Jenna Hunter, founder and Director of Hunter Law, talks to Eileen Leahy about her specialist employment law firm, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. She also explains why businesses of all sizes need to prepare for significant employment rights changes coming into force from January 2027 – and how she and her colleagues can help…
Hunter Law is a specialist employment law firm working with individuals and companies across Kent, London and beyond.
Founded in 2016 by Director Jenna Hunter, who is also President of the Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and District Law Society, the firm has built a reputation for being proactive and solution-focused, achieving swift results through a highly personalised approach.
“We’ve been very successful over the past decade, mainly through a lot of hard work and referrals,” explains Jenna as we chat in her top floor office at the beautifully renovated barn that is Hunter Law’s HQ in Wateringbury, near Tonbridge.
The firm works across a variety of sectors, from finance and insurance to technology and construction. Its aim is to simplify situations that can sometimes become unnecessarily complicated.
“Our firm, though small, is solely focused on employment so in terms of specialist advisers we have more employment advisers than most of the full service regional firms.”
The firm, which can also provide HR support, advises on contracts and employee handbooks to grievances, dismissals, restructures and tribunal claims.
“Our approach is straightforward. We take the time to understand what’s happening, explaining the risks and your options, and we work with you to find a sensible way forward.”
Clients can speak directly to Jenna or a Hunter Law colleague rather than being passed between different people. “We aim to really get to know our clients and their business.”
Hunter Law’s client base ranges from fledgling start-ups to established multinational companies, some of which have worked with the firm for years.
“Whether you need professional legal advice for a one-off situation or ongoing employment law support, we can help.”
Jenna is keen to stress that, with another raft of Employment Rights Act changes coming into effect from January 2027, it has never been more important for businesses of every size to be prepared.
“Now is a very good time for employers to invest in proper employment law advice.”
From 1 January 2027, two important changes to unfair dismissal legislation will come into effect. The qualifying period for employees to bring an unfair dismissal claim will fall from two years to six months, while the existing cap on compensation will be removed. New limits on fire and rehire practices will also be introduced.
As of October 30 this year employers now have to deal with union access requests and from January next year have to provide workers with written information about their rights.
New employees must receive this from the start of their employment, with existing staff to be given the information by 5 April 2027.
This month Jenna starts her new monthly column for this publication and her first subject matter will be about union requests so make sure you check it out on page 47.
Jenna informs me that later in 2027 there will be more changes including a new right to unpaid bereavement leave and certain restrictions on zero-hours contracts.
Together, she says these changes are expected to increase employers’ potential financial and legal exposure.
“Larger employers in particular need to consider who will deal with union requests for access to staff and how they will respond. Smaller employers should also check whether particular provisions apply to them, because there is so much changing that important details can easily be missed,” says Jenna.
She believes it is always better for employers – and employees – to seek advice before a problem arises.
“We can open a file for a nominal fee of £65 + VAT and then agree a fee to arrange a call and provide clear, focused advice.”
Jenna is clearly passionate about her work, so I am somewhat surprised when she reveals that becoming a lawyer was never part of the original plan.
“I was academic but wasn’t from a family with a professional background. I was one of five children and my dad worked in the British Leyland factory, so I wasn’t predestined to go into any particular sector. I studied History at university but didn’t really have a strong direction, so I fell into events organising because I like people. I soon realised it wasn’t for me.”
While working in an administrative role, Jenna began to think that law might be a better fit.
“I was always quite happy to stand up to people and have the difficult conversations that others might avoid.”
Determined to make the change, she set herself the challenge of completing a four-year part-time law conversion course in just two years.
“I couldn’t afford to give up work to study, so I did my legal training four evenings a week while working as a paralegal at Lincoln’s Inn, which is where I met my husband Andrew.”
After qualifying in 2004, Jenna worked at ASB Law, followed by Whitehead Monckton and then Outset, which has since rebranded as Omny Law.
“I enjoyed the work and the firms were great, but in my last job I felt I was working hard and bringing in my own clients. I started thinking: why not build something of my own?”
Encouraged by a close friend who was an accountant, Jenna decided to go for it.
“After several conversations I thought, nothing ventured, nothing gained. If I was going to work that hard, I might as well make it work for myself. So I took the leap in 2016 and did everything I could to get the business established.”
Initially, it was just Jenna, but she gradually began recruiting.
“I have known our Senior Associate Jane Smith for years and Emma Patchett, our Professional Support Lawyer, was one of the co-founders of Outset – although I didn’t know her when I worked there. When I discovered Emma had taken time out of the profession to have her family, I travelled up to see her and asked if she would be interested in doing a refresher course. And she said yes! Emma now runs the Hunter Law offices in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
“I don’t like wasting an opportunity. Parents – and mothers in particular – are often exceptionally skilled at managing competing demands, resolving disputes and fitting huge amounts into tight timescales. I thought it was madness for someone with that much talent and potential not to have the opportunity to use it again.”
The team also includes Lowri Jones, Hunter Law’s Employment Adviser, who is based in South Wales, Principal Associate Alison Macfarlane and Consultant Solicitor Tom Browne.
Then there is Paralegal Donya Khazall, whose route into the firm is a particularly good example of Jenna’s willingness to recognise and encourage potential.
“Donya originally came to us after seeing our office from the bus she regularly travelled on with her children. She had been a notary in Lebanon but was working in McDonald’s while learning English. She initially offered to volunteer here and we were so impressed that we took her on. She is now studying for her SQE exams, and we hope she will go on to qualify as a solicitor.”
Jenna says she enjoys being able to give people opportunities.
“A lot of it comes down to trusting your instinct. The fact that Donya had the initiative to knock on our door in the first place says a great deal about her.”
As our conversation continues, it becomes clear that Jenna is determined to do things differently, while keeping the best possible outcomes for clients firmly in focus.
Rather than pursuing traditional directory rankings, the firm prefers to let its five-star Google ratings and rankings on Review Solicitors – something which Jenna tells me is less administratively burdensome for clients than Chambers/Legal 500 etc – to do all the talking.
“I suppose it’s a bit unorthodox isn’t it thinking, ‘I’ll do it without going through the traditional hoops.’ But so far it’s working.”
Another difference is that Hunter Law’s solicitors do not have time targets.
“I employ people I trust, who are motivated and work hard. The focus is always on the outcome: what are you trying to achieve, and how can we get there as efficiently as possible? Clients want good advice and a fair bill – not an ever-increasing invoice.”
Jenna has always specialised in employment law and says she is so committed to it she would ‘probably do it out of sheer passion if it was not her job’.
“It is about people, the things they do and the advice we give. Of course, everything has to be legally appropriate, but there is also a very human element to our work – and that’s something you will never get from AI.”
On that subject, Jenna says she believes AI has benefits to offer but the growing use of tools such as ChatGPT and Claude to produce lengthy grievances and complaints can create additional challenges for employers.
“Grievances are on the rise, and I think AI is one of the reasons. But more often than not, the best response is simply to pause, pick up the phone and say: ‘Thank you for your email. Let’s sit down and talk about it.’
“A knee-jerk reaction can play straight into the other person’s hands. We focus on getting the problem resolved, rather than allowing it to become a lengthy and expensive process.”
Jenna believes many workplace disputes ultimately come down to people not getting along or understanding one another.
“Our role is to help them find a practical way through the problem. A lot of employment problems arise because employers know something isn’t right but are unsure what to do, so they do nothing. If you tolerate a problem at a low level for too long, it can eventually blow up.”
The firm offers different levels of support, including advice-line retainers and tailored assistance.
“We are flexible, transparent and nimble in how we work. We recently helped a local business with a redundancy situation, which was pretty much resolved within three weeks, without the need for lengthy and expensive meetings.
“Our approach is to be succinct, focus on the outcome and get to the point.”
Jenna also has meeting rooms in Tunbridge Wells at Other Space, Floor 2, 32-36 on Mount Pleasant Road here in Tunbridge Wells.
So, having marked ten years in business, what does the future hold for Jenna and her team?
“Further growth is what we want to achieve. Last year our turnover grew by 40%, so we are on the right track. We are also keen to expand the team and have another managing associate due to join us shortly, based in Birmingham. Given the way employment law is going, I think there is room for another specialist employment law firm there.
“Taking on more staff will hopefully give me more headspace to focus on growing the business. I believe investing in people is worthwhile. We love having our office here in West Kent and those members of staff who work elsewhere in the country visit regularly. It’s a lovely place to meet clients and host training sessions and events. This year we hosted a meeting for the Employment Lawyers Association, which was a great opportunity to bring people together and of course we celebrated our tenth anniversary too!
“I am excited about what comes next. I have built the business while bringing up my children, who are now older teenagers, so I have a little more space to focus on the next stage of growth.”
Before I leave, I ask Jenna about her role as President of the Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and District Law Society. Established in 1933, the society currently has more than 260 members, but Jenna and her fellow committee members are keen to attract more.
“Firstly, it’s a great society to be part of. You don’t have to be a practising lawyer in Tunbridge Wells or the borough to qualify. If you live locally but work in London or elsewhere, you can still become a member.”
Annual membership costs just £33.
“It’s nothing for what you get in return: a lovely, collegiate and supportive group. When I was running my own business with a small team, it was brilliant to be part of a wider community of lawyers. I enjoyed it so much that I volunteered to join the committee, became Vice-President and then took on the presidency.
“You never know what connections or opportunities might come from getting involved locally.”
Jenna will host the society’s annual dinner at The Spa Hotel on November 20. Alongside increasing membership, she hopes to encourage greater engagement with local businesses and attract more sponsors. Businesses interested in supporting the society through sponsorship or raffle prize donations are welcome to contact her.
“It is quite funny to think back to when I was a paralegal at Lincoln’s Inn. My husband Andrew and I used to sit in the Law Society library studying before going for a coffee. Now I am President of the local Law Society, so it has come full circle!”
Finally, what is the one message Jenna would like local businesses to take away from our conversation?
“We are helping clients all over the country, but we would love businesses and individuals in West Kent to be fully aware that this specialist resource is right on their doorstep.
Email: info@hunterlaw.uk
Call: 01622 663355
The Old Barn, Oasts Business Village,
Red Hill, Wateringbury, Kent, ME18 5NN
