Areas of expertise
Recent work
Philippa has significant experience across the full spectrum of employment and incentives advisory, transactional and litigation matters, with particular knowledge of complicated and reputationally sensitive employment and remuneration matters.
Philippa has worked with some of the world’s largest corporates on their knottiest employment issues and is a trusted adviser to numerous remuneration committees, GCs and HR directors.
Her typical advisory work includes supporting listed and private companies in relation to executive recruitments and terminations, highly sensitive investigations, grievances and disciplinary matters, corporate governance and the application of malus and clawback. She also advises on the employment and incentives aspects of public and private transactions including private sales and acquisitions, capital raisings and public takeovers. Philippa has a particular interest in workplace conduct, culture and diversity.
Philippa is ranked as an Up and Coming Practitioner in both the Employment: Employer and Employee Share Schemes & Incentives sections of Chambers UK (2026), and as a Next Generation Partner in the Employee Share Schemes section of the Legal 500 (2026). Philippa is a member of the Pastoral Committee of the Employment Lawyers Association and a member of the Share Plan Lawyers Group.
Philippa’s recent highlights include advising:
- A listed financial services firm on its successful defence of an application for interim injunctive relief from the former employer of a new executive hire, who was seeking unsuccessfully to enforce a non-compete restrictive covenant against the new hire.
- Manchester United Football Club on personnel matters relating to the appointment of senior staff who were critical to the football operations of the Club, including in relation to an employment-related dispute involving another Premier League club.
- International Distribution Services PLC (IDS, parent company of Royal Mail on the employment and incentives aspects of the £3.6bn high profile takeover of Royal Mail by Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group.
- DS Smith plc on the employment and incentives aspects of the all-share offer by International Paper Company.
- Dowlais with designing and implementing an omnibus share plan.
- Reckitt Benckiser Group plc on a wide-ranging review of its business, which included a highly complex separation process affecting employees in multiple overseas jurisdictions.
Quotes
Chambers 2026
“Philippa is exceptional. She provides superb strategic and tactical advice while being clear on the legal and technical position.”
“Philippa is very responsive, commercial and practical.”
“She has an amazing ability to diffuse challenging conversations.”
“She has got a really lovely manner about her and is very commercial.”
Legal 500 2026
“Philippa O'Malley combines fantastic understanding and technical skill with a really deft client touch. She has an unassuming, relaxed approach, but commands respect by really knowing her stuff.”