The Legal 500

Addleshaw Goddard LLP advises on high-value, complex matters, TUPE and related issues, and tribunal claims. Andrew Chamberlain heads the team, and has recently advised The Co-operative Group on the employment aspects of the £1.57bn acquisition of Somerfield. New client wins include American Express and Coventry City FC. ‘Clearly people seem to like working for the firm, and maybe that’s what makes them different‘. Malcolm Pike is a well-respected name in the region, and associate Dan Rubin is ‘very supportive‘.

Beachcroft LLP assists clients such as McDonald’s, Unilever, The Royal British Legion, and DHL, as well as football clubs such as Manchester United and West Ham United. Paula Cole gives ‘clear, concise advice and has an understanding of clients’ company culture‘, and Deborah Hely is ‘excellent‘. Sue Jenkins is also recommended.

DLA Piper UK LLP has won a number of new clients over the past year including British Nuclear Fuels Limited, UPS, and several other household names. Recent highlights include assisting Trinity Mirror. Practice head Mary Clarke is ‘an excellent lawyer with top client relationship skills‘.

DWF LLP assists a number of clients in the education and automotive sectors. Kerren Daly recently advised the principal and governors of Manchester College on the merger of Manchester City College and MANCAT. New clients include Emerson Group and Iceland.

Eversheds LLP’s ‘superb‘ employment practice receives high praise from clients. Naeema Choudry is ‘highly commercial and approachable‘, ‘demonstrates high credibility and respect‘, and is ‘a strong negotiator‘. An impressive client list includes Akzo Nobel, BAE Systems, Maplin Electronics, and British Gas. The team has ‘differentiated itself through its cultural understanding, flexibility and customer-focused approach‘. Michael Thompson is the lead partner.

Stephen Hills heads Halliwells’ six-partner employment practice which has handled tribunal work for the Department for Work and Pensions, and AstraZeneca. The group has recently seen an increase in its public sector work.

Hammonds LLP assists a number of retail clients, including Superdrug and The Perfume Shop, as well as major chemicals companies, and manufacturing, energy and technology-related clients. Practice head Nick Jones is recommended, as is Simon Ost for trade union matters. Dan Bickerstaffe was promoted to partner in 2008.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s employment team is ‘experienced and competent‘. Paul Chamberlain is ‘very knowledgeable about employment matters generally, and particularly issues affecting recruitment businesses‘. Nick Campbell is ‘an excellent communicator‘, and Jonathan I’Anson is ‘client friendly‘. The group has a strong sports practice, and recently advised the Football Association in relation to the appointment of Fabio Capello. The team recently advised on a redundancy involving 250 employees.

Cobbetts LLP’s ‘excellent‘ employment team has the ‘ability to grasp the issues and offer immediate advice which saves cost and problems‘. The practice regularly handles industrial relations work, as well as assisting public sector entities such as local authorities, and a string of retail clients such as Iceland Foods and Home Delivery Network. Judith Watson provides ‘frank, accurate and swift responses‘, while Kevin Jaquiss is ‘excellent‘.

Hill Dickinson LLP assists supply chain and clients in the logistics sector, as well as healthcare clients. The group has recently handled a high number of disputes. Michael Morrison heads the team, which is spread across the firm’s Manchester, Liverpool and Chester offices. Adrian Fryer recently joined from Lees Lloyd Whitley.

Mace & Jones provides ‘exceptional customer care‘ to clients in the healthcare and sports sectors among others. Martin Edwards and Mark Hatfield receive excellent feedback from sports clients, while Phil Allen ‘paints a clear and concise picture of the issue in question‘. Emlyn Williams has a ‘strong background in equal pay‘. Clients include Merseyside Police, The Football Association, and Liverpool FC.

Pannone LLP’s David Carmichael is ‘pragmatic and knowledgeable‘; Ian Tranter is ‘a shining light in the department‘; and Jim Lister provides ‘speedy responses and practical advice‘. The team has advised Reebok on issues relating to its merger with Adidas.

Pinsent Masons LLP has a niche advising university sector clients. The group has also assisted pharmaceuticals company AstraZeneca in connection with the recent changes to the UK’s immigration laws. Sara Sawicki is the lead partner.

Weightmans LLP’s ‘advice is commercial and grounded in pragmatism‘; it ‘provides options rather than quoting legal argument‘. Tim Lang’s ‘leadership, commercialism and ability to build relationships and maintain a sense of humour, sets the tone and culture for the team‘. Mark Leach has ‘a sensible, no-nonsense approach‘, and Nick Wilson gives ‘expert advice‘.

Aaron & Partners LLP’s head of employment, Helen Watson, is ‘very approachable and strong‘, and Kate Catherall is ‘calm, reassuring and practical‘. Clients appreciate the team’s ‘ utmost professionalism‘.

George Davies Solicitors LLP’s ‘well-connected‘ team is led by ‘exceptional individual‘ Alan Lewis, and includes Sara Barrett, who has ‘an outstanding reputation‘.

Hempsons’ ‘excellent‘ team is led by the ‘knowledgeable, astute, discreet and responsive‘ Paul Spencer. The practice has a niche in the NHS sector, and Martin Cheyne recently successfully defended a whistleblowing claim against Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP’s employment clients include Accurist Watches and Henleys Clothing. The group has recently handled a number of high-profile executive terminations. Sally Bird is the lead partner.

Martin & Co is a niche employment firm. Recent highlights for the practice, which is led by John Martin, include assisting 2 Sisters Food Group, and Urban Splash.

At Berg Legal Alison Loveday ‘demonstrates technical ability, good personal skills and commercial awareness‘.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP’s team is led by Michael Parr, and advises on a broad range of issues. It now receives contentious and non-contentious employment instructions from Leeds City Council.

Davies Arnold Cooper LLP has bolstered its employment offering with the hire of four practitioners since the practice began in 2007. Stephen Robinson’s team recently advised a major sports retailer on internal reorganisations, trade union disputes and redundancies.

Forbes assists a number of local authorities, and has also recently handled a race discrimination case. Peter Byrne is the practice head.

Gorvins was recently boosted by the arrival of David Walton, previously head of employment at Myers Lister Price. The practice, which offers ‘a personal service and positive approach‘, regularly acts for employers and is experienced in contentious work. Nigel Crebbin is recommended.

Hibberts LLP recently welcomed Justin Marks from Berwins LLP, to head its employment practice. The team assists a number of local businesses.

Kevin McKenna is the partner contact at Keoghs LLP.

Keith Corkan recently joined Laytons from Rosenblatt Solicitors, and heads a ‘focused‘ employment practice.

Anthony Marriott is the partner contact Lees Lloyd Whitley.

Nexus Solicitors recently acted for 60 claimants in a multimillion-pound TUPE claim. Carl Moran is the lead partner.

sas daniels LLP’s John Cook is ‘able to cut through complex issues and get to the heart of the matter‘, while practice head Jonathan Whittaker’s ‘knowledge is second to none, understands how tribunals work, and is always on the ball with what is happening in the courts‘.

Edward Cotton joined Irwin Mitchell LLP in 2009 from Halliwells to head its Manchester employment practice.

Lindsey Bell, who was promoted to partner in 2008, heads JMW Solicitors LLP’s employment team.

Joanne Evans joined Neil Myerson Solicitors in 2007 from Addleshaw Goddard LLP to set up the firm’s employment practice. Clients include Thomas Cook and Manchester Airport Group.

Philip Richardson heads Stephensons Solicitors LLP’s employment practice.

Oliver McCann is the name to note at Taylors.