The Legal 500

United Kingdom > London > Human resources > Employment: employee/union firms

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Russell Jones & Walker provides ‘startlingly good value for money’, advising senior executives, employees and unions. Recent highlights include the public sector sex discrimination case Lynford v Sussex Police; human rights case Home Office v Tariq; and acting for some 2,500 British Airways crew in an indirect race discrimination matter. ‘Rising star’ Samantha Mangwana, who was promoted to partner in May 2011, led on the Fawcett Society’s innovative challenge to the government’s 2010 budget. Each member of the team is ‘an expert in their field’; senior executive specialist Clive Howard ‘accurately assesses the merits of a case, then gets his client the best deal’; Paul Daniels ‘fights for his clients every inch of the way’; and Julie Morris’ ‘charm conceals great intellect and a stubborn insistence on standing up for her client’s rights’. Other recommended practitioners include ‘excellent strategist’ Edward Cooper and discrimination specialists Emma Hawksworth and Arpita Dutt. Trade union specialist Alison Humphry joined in 2011 from Thompsons Solicitors LLP.

The ‘high-quality practice’ at Bindmans LLP is ‘particularly capable’ on complex whistleblowing and discrimination claims, in 2010 acting in numerous high-profile cases including animal rights belief discrimination case Joe Hashman v Orchard Park Garden Centre. Shah Qureshi ‘gets things done in a very calm fashion, always keeping an eye on the bigger picture’; and Shazia Khan is ‘ruthlessly efficient’.

The ‘excellent’ team at Leigh Day & Co is ‘at the cutting edge of equality law’. Camilla Palmer – ‘probably the leading discrimination solicitor in the country’ – achieved victory for Miriam O’Reilly against the BBC. Chris Benson is ‘an outstanding lawyer, combining enthusiasm, innovation, energy and humour’, with expertise in discrimination issues including multi-claimant equal pay claims such as the ground-breaking Abdulla v Birmingham City Council.

Thompsons Solicitors LLP is the key union adviser, acting for individual claimants – with Rakesh Patel prominent – and the unions themselves. Victoria Phillips took a case on working time to the ECJ on behalf of BALPA in 2010; and Neil Johnson acted for Unite in its dispute with BA before the Court of Appeal. Equal opportunities is a specialist area.

Pattinson & Brewer advises employees on matters such as equal pay and discrimination, and has a wealth of experience in industrial action matters and disputes for unions. Binder Bansel and Paul Statham lead the team.

Simpson Millar LLP added the GMB to its list of union clients in 2010, and also saw a growing number of instructions from individuals. The ‘excellent’ Joy Drummond is ‘personable, forthright, thorough, punctual, accommodating and very professional’, and has 27 years’ experience advising on trade union issues (including constitutional matters) and discrimination claims.

Stewarts Law LLP’s new employment team is led by ‘first-class lawyer’ and former Lewis Silkin LLP partner Gareth Brahams, and provides a ‘genuinely bespoke, intelligent and effective service’ for claimants and employers. It includes the ‘excellent’ Tim Spillane, formerly of Simmons & Simmons.

Nighat Sahi at Webster Dixon LLP is rated highly for her ‘firm and efficient’ handling of cases. Practice head David Tyme specialises in professional misconduct cases.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2012 www.legal500.com