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The ‘excellent’ team at Dickinson Dees LLP, which provides ‘prompt, appropriate, professional and rational’ advice, attracted IT and consulting services giant IBM as a new client, and was reappointed as the sole adviser to Durham University. It continues to act for Darlington Borough Council in equal pay litigation; recently defended the NHSLA in a test case concerning its 2004 pay and grading scheme; and advised a prominent social housing group on the reorganisation of its terms and conditions for 1,700 employees. The ‘outstanding’ Glenn Calvert heads the department, and Claire-Jane Nicol is ‘personable and incredibly knowledgeable’.

Eversheds LLP’s recent appointment as the sole adviser to a major Newcastle-based plc further strengthens an impressive client roster that includes Nissan, Tarmac plc, University of Newcastle and British Polythene plc. The firm is currently providing exclusive advice to a national, non-departmental public body on high-profile restructuring matters relating to government cuts. The ‘very good’ Simon Loy leads the team, which was recently joined by Frances Barker from Addleshaw Goddard LLP.

Michael Ord joined the team at Watson Burton LLP from Crutes Law Firm, and has since mediated a £3m sex discrimination case. Relying on its own advocacy capability, the firm also handled a claim for unpaid wages and a claim for damages relating to an employer’s discretionary bonus scheme. Practice head Christopher Graham and David Jenkins are highly rated, and the team is praised as providing ‘excellent technical advice with a commercial slant’. Paul McGowan recently left to set up Collingwood Legal.

In 2010, Chris Maddock replaced Tony McPhillips as head of the employment department at Muckle LLP. Paul Johnstone is ‘down to earth and skilled’, and the team as a whole provides an ‘excellent service that is extremely responsive and diligent’. The team advised Rafa Benitez on his exit from Liverpool FC, and continues to act as retained adviser to London South Bank University. Key areas of strength include the enforcement of post-termination restrictions, TUPE transfers and executive severance. Associate Jill Donabie recently joined from Eversheds LLP.

Thompsons Solicitors LLP’s client base is comprised of individual employees and trade unions such as Unite, Unison and the GMB. The team recently advised on various unfair dismissal and discrimination claims, securing a notable £750,000 award in one case, and continues to undertake equal pay litigation. The ‘excellent’ Iain Birrell is the firm’s regional head of employment.

Ward Hadaway’s offering extends to both the private and public sectors; clients include over 65 NHS trusts and a plethora of councils across the North East, as well as Asda, Orange and Sage plc. Joe Thornhill and Bernard Hodgson, who is one of three part-time employment tribunal judges at the firm, jointly lead the team.

Burnetts’ team is considered a ‘credit to the legal profession and a credit to Carlisle’. Compromise agreements, major restructurings and tribunal claims kept the team active in 2010. The ‘industrious and personable’ Kuba Strycharczyk advised multiple public bodies on equal pay issues, and the ‘valued’ Natalie Ruane acted for an HIV-positive client in a disability discrimination case against his NHS employer. Part-time employment tribunal judge John Morris is very well respected by clients, and heads the team.

David Gibson at Crutes Law Firm is increasingly active in Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal matters, and recently handled a high-profile inquest into the deaths of patients of a local GP.

Neil Dwyer leads the ‘very capable’ team at Hay & Kilner, which is active in tribunal work up and down the country, as well as organised redundancy and reorganisation programmes. It has an employer-focused client base, but has also recently advised directors and shareholders on termination packages.

Kevin Fletcher heads up the team at Jacksons Law, which has a national footprint in this area. In addition to defending a high volume of claims for protective awards and successfully handling over 100 equal pay claims for local NHS trusts, the team is regularly instructed by senior executives on a wide range of matters.

Robert Gibson is widely recognised as a key player in the market and heads up the department at Samuel Phillips Law Firm. It continues to advise NHS trusts on equal pay matters, and recently represented a local authority employee in a six-day hearing relating to his unfair dismissal claim.

Sharon Langridge Employment Lawyers provides a niche service to employers and senior employees, which includes an investigation offering. The ‘excellent’ Sharon Langridge continues to represent Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council in mass equal pay litigation, and recently received first-time instructions from Stoke College. Assistant Alexandra Besnard is also recommended.

Max Winthrop leads the ‘strong’ team at Short Richardson & Forth LLP, which continues to advise Esso Petroleum Company, and recently advised over 600 employees of Northumbria County Council on compromise agreements. Dr John McMullen has retired.

Keith Land heads the employer-focused team at Sintons LLP, which has seen the arrival of two fee-earners from Muckle LLP. It continues to act for Arriva, the Eric Wright Group and T&G Allan, and recently represented the Jesmond Group in a High Court action against a number of former employees for breaches of confidentiality. In 2010 it launched ‘Assero Employment Protection’, a fixed-fee retainer service for clients to ensure compliance.

Archers Law LLP counts Unite as a key client, and continues to provide HR support to TC Industries of Europe. It recently assisted an employer in its redundancy procedure. Robert Irons heads the ‘extremely efficient and knowledgeable’ team.

BHP Law’s client roster includes high-profile employers and senior individuals. Redundancy schemes, private and public TUPE transfers, and post-termination restrictions kept the team busy in 2010.

Joanne Holborn’s ‘pragmatic’ team at Baines Wilson Solicitors exclusively acts for employers. In 2010, it handled complex sex, race and disability discrimination cases, and assisted various employers with training and policy amendments. Adrian Maitra has recently joined the team as an employed barrister.

Beachcroft’s specialist healthcare employment team recently acted for multiple NHS trusts on TUPE transfers, an unfair dismissal claim and novel judicial review proceedings.

The ‘excellent’ three-solicitor team at Beecham Peacock represents employees and trade union members on a wide range of matters. Sara Devennie is praised for her ‘first-class knowledge of employment law’.

Browell Smith & Co represents trade union members and private employees. Recent highlights include successfully handling protective award and sex discrimination claims.

Former Watson Burton LLP partner Paul McGowan, who is a ‘very safe pair of expert hands’, recently set up Collingwood Legal. Since its inception, the ‘outstanding’ specialist employment practice has advised Stiller Warehousing and Distribution Ltd on complex TUPE matters, and senior executives on compromise agreements.

Tribunal advocates Julie Bruce and Catherine Devereux handle Endeavour Partnership LLP’s contentious workload. The team advises on a wide range of matters including collective redundancy programmes and compromise agreements.

Hayton Winkley recently handled several race discrimination and gross misconduct claims, and acted for a senior member of a large public body on their voluntary severance package. Gail Escolme is ‘extremely approachable and professional’.

The team at Mincoff Solicitors LLP provides ‘good-quality advice’ and recently assisted clients with Employment Tribunal claims, injunction applications and TUPE matters. Nick Smith provides ‘appropriate and sound advice’ and is supported by Gillian Barlow, who recently arrived from Crutes Law Firm.

Stefan Cross Solicitors’ name partner is building a national reputation. The firm is considered a go-to adviser for equal pay claims.

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