Neil Todd

Neil Todd is a member (partner) at Thompsons Solicitors and is nationally recognised as a leading expert in  trade union law. Over the last five years he has represented a number of the country's largest trade unions in a variety of high-profile cases.

Based in Manchester, but covering the whole of England and Wales, Neil is a senior member of Thompsons'  Trade Union Law Group (TULG).

The TULG is a dedicated resource for trade unions in respect of institutional trade union law, Certification Officer cases, TULRCA compliance matters, collective labour law and other areas of law requiring specialist trade union expertise.

Neil advises general secretaries and senior national officials on institutional trade union law. This includes advising on industrial action, recognition matters, rule book issues, elections, the transfer of engagements and trade union governance.

He has represented trade unions and their members in litigation at employment tribunals, the Central Arbitration Committee, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the European Court of Human Rights.

Neil regularly writes and lectures on for both Thompsons Solicitors and external organisations such as the Institute of Employment Rights.

He is proud to be part of Thompsons Solicitors: Thompsons is driven by a strong commitment to achieving social justice and advancing the rights of working people. It differs from other law firms because this principle is at its core and decisions which are taken are done so with that ethos in mind.

Away from the office Neil is a keen runner and cyclist. He is a long suffering Newcastle United fan and a member of the Labour Party. He has two young daughters who keep me busy on all fronts.

Neil's case experience

• Birmingham City Council v Unite the Union & Unison [2019] EWHC 478 (QB)- Successfully represented Unite in defending an injunction application seeking to restrain industrial action.
• George Taylor & Unite the Union v Birmingham City Council [2017] EWHC 2776 (QB)- Successfully obtained an injunction on behalf of Birmingham City Council refuse workers which restrained the employer from dismissing them on grounds of redundancy.
• Merseyrail Electrics 2002 Limited v RMT [2017] EWHC 515 (QB)- Successfully represented RMT in defending an injunction application seeking to restrain industrial action.
• Arnott & Others v Ineos- Successful first instance decision on behalf of Unite members which engaged section 145B of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
• Blacklisting Litigation 2016- Representing 256 Unite members in litigation arising from the use of the Consulting Association by the largest construction companies in the UK including Robert McAlpine Limited and Balfour Beatty Engineering Services which secured more than 10 million in compensation.
• Prior to this Neil has represented trade union clients in a wide range of cases in multiple forums up to and including the European Court of Human Rights.

Professional membership

Neil is a member of the Law Society panel and the Institute of Employment Rights.

Testimonials

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Another outstanding success for Neil Todd. Moving legal precedent as well as making a massive industrial impact.

Trade union head offices

The resolution of this complex case once again demonstrates that without effective trade unions, workers cannot fight back against injustices at work and win. I would like to thank Neil Todd and Thompsons who have again shown that they stand shoulder to shoulder with the trade union movement.

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Trade union head offices

Neil Todd shines when advising on industrial action injunctions and really pulls out all of the stops to get his union clients the right results he is phenomenal in this field. He is one of the leading lights in the UK on trade unions and industrial action.

Legal 500

Neil Todd is the best solicitor in the UK on industrial action and other collective employment law issues, for unions.

Legal 500 2026

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