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Addleshaw Goddard LLP has recruited seven new associates, as well as Kate McGough from DLA Piper UK LLP. Jamie Hamnett (‘a fantastic all-rounder’) now manages the team alongside other key partners Andrew Chamberlain and Malcolm Pike, who all win exceptionally high praise from clients. New clients include Daisy plc, Liverpool City Council, and ArcelorMittal.

DLA Piper UK LLP expanded its team with the recruitment of associate Emma Mills from Halliwells, and legal director Stephen Robinson from Davies Arnold Cooper LLP. Helen Hall is praised for her ‘depth of knowledge and promptness’; Jane Cotton gives ‘first-class’ advice on the contentious side; and Mary Clarke is recommended for complex matters.

In 2010, DWF LLP attracted a substantial number of major new clients across a range of sectors, and added seven new fee-earners, including Ed Farrelly from Eversheds LLP. Practice head Kirsty Rogers and Tim Scott are both highly recommended.

Eversheds LLP has a particular emphasis on the education sector, where new clients include Manchester Metropolitan University. Practice head Michael Thompson continues to act for a number of household names, and Peter Norbury is well known for trade union and industrial relations work. Diane Gilhooley excels in the education sector; and Naeema Choudry ‘gives pragmatic advice with a strong commercial edge’.

Gateley had some significant client wins in 2010, and continues to act for a number of public sector clients. Contentious highlights included acting for the same client in a multi-party action and a complex TUPE matter with potential exposure in excess of £1m. Team head Michael Ball wins high praise from clients.

In addition to a raft of internal promotions, Hill Dickinson LLP’s Liverpool office also acquired a team of four from Halliwells led by Kerstie Skeaping, adding significant experience in tribunal hearings, and in trade union matters and industrial relations. Jeff Middleton now leads the team; former practice head Michael Morrison has moved to a consultancy position with the firm.

The team at Squire Sanders Hammonds provides advice to some of the UK’s biggest blue-chip companies. Nick Jones and Dan Bickerstaffe are both praised for their commitment to getting the job done; ‘with this firm there is no debate, you don’t ask twice, they just do it’. Simon Ost handles union work.

Beachcroft won appointments to the Royal Mail’s new commercial panel and to Balfour Beatty plc’s panel. Paula Cole has ‘the ability to see the next step and prepare a plan of action to deal with it at an early stage’. Many members of the team are praised for their commitment to getting to know their clients’ business, including Deborah Hely, and Sue Jenkins.

The team at Brabners Chaffe Street LLP undertakes a large volume of tribunal litigation work, and was recently appointed as sole provider of employment litigation services to AXA. The team also has a strong reputation in the sports sector. Lydia Edgar and Nick Campbell are both recommended.

Cobbetts LLP has seen an increase in employment tribunal claims, as well as renewed interest in mediation. Recent work includes advising on the exit of a director from Cadbury following its takeover by Kraft. Judith Watson, who leads the team, is recommended.

Pannone LLP acts for high-profile clients including the Bank of England, National Grid, and Kelloggs, and new gains include Tesco and Burley Borough Council. Jack Harrington is ‘the kind of private practice lawyer that commercial clients respect and like’; and Laura D’Arcy is ‘always readily available and gives sound advice’.

Praised for its robust approach and deep industry knowledge, the relatively small team at Pinsent Masons LLP continues to punch above its weight, winning clients such as Manchester United Limited and AstraZenaca UK Limited. The team is led by Simon Horsfield.

Weightmans LLP was successfully retained in 2010 for employment work on both the North West NHS consortium and the North West Local Government consortium. The team’s presence in the public sector was strengthened by the firm’s merger with Mace & Jones, whose clients included the North West Development Agency, and the Health & Safety Executive. Mark Leach is an ‘outstanding lawyer, very capable, unflappable’, and Stuart Jones is also recommended. Emlyn Williams is ‘able to combine impressive legal knowledge with an in-depth understanding of the public sector and its nuances’; and the ‘unflappable’ Mark Hatfield is ‘always on top of a case’.

Aaron & Partners LLP acted for local and international companies on tribunal claims and several complex TUPE transfer issues, and has also appointed several new fee-earners. Practice head Helen Watson has ‘excellent legal skills, clarity of advice and superb client care’; and Claire Brook is ‘highly competent and works hard and successfully for her clients’.

Berg Legal recently welcomed the experienced Nigel Crebbin from Gorvins. In 2010, the team advised a number of large new clients on terminations of senior appointments, and TUPE transfers; and also advised on bullying and harrassment claims. Department head Alison Loveday is recommended.

Lindsey Bell arrived at Clarke Willmott LLP from JMW Solicitors LLP to head up the employment team, with one other assistant solicitor and a large client base.

George Davies Solicitors LLP has attracted key clients in the leisure industry including the Tampopo Restaurant chain. Following its appointment to the North West Collaborative Commercial Agency’s legal services panel, the team also received instructions to advise a leading North West PCT on employment matters. Sara Barrett heads the team.

Hempsons continues to advise clients in the health sector, regularly acting for PCTs and NHS trusts. Sean Reynolds has led on several national test cases raising some complex points of law.

Irwin Mitchell LLP gained new clients such as Trust Inns Limited, and Preston North End FC. Ed Cotton is recommended for the ‘level and depth of his experience and his supportive approach’.

KBL acts predominantly for senior executives, but also advises employers. The team, led by John Hassells, has been busy in tribunal work, and redundancy and restructuring issues.

SAS Daniels LLP has a sizeable and ‘proactive’ employment practice and achieved a number of notable victories for clients in tribunal claims. Mark Bestley is ‘on top of his game’, and successfully defended an application for interim relief in an unfair dismissal claim.

Forbes is particularly strong in the public sector, where it represents six local authorities on the full range of employment matters. Peter Byrne leads the team.

Head of department Justine Watkinson at Hillyer McKeown is ‘a safe pair of hands and has a no-nonsense approach, offering practical, proactive and easy-to-understand advice’. Lindsey Kidd is also highly recommended.

Ian Tranter took over as head of department at JMW Solicitors LLP, with Lindsey Bell having moved to Clarke Willmott LLP. Tranter advises on a broad range of employment matters and acts for a strong client base.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP has a stable list of corporate clients. Sally Bird, who heads the department, regularly acts in high level employment issues.

At Martin & Co, John Martin is ‘very knowledgeable’ and ‘very personable’, and acts for clients such as Trafford College and Heyrod Construction. He is well known for his work in the education field.

Neil Myerson LLP won a significant number of new clients, including Eastern Airways, and European Metal Recycling (the largest privately owned employer in the North West).

Nexus Solicitors is increasingly handling complex instructions. Carl Moran applies ‘significant expertise in employment law in a considered, pragmatic and efficient manner’.

Stephensons Solicitors LLP acts for claimants and respondents in tribunal matters. The team also undertakes publicly funded work, and runs an advice line on behalf of the Legal Services Commission.

Stripes Solicitors saw Paul Harris-Stelfox leave to join Thomas Mansfield LLP, but was bolstered by the arrival of a new director, Dave Parry, from Addleshaw Goddard LLP.

Mike Gaskell heads the team atTrowers & Hamlins LLP, which has been dealing with increasing numbers of multiple claims against the same employer, and also acts for Kier Limited.

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