit following ill-health due to stress.
- Advised a US-partner on the partnership terms offered to him by a multinational UK Magic Circle firm.
Nick has advised Premier League football managers, players, coaches, and executives, as well as Formula 1 teams on unfair dismissal, breach of contract, bonus disputes, terminations, and post-termination issues.
Experience
- Advised the former manager of a Premier League club in relation to unfair dismissal and breach of contract claims in a case that ran for three years and was fought in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, County Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
- Advised a former Premier League footballer in relation to the termination of his playing contract due to injury.
- Advised the marketing manager of a Formula 1 team in relation to a dispute regarding bonuses.
- Advised a Formula 1 team in relation to the possible termination of a driver’s contract.
- Advised on the employment aspects of a transaction involving the acquisition of a Football League club in administration.
- Acted for four long-serving senior members of a Premier League club’s coaching staff on the termination of their employment following the high-profile departure of a former manager.
- Advised a senior physiotherapist on their exit from a Premier League club.
- Advised a senior doctor on joining and leaving a Premier League club.
- Advised a sporting director on their exit from a Championship club.
Nick has advised Premier League football managers, players, coaches, and executives.
Experience
- Advised the former manager of a Premier League club in relation to unfair dismissal and breach of contract claims in a case that ran for three years and was fought in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, County Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
- Advised a former Premier League footballer in relation to the termination of his playing contract due to injury.
- Advised on the employment aspects of a transaction involving the acquisition of a Football League club in administration.
- Acted for four long-serving senior members of a Premier League club’s coaching staff on the termination of their employment following the high-profile departure of a former manager.
- Advised a senior physiotherapist on their exit from a Premier League club.
- Advised a senior doctor on joining and leaving a Premier League club.
- Advised a sporting director on their exit from a Championship club.
Nick has advised media executives, publishing companies, TV production firms, model agencies, and PR and brand agencies on hirings, post-termination restrictions, GDPR, performance management, sickness absence, and dismissals.
Experience
- Advised a publishing company on performance-management and sickness-absence issues.
- Advised a brand experience agency on a variety of employment-related matters, including in relation to GDPR, redundancy exercises, the recruitment of staff, IR35, maternity-related issues, dismissals, and a sabbatical policy, and in relation to a disgruntled former consultant who was posting defamatory comments about the company’s employers and officers online.
- Advised a high-profile model agency on its terms of employment, remuneration and maternity policies, and the post-termination competitive activity of former employees.
- Advised a high-profile journalist on the termination of her employment with a well-known publication.
- Advised a senior executive at a major broadcaster on her terms of employment, in relation to disciplinary/performance allegations, and in relation to data protection rights.
- Advised an international media-focused communications and strategy consultancy firm on performance-related terminations and redundancy issues.
- Advised a global fashion shopping platform on disciplinary proceedings and a dismissal relating to misconduct outside of the workplace.
- Advised the former chairman of a media investment management company on his exit and arrangements in relation to his deferred compensation.
- Advised a number of senior executives on their exits from a high-profile global media company.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Employment: Employers 2021-2022 & 2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Employment: Senior Executives 2021 & 2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Sport 2021–2022, 2025
Recognised by Best Lawyers (UK) for Employment 2019–2025
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Employment: Employers and Senior Executives and Sport 2018, 2020
Nick is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association
“Nick Tsatsas is very efficient, quick to respond, fast to generate a first draft and very thorough in walking through draft documentation in order to clarify each important point. He shows expertise and experience in his work. He is courteous and makes every effort to ensure client satisfaction.”
The Legal 500 2026
“Nick Tsatsas has advised on complex employment matters involving senior management (both departures and ongoing disputes). Excellent in his approach, pragmatic, straight to the point and making sure that the client understands clearly all options.”
The Legal 500 2026
“Exceptional and personal service where Nick Tsatsas took the time to explain what actually matters and what does not. Clear understanding of the law with insightful explanation of the commercial implications. If I could describe it in one word: smooth. I did not worry, because Nick always acted with speed, expertise and in a pro-active manner.”
The Legal 500 2026
“Nick Tsatsas is incredibly reliable, hard-working and thorough. He is also particular personable and easy to deal with. Nick gets totally involved in the issues, reads into the detail really thoroughly, and has impressive recall for all the facts.”
The Legal 500 2022
““Nicholas Tsatsas offers a wealth of experience handling dismissals, discrimination claims and worker status matters, among other things, for employers from a broad range of industries. ‘I take his guidance as gospel,’ one client notes, while another praises his ‘great balance between legal advice and practical guidance on how to address issues'.”
Chambers UK 2020
“Nick Tsatsas has provided excellent support - his advice is always pragmatic, efficient and timely.”
The Legal 500 2020
“Nicholas Tsatsas of Keystone Law is appreciated by clients for his persuasiveness and being someone who is “comfortable in his work and in his views.” He provides a range of employment law services including advice on employment status and contractual issues.”
Chambers UK 2019
“Nicholas Tsatsas is known for working for clients in the retail, transport and financial sectors. An impressed client appreciates that he is ‘commercially orientated and understands our business’.”
Chambers & Partners 2018
“‘Very knowledgeable’ Nick Tsatsas has been acting on various contentious and non-contentious matters, including senior executive exits, remuneration issues and employment issues regarding corporate transactions.”
The Legal 500 2017
“Praised by clients for his strong negotiation skills. He regularly advises groups from the retail and fashion sectors. Sources note that ‘his advice regarding senior staff issues is invaluable’.”
Chambers and Partners 2017
“Praised … for his skill in handling both negotiation and litigation. Sources describe him as ‘always quick to respond, and clear at explaining approaches’ adding ‘he does not just recite the law, but gives practical interpretation and guidance’.”
Chambers & Partners 2016
“Boasts a diverse employment practice that spans the financial services, retail and technology sectors. Peers consider him to be a ‘very sensible opponent who doesn’t waste the time or money of his clients’.”
Chambers & Partners 2014
Nick qualified as a solicitor in 1996. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2018, he worked at the following firms:
- Fladgate
- Simkins
- Clifford Chance