Melissa Chan

Melissa Chan is an Associate in Bird & Bird's London Employment team and a member of the firm's International Employment Group. Her primary practice area is Employment Law.

She advises multinational and domestic organisations on a broad range of UK and cross-border workforce matters, from day-to-day HR support to more strategic projects, such as restructurings, workforce integrations and corporate transactions.

Her work often involves supporting clients on employee relations issues, including investigations, disciplinary processes and disputes, as well as advising on the employment aspects of international projects across multiple jurisdictions.

She has a particular interest in the intersection of employment law, data and emerging technologies. She advises on workforce data issues and the use of AI within HR and talent functions, helping clients take a practical and forward-looking approach to managing legal risk.

She trained at a leading international law firm in London, where she worked across Employment, Corporate Reorganisations and IP & Technology, and completed a secondment to the global legal team of a multinational consumer goods company, giving her a strong understanding of how in-house teams operate and how to deliver advice aligned with commercial priorities.

What she enjoys most about employment law is the human side of the work — every situation is different and often involves balancing legal, commercial and personal considerations. She is particularly interested in how workplace culture shapes the outcomes clients are helping to achieve.