Daniel Isaac
Daniel Isaac
Partner, Head of Employment
+44 (0)20 7467 8739
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Daniel advises both individuals and organisations on all aspects of their workplace relationships, whether involving employment law, partnership law or shareholders’ rights.
Daniel acts for a diverse range of employers, many of whom he has represented for over a decade.
He is a specialist in financial services, regularly facing down banks. He also has extensive experience of creative industries, frequently representing very senior advertising executives through sensitive employment moves.
Daniel’s buoyant sports practice sees him working for professional football managers, coaches and C-suite executives and also many Formula One senior employees seeking to move teams.
He has become a regular commentator on employment law in national broadcast media and the quality press, a contributor to specialist press such as Personnel Today and Solicitors Journal, and a speaker at the Employment Lawyers’ Association annual conference.
His track record in keeping people out of tribunal and the High Court through determined negotiation and careful contract drafting has earned him a reputation as “a cool-headed tactician and master strategist” according to the Legal 500 (2020).
The 2026 edition identifies him as a Leading Partner and quotes a referee as reporting “Daniel Isaac is a brilliant lawyer. He's tenacious and calm. His advice is always accurate and always leads to the correct outcome. He intermediates with a polite but very firm demeanour. I was 100% assured that his leadership and counsel would lead to the best resolution, even though at times the risk worried me.” Another Legal 500 referee stated “Daniel Isaac made sure I always understood the 'why' behind each choice and decision. I always felt heard and understood. He showed me a range of choices, and always helped me reach the best possible outcome. Hugely grateful for Daniel's thoughtful approach” and another that “Daniel was refreshingly transparent about the realities of the case—including its likely duration and cost implications. His proactive emphasis on being cost-conscious was both practical and reassuring, and it demonstrated an integrity that maybe isn’t always front and centre in legal matters”.
Daniel has been recommended by Chambers & Partners for 20 years, with comments such as:“cool and calm with the ability to go straight to the nub of an issue” (2008), “an articulate and thoughtful speaker” (2011) having “intellectual rigour and a good sense of humour” (2012), “an uncanny ability to explain simple concepts in layman's terms” (2020) and “an excellent technical and commercially astute lawyer” (2024). The 2025 edition states that he is “incredibly knowledgeable, insightful and solution focused” and "a calming presence”.
Daniel occasionally writes on partnership and employment law at tribunalmonkey.blog.
“Running an international consultancy with offices in many jurisdictions, I must be able to call upon immediate, clear and pragmatic advice when needed. Daniel provides that from the UK, with wit and diligence. He is clearly knowledgeable, interested and cares about Saffron’s business.”
Work Highlights
Acting for the claimant in Hannoun v GLG, described by Andrew Hochhauser QC as ‘one of the biggest most complex whistleblowing claims ever brought’;
Making and defending applications for injunctions to enforce garden leave and post-termination restrictions;
Bringing sex discrimination and whistleblowing claims against most investment banks in London and frequently negotiating seven-figure settlements (and once negotiating the reinstatement of an employee who received a standing ovation on his return to the trading floor);
Representing partners moving between ‘magic circle’ law firms and ‘big four’ accountancy firms;
Acting for F1 aerodynamicist Dan Fallows in his high-profile and contentious move from Red Bull Technology to Aston Martin Racing
Qualifications
Qualified: 1995
Accolades: Recommended by Chambers & Partners (UK and Global editions), Legal 500 and Who’s Who in Law
Member of: Employment Lawyers Association and the Industrial Law Society