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Employment

Browne Jacobson LLP has recently advised in relation to potential strike action and equal pay claims in the education sector. Other public sector instructions have included matters involving disability discrimination and part-time workers regulations, with Edward Benson handling a case involving the latter that is now at the ECJ stage. Peter Jones is now national employment head.

Eversheds LLP’s experience in the education, public and financial services sectors extends to the co-ordination of pan-European employment matters. Nicola Bennison leads on the education side, while Mark Fletcher’s in-house experience is invaluable for retail and financial services sector clients such as Bradford & Bingley, which was advised on the transfer of 1,500 employees from Northern Rock.

Freeth Cartwright LLP is ‘cost effective, responsive, pragmatic and has strength in depth’. Public sector bodies and private sector clients such as Aldi instruct the team, on issues ranging from reorganisations to unfair dismissal and tribunal matters. Rena Magdani is ‘very knowledgeable and very responsive’; and Julian Middleton provides a ‘realistic appraisal of issues and good advice in terms of knowledge base and also as a sharp strategic thinker’.

The ‘focused team of lawyers’ at Gateley handles tribunal work for BT, and also advises individuals on matters such as unfair dismissal and discrimination. Chris Finlay is ‘an extremely knowledgeable lawyer’ who gives ‘reasonable, prudent and pragmatic advice’.

Howes Percival LLP promoted two new partners and added several prestigious brands to its client base. It provides tribunal representation and training, and is noted for its ‘practical and creative advice’. Paula Bailey heads the four-partner team.

Geldards LLP gained an employment team from Berryman in 2010, and now has three partners, led by Mike Butler, active for clients such as Vision Express and the Road Haulage Association.

Harvey Ingram LLP’s team includes the recommended John Simon and newly promoted Kimbra Welch, and acts for clients such as Bostik and Samworth Brothers. It recently settled at mediation a groundbreaking unfair dismissal and sex discrimination case for a national client.

Hewitsons LLP’s ‘first-class’ practice is ‘well led and directed’ by Nick Hall, whose workload is predominantly contentious but also includes reorganisations. It successfully defended clients against race and disability discrimination claims in 2010.

With Peter Duff’s promotion to national head of commercial, associate Helen Burgess now leads Shoosmiths’ practice, which provides employment advice and training to clients such as British Gypsum, Thomas Cook and BP.

Household names in the leisure industry, as well as smaller businesses, benefit from the ‘exceptional service, depth of knowledge, accuracy of advice and excellent value for money’ available from Anthony Kay at niche employment firm Andersons.

Clients have ‘full faith in the advice received from’ Langleys. The ‘seamless, capable team’ is strong on TUPE advice, and advised the first primary school to convert to academy status in 2010. Kate Hindmarch has experience as an employment tribunal judge.

Partners in all three offices of Nelsons Solicitors Limited are recommended: Andy Jamieson is ‘informative and very knowledgeable’; Keeley Baigent’s ‘individual and pragmatic style is hugely advantageous’; and Jenny Kinman is ‘thorough and very clear’.

Weightmans LLP is a public and police sector powerhouse, acting for regional councils such as Nottinghamshire County and Leicester City Councils on equal pay matters, and regional police forces on discrimination cases. Associate Kim Abbott is noted for her ‘availability out of hours and flexibility in the face of changing demands and timelines’.

A highlight for Actons was providing multiple compromise agreement advice to NHS employees nationally. Claire Bell typically acts for public, private and third sector commercial clients and senior employees.

Richard Parnell at Bridge McFarland acts for employees in tribunal matters sponsored by unions such as Unite, and also advises Lincoln Security.

Flint Bishop LLP handled a complex redundancy consultation process for Programmed Group (Australia) in addition to several tribunal actions. Practice head Robert Tice is ‘highly knowledgeable, a deep thinker, very approachable, communicative and commercially very sensible’. The firm operates a fixed-fee employment and HR product.

PJH Law is ‘very proactive and good for training as well as employment law advice’.

Regional employment guru Hilary Campion has resurfaced at Shakespeares following the move of Ginny Hallam and her team to Geldards LLP in 2010. Areas of focus include senior executive severance packages, TUPE matters and tribunals.

At Smith Partnership, newly promoted partner James Johnson and new hire Louise Haward provide a ‘very high standard of service’ to clients in the healthcare sector and new gain Office Depot.

Spearing Waite LLP’s Andrew Rowell has a ‘pragmatic approach and the ability to communicate openly, and offers realistic, workable solutions’, and Amanda Badley also has a ‘strong practical approach to resolving issues’. The firm provided training to a number of new high-profile clients in 2010.

Union firm Thompsons Solicitors LLP continues to support individuals across the full range of employment matters.

Gary Tait at Tollers LLP is noted for his commercial acumen, and advises clients such as Norbert Dentressangle.

The three-partner team at Wilkin Chapman ‘provides excellent expertise in public sector law whilst offering good value for money’. The firm also handles contentious and non-contentious matters, such as TUPE transfers and directors’ dismissals, for large food and industrial sector clients in Lincolnshire.

Health and safety

Browne Jacobson LLP’s cross-departmental team delivers a wide range of health and safety advice and representation to public sector clients. Fiona Carter provides prosecution advice to the Midlands HSE and local authorities, and Andrew Hopkin’s eight years of criminal law experience is valuable on HSE and police investigations. Hopkin also has experience in corporate manslaughter matters.

Shoosmiths won a number of major new national clients, and was appointed to the Midlands HSE prosecution panel in 2010. The team, now led by Ron Reid and includes Malcolm Upfold, and assists on fatality cases in the food, fuel and retail sectors among others, and provides occupational safety training and compliance audits. Assistant Caroline Steel and associate Hayley Saunders are praised for their ‘approachability, professional support and knowledge’.

Clients note Cartwright King for its ‘combination of attentiveness, compassion and knowledge’ in relation to preparation for investigations and interviews; it has ‘a real specialist knowledge and reputation’. Andrew Brammer, Lynn Bleakley and Mark Wilson are ‘very responsive and very knowledgeable, and get good results’.

Eversheds LLP is highly rated nationally for its health and safety practice.

Shakespeares’ business defence unit continues to represent several large plcs and bulk providers on health and safety, contentious environmental and regulatory matters. In 2010, Alan Millband’s Court of Appeal case R v Bodycote HIP clarified several sentencing principles.

Pensions

Following the loss of pensions guru Maralyn Thomas, Browne Jacobson LLP’s practice is led by assistant Victoria Laybourn. The firm provides specialist advice to significant trusts on a standalone basis, and to corporates in the context of transactions.

Hewitsons LLP’s team includes pensions consultant Mary Legg, for advice to employers and trustees, and Dominic Hopkins for contentious matters. Recent instructions have involved the winding up and equalisation of final salary schemes, and the interpretation of age discrimination and other legislation.

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