About Us
About Us
We believe that having household staff should enable you to spend more time on things you enjoy, without the hassle of having to manage staff or fear any indiscretions regarding your family or personal affairs. We work hard to ensure your confidentiality is protected from the outset and employee relations are managed correctly; your reputation and well-being remain at the heart of what we do.
Having substantial experience in this field, we are aware that private household staff are commended for their knowledge on the preferences and dislikes of family members and their obvious discretion around the household. It is often overlooked however, that it is the sensitive nature of their role that poses the greatest risk to the households they seek to serve.
To the outside world, private household staff are the gateway to the inner workings of your personal affairs: your home, your family and your social pursuits. They are privy to information that would often be of interest to the media or other bodies and we understand the importance of keeping this information personal and protected at all times; before the employment relationship starts, during the term of engagement and after a relationship has ended.
Our Partners
We work with a number of partners who provide complementary services, to ensure that our service and advice is holistic. Our partner services range from legal, payroll, accountancy advice, recruitment agency, lifestyle concierge, PR and communications and security. We work with Keystone Law, a full service London law firm to provide relevant private client legal services such as those relating to employment, aviation and yacht ownership/charter, residential property, family, trusts, bloodstock, art, immigration as well as corporate, commercial and litigation services.
Founder
SOFIA SYED
Sofia Syed is an experienced employment lawyer, recognised by Legal 500 2020 for Risk Advisory: Reputation Management and by Spears 500 as a Top Recommended Employment Lawyer,
who specialises in employment related matters for ultra-high net worth individuals and families.
Hanover Private Household HR encompasses the work that Sofia undertakes in her capacity as a lawyer, as well as a speaker and trainer in this area.
Sofia advises private clients on their staffing needs, this includes advice on their businesses, family or private offices or matters relating to their private household affairs.
She has extensive experience in managing sensitive personal matters from ensuring the correct contractual protections are in place at the start of the relationship and any on-going employee management. Her particular area of interest and expertise lies in ensuring her clients’ matters remain personal and out of the media spotlight after termination and dealing with post-employment disputes whether by litigation or settlement.
Sofia is experienced in all matters relating to the staffing of private household members such as: housekeepers, chauffeurs, groomers, house managers, estate managers, private chefs, nannies, governesses, close protection, butlers, valets, lady’s maid, wardrobe assistants and stylists, private personal assistants etc.
Knowing the sensitivities around the roles of such staff, protecting the well-being and reputation of her clients lies at the heart of Sofia’s work.
In addition to her legal work, Sofia runs regular Private Household HR Forums for family and private offices and all specialists who deal in the management of private staffing. She is regularly asked to train and work with leading recruitment agencies in the UHNW field. See the ‘events page’ for more information on the latest events.
