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Birketts LLP’s reputation as a ‘number-one firm in the area’ for employment is thanks in no small part to the expertise of Jolyon Berry, Jeanette Wheeler, Matthew Newnham and Tom Wagstaff. In 2011 it recruited the ‘considered, balanced and supportive’ Matthew Potter from Ashton KCJ. Clients include May Gurney and Betfair.

Eversheds LLP provides employment law advice to clients including Royal Mail Group and Nestlé UK, and handles TUPE transactions for Produban. Simon Tytherleigh is ‘knowledgeable and supportive’; Constanze Hewson ‘delivers tailored advice and excellent value’; and Owen Warnock is a lynchpin of the practice. New partner Alexandra Worden brings an education-sector focus from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.

Greenwoods Solicitors LLP provides ‘practical advice and good value’ to clients including a household name in electrical goods, a large media company and financial services firms. John Macaulay’s team, which includes Robert Dillarstone, is ‘responsive, considered and business focused’.

Hewitsons LLP provides ‘City quality at provincial rates’ and fields some ‘outstanding, pragmatic and conscientious specialists’, including ‘feisty and formidable litigator’ Valerie Lambert; the ‘approachable, consistent and reliable’ Clare Waller; and Elizabeth Swinburn, who is ‘exceptional in complex litigation’. Highlights included defending a claim involving allegations of sex and disability discrimination.

Mills & Reeve LLP has ‘an excellent team with great experience’ that ‘understands the balance of risks’. It is led by David Mills, and includes Ian Mather, Nicola Brown and associate James Kidd. Clients include Borough Market, Xaar and The Law Society.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP acquired the Cambridge office of Charles Russell LLP, adding the ‘very experienced’ Tim Tyndall and Hilary Aldred, who carried across their work for clients such as Cambridge Assessment and Abcam. Rising star Sophie Whitbread joined from Charles Russell LLP’s London office.

Taylor Vinters provides ‘excellent, pragmatic advice’ through Roger James’ experienced team, which includes the ‘practical yet imaginative’ Christine Berry and the ‘efficient and effective’ Rachel Flynn. It advised a newspaper group on union negotiations, and an international company on the dismissal of the CEO of its US operations.

Hywel Griffiths’ ‘very good-value, responsive’ team at Ashton KCJ handles collective agreements and TUPE issues. Julian Outen is ‘good at anticipating the progress of a claim’, and Ross Strowger is noted for his ‘wise advice and reasonable charges’.

Founded by Oliver Pryke in 2010, Cambridge Employment Law LLP has quickly expanded to four partners. The team is ‘great in every respect: pragmatic and commercial’, and includes Eleanor Freeman, the ‘astonishingly good, knowledgeable, engaging and supportive’ Mandy Lyne, and Julie Pryke Clients include a Cambridge college and a local technology company.

Brian Morron’s team at Gotelee Solicitors advised on a sensitive compromise agreement for the departing MD of a national logistics company, and defended an independent school in a whistleblowing claim. Andrew West ‘provides sound, practical advice’.

Hegarty LLP added a Cambridge college to its client list in 2011, and acted in a high-profile race discrimination case for United Learning Trust. Martin Bloom and Tim Thompson are recommended.

Howes Percival LLP provides ‘excellent all-round advice’, and associate Nicola Butterworth exemplifies the team’s reputation as ‘reliable, fast and tough in negotiation’. Clients include the Retained Firefighters Union and IP Griffins.

Leathes Prior’s team is ‘very strong’, with Dan Chapman and Katie Franklin singled out as ‘extremely quick, thorough and efficient’. The firm advised Ashford Commercial in the defence of a class action by trade unions.

‘Always quick, flexible, helpful and thorough’, Quantrills Solicitors’ Simon Quantrill and Julie Temple advise SMEs, public companies, an NHS trust and US companies with UK operations. Highlights included a successful tribunal claim for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination.

Steeles Law LLP’s Oliver Brabbins is ‘exceptionally good at looking after the best interests of employers’, and Lorna Townsend’s ‘attitude is exceptional, no matter how small the problem’. In 2011 it acted in TUPE and collective redundancy negotiations for a business relocating its manufacturing operations to Singapore.

At Blocks, Frances Barker gives ‘excellent, practical advice’. The team was bolstered by the arrival of Sallie Davies from Gotelee Solicitors, who adds notable experience in discrimination cases.

Buckles Solicitors LLP is ‘professional, timely, knowledgeable and good value’, and draws praise for ‘superior relationship management in a crowded market’. Giles Betts ‘has an engaging, open style and is extremely practical’, and was joined by Katharine Holliday from Hewitsons LLP.

‘Excellent in every area’, Greene & Greene successfully advised senior executives in matters of unfair dismissal, breach of contract and discrimination in 2011. Selene Holden ‘always gives excellent, cost-effective advice’. Sophie Hodge’s arrival adds experience in disciplinary matters.

Gross & Co’s corporate immigration practice is led by Graeme Kirk and Sohan Sidhu, and attracts a number of Japanese clients through Naomi Ogo. Nicholas Amor stands out for tribunal work.

Kelly Sayers heads a ‘very professional and flexible’ team at Prettys that includes Matthew Cole and Nicholas Sayer, who ensure ‘superb service tailored to clients ’ needs’.

Cozens-Hardy LLP’s Andrew Spencer, now an Employment Tribunal judge, advises a largely employer-focused client base, ranging from national businesses to local SMEs, on redundancy consultations.

Fraser Dawbarns provides advice to local clients and national employers such as Hutchinson. Steve McGregor acted in the high-profile Bailey v R&R Plant Hire case, now at the Court of Appeal stage.

Hatch Brenner LLP’s Richard Cassel is ‘thorough and practical, often pointing out options no one has thought of’.

Hunt & Coombs Solicitors’ ‘thoroughly conscientious’ team is led by Deborah Scales. It advised ARCS on the termination of an outsourcing agreement, and Anglia Co-operative Properties on TUPE matters.

Kenneth Bush has ‘a good local reputation’ in King’s Lynn, advising mainly employers. Paul Croker impresses on HR and contentious matters.

Rogers and Norton has a substantial employer client base, and is ‘alive to the needs of business and less costly than big-name rivals’. Philip Kerridge stands out.

Fosters’ Jacqueline Lake handled a successful application to reinstate against a multinational employer, and advised numerous company directors on service agreements.

Greenland Houchen Pomeroy’s David Harris is a popular choice for clients across Norfolk.

At Hayes + Storr Solicitors, litigator Anissa Hallworth won a substantial claim against a local authority for a disabled employee, and was joined by Tina Maxey from Steeles Law LLP.

Senior associate Christina Merrington joined Sloan Plumb Wood LLP, having built up a strong local following at Buckles Solicitors LLP.

Tees Solicitors ‘really understands the problems of introducing new policies and procedures’. Anne Coles is ‘very strong in her field, offering good support in complex matters’, and advised a senior HR director in a £200,000 Disability Discrimination Act claim.

Ward Gethin Archer advises trade union members on unfair dismissal, redundancy and discrimination matters.

Woodfines LLP provides ‘prompt and reliable direction’. Stephen Oliver has a niche in issues arising from maternity and paternity leave.

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Legal Developments in East Anglia for Employment

  • Personal accounts and auto-enrolment: looking ahead

    The government plans to introduce a new national ‘personal accounts’ pension system in 2012. From October of that year, all employers will be required to auto-enrol eligible employees into either the government’s new personal accounts scheme or, if it meets certain ‘qualifying’ criteria, the employer’s own pension arrangement.
    - Eversheds LLP

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