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Employment

Dickinson Dees LLP’s ‘extremely responsive’ practice is headed by the highly regarded Glenn Calvert, who acts for clients such as Nissan and IBM. The team recently advised on a large-scale business restructure which involved a significant reduction in employees. New additions to its client roster, such as South Tyneside College and Gateshead College, have strengthened its presence in the market. Claire Jane Nicol is ‘calm and professional, and provides sound advice’.

Eversheds LLP is regularly instructed in difficult, sensitive and reputational risk cases by an impressive client list which, on the commercial side, includes Nissan, Grainger and Twinings. The group also has notable strength in the public sector, and acts for Peterborough City Council, and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. The team is currently acting for the Homes and Communities Agency in test case litigation over the scope of TUPE 2006 and the transfer of public functions between public authorities. Department head Simon Loy is ‘exceptional’, with ‘wonderful knowledge of the law’.

Ward Hadaway continues to act for a national companies and public sector clients, such as Asda, Merck and over 60 NHS trusts, for which the firm is handling roughly 2,000 equal pay claims. The group, jointly headed by Bernard Hodgson and Joe Thornhill, routinely acts in employment tribunals and benefits from an in-house advocacy team. New client wins include Grosvenor Casinos and Jacques Vert. Hodgson is ‘strong, supportive and very knowledgeable’.

Despite a challenging 2011, Watson Burton LLP secured a number of client wins including Nexus and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. The team recently advised a FTSE 250 plc on the reduction of the actuarial valuation of its final pension scheme and changing terms and conditions for 1,500 employees; and represented Connect Up in high-profile litigation over the application of TUPE regulations to a framework agreement. Practice head Christopher Graham, David Jenkins and Michael Ord are well regarded.

Chris Maddock heads the team at Muckle LLP, which includes Tony McPhillips. Work highlights for the group included advising the Football Association; and representing a leading university in an unfair dismissal and race discrimination employment tribunal. It is also advising a care home in relation to allegations of abuse by staff members.

Iain Birrell leads the employment rights team at Thompsons Solicitors LLP, which does ‘a fantastic job for claimants’; it predominantly acts for employees and trade unions such as Unite, Unison and the GMB. Recent work includes handling various unfair dismissal and discrimination claims; and acting for members of the GMB and Unite in employment tribunals relating to mass redundancies carried out by Cleveland Bridge.

Burnetts’ ‘excellent and knowledgeable’ team is headed by employment tribunal judge John Morris. In 2011, the team represented an international company in an employment tribunal for dismissal for bribery, and advised 15 schools on the TUPE aspects of academy conversions. Natalie Ruane and Joanne Stronach are ‘very able and practical’, and Kuba Strycharczyk is a ‘shrewd tactician’.

Hay & Kilner’s team is led by Neil Dwyer, and includes the ‘excellent’ Sarah Hall. The team regularly advises on tribunal proceedings, reorganisations and redundancy programmes, and recently defended an alleged whistleblowing case.

Mark Foster leads the ‘experienced’ team at Jacksons Law, which includes Alistair Smith, a ‘wonderful support’ to clients. The team recently assisted a multinational company with redundancy exercises, and continues to advise the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses. Former practice head Kevin Fletcher is now a consultant.

Employment is a core practice area for Samuel Phillips Law Firm. Managing partner Robert Gibson and Barry Speker are the key contacts, and continue to advise a local NHS trust and Northumbria Police on matters including equal pay, TUPE transfers and employment tribunals.

Sharon Langridge Employment Lawyers is a well-respected name in the market and ‘exceptional at offering relevant advice which is pragmatic and business orientated’. Sharon Langridge and her team continue to advise employers and senior employees on matters such as discrimination, unfair dismissals, and whistleblowing.

Short Richardson & Forth LLP’s team is headed by Max Winthrop and includes Jean Pierre Van Zyl, who has ‘extensive knowledge in his field’. Work undertaken includes compromise agreements, equal pay claims, and TUPE matters.

Sintons LLP’s ‘excellent’ team was recently appointed to the panel of Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, and is now sole counsel to the North of England Civic Trust. Keith Land has ‘outstanding ability’ and leads the team, and Christopher Welch is ‘extremely knowledgeable’.

Stefan Cross Solicitors’ name partner has a national reputation for equal pay claims, and is well regarded in the market.

The ‘extraordinary’ Elizabeth Casey leads the ‘outstanding’ team at Archers Law LLP, with support from Robert Irons. The team advises both employers and employees, and counts Unite and TC Industries as clients. It recently represented an individual in a high-profile unfair dismissal tribunal.

Part of the dispute resolution team at BHP Law, Paul Hargreaves is the name to note for employment matters. Highlights included advising on redundancy schemes, TUPE transfers and employment tribunal claims. Former practice head Graeme Ritzema is now at Sintons LLP.

Baines Wilson Solicitors’ ‘excellent’ and ‘knowledgeable’ team is headed by the ‘professional and concise’ Joanne Holborn, and exclusively acts for employers. Work highlights included acting in unfair dismissal and disability discrimination employment tribunals.

Beecham Peacock’s three-fee-earner claimant practice is headed by Sara Devennie. It recently secured an equal pay win against a county council.

Collingwood Legal’s ‘excellent and professional’ team, while still relatively new, continues to make strides in the marketplace, and founder Paul McGowan has ‘a wealth of employment law knowledge’. He acted for new client St Andrew’s Healthcare in a disability discrimination matter.

DAC Beachcroft LLP’s specialist healthcare employment team recently worked on a large-scale Transforming Community Service programme for two NHS trusts, and a £500,000 unfair dismissal claim. Guy Bredenkamp ‘goes the extra mile’ for clients.

David Gibson at DWF LLP is experienced in tribunal work. He recently advised on the dismissal of a teacher who blew the whistle on exam impropriety, and in relation to an employee dismissed on the grounds of sexual misconduct.

At Endeavour Partnership LLP, Julie Bruce and Catherine Devereux have experience across unfair dismissal, TUPE, and age and sex discrimination claims.

The ‘personable and helpful’ Nick Smith leads the team at Mincoff Solicitors LLP. His recent work includes assisting on redundancy procedures and the enforcement of restrictive covenants.

Health and safety

DWF LLP’s Rod Searl and Shaun O’Neil act for a number of local authorities, and recently acted for Stockton Borough Council in a potential asbestos exposure HSE prosecution. Hargreaves and Gentoo are also clients.

Dickinson Dees LLP has an impressive client base featuring top names in the retail, manufacturing, chemical and public sectors. It recently acted for Heineken UK in an HSE prosecution relating to a fatality. Alison Gray and Anna Hart are ‘exceptionally supportive’.

Eversheds LLP’s cross-office team is led by David Young, and has a strong national client base. It recently acted for East Sussex County Council and Marks & Spencer in HSE prosecutions.

Hay & Kilner’s Alun Williams and Robert Hart have acted on a number of local-level fatal and serious accident prosecutions. Bruce Howorth is instructed by defendants and insurers.

Kirsty Gomersal and James Thompson are the key partners at Ward Hadaway, and count names such as Greggs, Asda and Café Nero among their clients. Recent work includes acting for the managing director of a company accused of gross negligence manslaughter.

Pensions

Martin Poore’s team at Dickinson Dees LLP recently advised a leading plc on the merger of three standalone pension schemes. Suzanne Duff ‘rigorously investigates issues’, and Tracy Walsh is ‘a delight to work with’. On the contentious side, Craig Monty has ‘wide legal knowledge’. Clients include IBM, Go-Ahead Group, and Procter & Gamble.

DWF LLP’s cross-office team is led by the ‘pragmatic and commercially minded’ Martin Jenkins, who is based in Newcastle. The team were active in relation to passport schemes and national pension scheme reviews in 2011. Kate Byers is also recommended.

Relatively new to the market, Neon Legal continues to make strides in the pensions sector, attracting a number of high-profile clients. It advised the trustees of the Barratt Group Pension and Life Assurance Scheme, and the trustees of the Mencap Pension Plan. Tushar Bhate, Kathryn Cowen and Paul Elliott are all ‘excellent’.

At Ward Hadaway, associate and practice head Tristan Mander is ‘very personable and understanding of his clients’ issues’. The group continued to act for Charles Beauduin and Michael Van de Wiele in a test case concerning the Pension Regulator’s powers in relation to contribution notices. Other clients include One NorthEast, Cleveland Potash and Benfield Motors.

Eversheds LLP’s practice is led from the Leeds office, with newly promoted partner Claire Carroll providing litigation support from the Newcastle office. The ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ Terry Saeedi is the practice head.

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s team provides a ‘pragmatic, proactive and responsive’ service. Nick Smith is ‘brilliant’, and recently advised the trustees of a contribution pension scheme on day-to-day and management issues. Other clients include Sintons LLP.

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