Kathryn Hirst
Kathryn Hirst is Managing Partner at Hansells and heads the firm’s Commercial Department.
Kathryn advises businesses and individuals on a broad range of commercial and employment matters, with particular expertise in commercial contracts, corporate transactions and organisational change. Her work includes drafting and negotiating terms of business, supply and shareholder agreements, advising on acquisitions and disposals, and establishing charitable incorporated organisations. She also provides pragmatic employment advice, from day-to-day HR issues and policy drafting to redundancy programmes, TUPE transfers, senior exits and Employment Tribunal claims.
Kathryn joined Hansells in 1997 and qualified as a solicitor in 1999. She holds a 2:1 (Hons) law degree from the University of Leicester, completed the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law in Guildford, and obtained a Master’s degree in Employment Law from the University of East Anglia. In 2025, she further strengthened her management expertise by completing the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management. She became a partner in 2008 and is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the CIPD. Kathryn regularly delivers in‑house and public seminars on employment and commercial topics.
Outside work, Kathryn enjoys keeping active and spending time with her family. She is also a trustee of the Assembly House Trust and the Horstead Centre.
Areas of Expertise:
- Commercial contracts, policies and procedures
- Employment law and HR advisory work
- Performance management and disciplinary matters
- Redundancy and business restructuring
- TUPE
- Senior exits and settlement agreements
- Employment Tribunal claims, including discrimination and unfair dismissal
- Acquisitions and disposals
- Partnership, shareholder and asset purchase agreements
- Charitable incorporated organisations and trading entities