Royds Employment Partner Caroline Doran comments in the Financial Times on the recent Investec £6 million bonus case.

They had received their guaranteed signing-on bonuses for the first year of £6.2m and £3.8m respectively. The case was based on the interpretation of the written bonus clause and whether there were additional oral contractual agreements regarding the bonus payments. The judge found that the written bonus clause was "elliptical" and while he found the traders were highly talented and not dishonest, their allegations that they had received additional oral promises regarding the bonus were not credible.

Caroline Doran, an employment law specialist at Royds, said that the case demonstrated the difficulties that can arise over oral agreements in bonus disputes. "[It] shows the importance of having a paper trail when the stakes are high," she said. "If you are getting a promise for millions, get it in writing."

You can read the full FT article by Caroline Binham, Legal Correspondent here

If you have any questions regarding bonus payments or bonus disputes then contact Caroline Doran, Partner in the Employment Department on 0207 842 1495.