Marian Derham recognised as leading employment lawyer by Spear’s

Marian Derham recognised as leading employment lawyer by Spear’s

Employment partner Marian Derham has been ranked as Recommended for the first time in the 2026 Spear’s employment lawyers index.

Marian has a long-established reputation in acting for C-level executives, HNW individuals, family offices and high-profile celebrities. Her expertise spans the creative industries including sectors such as film and TV, theatre, fashion and retail, advertising and publishing.

This index highlights the leading employment lawyers that UHNW individuals turn to when an issue needs to be resolved swiftly, efficiently and with discretion. They are recognised for their legal acumen, judgement and tact. The Spear’s indices are compiled through nominations, client feedback and interviews with the advisers themselves, as well as data gathered by the editorial and research teams.

You can see the full index here.

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Marian Derham Partner

Marian is a partner and founder of the firm’s employment group.

Marian is a partner and founder of the firm’s employment group.

Marian advises employer and employee clients on a full range of contentious and non-contentious employment issues.

She has an long-standing reputation in acting for C-level executives (CEOs, CFOs, COOs and CTOs) and other senior executives particularly in the creative, media and entertainment industries, as well as TV, theatre, fashion, retail, advertising, financial services and publishing. She also advises HNW individuals and family offices in relation to their household staff.

Marian specialises in providing pragmatic and strategic advice to senior executives on exit negotiations on termination of employment (with potential claims such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment and whistleblowing) settlement agreements, appointments, and restrictive covenants and workplace issues.

She also advises employer clients on complex employee relations issues (including disciplinaries and grievances and sexual harassment), restructures (including individual and collective redundancies) and on the full range of employment documentation including settlement agreements, employment contracts and policies.

Some of Marian’s employer clients include Marv Studios (film), Cast & Crew LLC (film), Seven.One Studios (TV and film), Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, Nimax Theatres, Society of London Theatre/Theatre UK, International Car Wash Group (retail), Wolford and various internationally acclaimed musicians and producers.

Marian has celebrated a career of 40 years at Harbottle & Lewis having joined the firm in October 1984, becoming a corporate partner in 1989 and founding the employment group in 2000.

Marian is listed as 'Recommended' in Spear Magazine’s Employment Lawyers Index 2026, ranked Leading Partner in Legal 500 for Employment: Senior Executives and ranked Band 4 in Chambers and Partners for Employment: Senior Executive.