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Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40

Boyes Turner delivers ‘concise and on target’ advice to clients including Hitachi Data Systems, Ericsson, Historic Royal Palaces and LoveFilm. The team’s work spans High Court litigation, employment tribunal claims and corporate support. It recently advised Johnston Press in an injunction against the National Union of Journalists. Barry Stanton leads the team, with David Blomfield, Helen Goss and Michael Farrier all highly recommended.

‘Technically good, and business orientated’, Clarkslegal LLP handled a number of employment matters arising from restructuring programmes, for the likes of Sun Microsystems. With an ‘innovative, proactive and responsive approach’, it also advised Gate Gourmet London in five appeals in the employment appeal tribunal. ‘Expert’ Michael Sippitt leads the team, which also features Monica Atwal, who gets ‘fantastic results’ defending tribunal claims, and the ‘outstanding’ Helen Beech. The firm also benefits from its own HR consultancy, Forbury People.

With ‘excellent response rates’, Lewis Silkin LLP is one of the premier employment practices in the region. The 19-strong team acts for CEOs of major companies in employment cases, and counts Channel 4, Channel 5 and the Discovery Channel as clients; it also added Nokia UK, Arsenal FC, French Connection and Aston Martin to its client roster in 2010. The ‘outstanding’ Russell Brimelow leads the ‘engaging and professional team’, and Jonathan Carr ‘never sits on the fence’. Carolyn Soakell relocated to the Oxford office in 2010.

Olswang’s ‘excellent team’ attracts an ‘enviable quality of work and clients’. Led by the ‘very credible and impressive’ Gary Henderson, the group advises on discrimination claims, restructurings and redundancies, as well as providing outsourcing advice. It continues to act as sole employment advisers for Timberland, Microsoft UK, Quintiles, Ernst & Young, and Chellomedia.

The ‘proactive’ Osborne Clarke has a formidable reputation in the arena. The team, led by Danielle Kingdon, recently advised HCL Axon regarding an unfair dismissal claim. New clients in 2010 included UST Global and MphasiS UK. Senior associate Lloyd Davey is ‘100% focused on finding workable solutions’ and is particularly noted for his data protection expertise.

Shoosmiths provides ‘practical and commercial advice in a timely manner’. Kevin McCavish is ‘unbelievably commercial’ and ‘knows the law inside out’. Key clients include Hewlett-Packard and Calor Gas, and in 2010 the team also won work from Arthritis Research UK and Prudential Health Services. Eugene Wojciechowski left for Manches LLP in May 2011.

Boutique firm Doyle Clayton Solicitors ‘exercises a real understanding of complex employment law’. The ‘incredibly commercial’ team advises the likes of Vodafone UK and Dixons Retail in employment tribunal claims, and added Greene King and Aldermore Bank as clients in 2010. Tina Wisener is ‘astute and personable’, and Piers Leigh-Pollitt is ‘genial and attentive’.

With an ‘excellent level of knowledge and skills’, Field Seymour Parkes’ employment law team provides ‘invaluable support’, and was further strengthened by the arrival of ‘excellent’ practice head Jacqueline McDermott, who joined from Pitmans LLP in 2010. It recently advised a management consultancy firm in a wrongful dismissal claim brought by a former employee, and also assisted a company in a High Court breach of contract claim. Rachel Tozer is recommended.

Manches LLP provides ‘advice that cuts through to the core of a problem’, and is praised for its ‘acumen, confidence and professionalism’. The team is headed up by Daff Richardson, who is an ‘effective leader’ with ‘excellent commercial sense’, and was further strengthened by Eugene Wojciechowski’s arrival from Shoosmiths, who joined in May 2011 to head up the Reading team. Associates Sally Nesbitt (‘first rate’) and Jayne Sinclair (an ‘excellent communicator’) are recommended.

The ‘top-quality’ team at Morgan Cole is based in Oxford and Reading and provides ‘professional and commercial support’. It won House of Fraser as a client in 2010, and also advised a charity on TUPE regulations. In Oxford, Rebecca Ireland has ‘great enthusiasm for her work’, and William Downing provides ‘thorough legal advice backed with practical business understanding’. Matt Jenkin in Reading is ‘very commercially aware’.

Pitmans LLP provides ‘prompt, factual and common-sense advice’, and recently added ToshibaTech, Cohort and 2e2 UK to its client roster. Mark Symons leads the group. The team advised Ridgeway Group on the employment issues relating to its £4.5m acquisition of VW dealerships. Richard Devall provides ‘quick responses’.

Heading the national employment practice at Thomas Eggar LLP, Simon Fenton leads an ‘exceptional employment team’ that provides ‘extremely practical advice based on a solid technical foundation’. It handles restructuring and redundancy cases for the likes of Vanco UK, Genus Pharmaceuticals, and Micheldever Tyre Services.

‘Very quick and pragmatic’, Blake Lapthorn fields an ‘excellent team of employment lawyers’. In 2010, it acted for Allport in an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, and also assisted Bouygues in a race discrimination claim. Jim Whiter is a ‘really robust and responsive lawyer’.

‘Able to communicate clearly about difficult and complex matters’, Blandy & Blandy LLP advises on discrimination and unfair dismissal claims, and TUPE matters. Sue Dowling has ‘excellent knowledge and expertise’, and litigator Tim Clark is ‘responsive and knowledgeable’.

Cater Leydon Millard fields a ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ team of specialists. The firm advises NHS trusts, schools and corporates, and has recently handled age, sex and racial discrimination claims. Sheila Cater provides ‘practical and clear-headed advice’; Wendy Leydon is a ‘star performer’; and Nathan Millard delivers ‘spot-on advice’.

Darbys Solicitors LLP delivers ‘sound and timely advice’ with a ‘strong solutions-based focus’. The team advises over 400 schools through its BLUE for Schools programme, including Oxford and Cherwell Valley College. David Parry delivers ‘the best realistic outcome in the most cost-effective way’.

At Employment Law Plus, sole practitioner and noted employment judge Jill Kelly is ‘very knowledgeable and competent’. Recent highlights include advising a claimant in an employment tribunal claim brought against an international airline relating to religious and disability discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal.

Henmans LLP provides ‘extremely good value for money for the level and quality of advice’, and advises clients in the automobile and motor racing industries. James Simpson provides ‘commercially feasible solutions’. Clients include Reading Transport and Stagecoach in East Kent, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.

Spratt Endicott’s ‘impressive’ team is led by Carol Shaw, who acts as an employment tribunal advocate. With ‘comprehensive expertise’ and ‘a quick grasp of clients’ needs’, it acts for clients in the advertising, manufacturing and security industries.

Natalie Roach left Brethertons LLP in 2010, joining Beechwood Solicitors. David Hodge joined from Stephens Scown LLP and now leads the team, and is rated for his ‘no-nonsense approach’. The team advises on discrimination claims, breach of contract, and TUPE issues.

Providing ‘high-quality service’, the ‘extremely good’ team at Clifton Ingram LLP features the ‘outstanding’ James Dyson. It advises on discrimination claims, redundancy issues and TUPE regulations.

At Withy King LLP, Richard White is ‘very responsive’. The ‘positive and helpful advice’ team assists in tribunal cases and offers its own insurance-backed scheme to protect companies from claims, as well as an outsourced human resources service.

Employment: Kent, Surrey and Sussex

asb law LLP’s ‘pragmatic and knowledgeable’ employment group has a strong focus on the travel industry, advising clients including ABTA, easyJet and TUI. Practice head Gregory Burgess is recommended, as are the ‘vastly experienced’ Claire Singleton and ‘first-rate’ Rebecca Thornley-Gibson.

2010 saw the ‘outstanding’ team at Clyde & Co act for Thai Airways in a high-profile fraud dismissal claim brought by a former employee. Stephen Blunt ‘really understands the business world’; ‘he is genuinely empathetic but tough when he needs to be’. New clients include DHL and Foster Wheeler.

Roger Byard’s employment group at Cripps Harries Hall LLP demonstrates ‘tremendous business acumen’. The team recently advised the management team of an international company going into administration on numerous TUPE issues, as well as a pre-pack sale. Gavin Tyler is praised for his ‘excellent customer service skills’.

DMH Stallard LLP has a strong public sector focus; clients include Crawley Borough Council, which has instructed the firm on employment issues for over ten years. The ‘extremely knowledgeable and organised’ Jenny Thorp is recommended.

Appreciated for its ‘flexible and proactive approach’, Stevens & Bolton LLP enjoyed an increase in transactional work in 2010, particularly involving TUPE and outsourcing. Practice head Stephanie Dale is a ‘valued resource’; ‘she has first-class interpersonal skills and is always a calming influence.’

Thomas Eggar LLP covers the whole spectrum of employment work. Former Eversheds LLP partner Catherine Wilson joined the employment department in 2010, where she represents clients in the retail and higher education sectors.

‘Service levels are excellent and client care is a high priority’ at Thomson Snell & Passmore. 2010 saw increased volumes of contentious work, including new instructions from Bose and Avante Partnership. Nick Hobden and Susanna Gilmartin are key contacts.

Barlow Robbins LLP’s client base includes 40 independent schools and a number of IT clients. Practice head David Ludlow is recommended, as is newly promoted partner Joanna Lada-Walicki.

Brachers handles contentious and non-contentious employment issues, and impresses with ‘client care that is second-to-none’.

Nick Hurley took over as head of employment at Charles Russell LLP in 2010, following the departure of Simon McMenemy to Boodle Hatfield in London. The firm handles contentious issues for EDF Energy.

At Mundays LLP, Denham Bell has over 25 years’ experience in employment matters. The ‘outstanding’ Fiona McAllister is also recommended.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP’s clients include Newsquest Media Group and Redstone. The ‘very good’ Michael Cole has expertise in TUPE and business reorganisations.

Clients speak very highly of Tony Hyams-Parish at Rawlison Butler LLP, who specialises in contentious employment issues.

The ‘efficient and supportive’ Joanne Twiss joined Scully Twiss in 2010, bringing with her a client base that includes Ben Sherman and TalkBack Thames.

The ‘very knowledgeable and highly professional’ Thomas Mansfield LLP provides ongoing employment advice to the Girlguiding Association.

Employment: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx

‘Accessible and approachable in every sense’, B P Collins LLP delivers ‘a City service at local rates’. Jo Davis leads the team, and contentious employment specialist James Townsend was recently promoted to partner.

EMW provides a ‘high-quality, tailor-made service’. ‘Expertly led’ by Jon Taylor, the team handled a growing number of restructuring programmes and employment tribunal applications in 2010.

IBB (Iliffes Booth Bennett)’s portfolio of clients includes Hertz, Clancy Group and Hasbro. Justin Govier handles contentious and non-contentious employment instructions, and has particular expertise in the construction sector.

SNR Denton acts for household names such as Virgin Atlantic Airways and Polo Ralph Lauren. Simon Whysall heads the practice.

The ‘exceptional’ employment group at Shoosmiths focuses on the retail sector, acting for the likes of Toys R Us, Nike and new client IKEA. Helen Jess has ‘strong interpersonal skills and is extremely knowledgeable in her field’.

Harvey Ingram Borneos’ Milton Keynes-based employment team is driven by the ‘very good’ Rosine Dawson. Solicitor Laura Neighbour joined the department in 2010 from SNR Denton.

Kimbells LLP represents Avon Cosmetics in tribunal claims and also provides regular training to the client’s large HR team. Additional clients include Veolia Transport UK and Wells & Youngs.

Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP recently attracted new clients in the sport industry, thanks in part to Michael Delaney’s reputation in the sector.

The three-partner team at Moorcrofts LLP is led by Craig Havard, who handles the full range of employment work. Teri Hunter and Adrian Phillips advise on employee share schemes.

Clients have ‘complete confidence’ in Vanessa James, who heads the employment department at SA Law LLP. The group recently expanded with the arrival of two former Taylor Walton LLP solicitors.

Taylor Walton LLP’s recent work includes assisting commercial clients on redundancies and staff reorganisations, as well as a number of employment disputes. Team head Heather Cowley is ‘terrifically energetic and personable’.

The employment group at Turbervilles is jointly headed by the ‘organised and intelligent’ Robert Dixon and Marc Jones, who is also highly regarded and a ‘tenacious litigator’.

Employment: Hampshire

Blake Lapthorn delivers ‘practical and pragmatic advice tailored to clients’ needs’. In 2010 the team advised Kerry Foods on trade union membership matters, and Xyratex Technology in an unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claim. Max Craft is an ‘outstanding employment law practitioner’ with a ‘calm, measured and assured manner’. The ‘extremely pragmatic’ Marianne Pieterse and Sarah Peacock are also recommended, along with highly rated barrister Tim Forer, who recently joined from Clarke Willmott LLP.

Bond Pearce LLP provides ‘very clear and commercial advice’, and added Sonus Networks, K3 Business Technology Group and McCarthy & Stone to its client roster in 2010. Christina Tolvas-Vincent and Jon Hales are ‘excellent’. The latter recently advised Ordnance Survey on issues relating to its print outsourcing.

The ‘excellent’ Paris Smith LLP is noted for its tribunal expertise. Clive Dobbin and David Roath are ‘totally professional and very knowledgeable in all aspects of employment law’. The team’s client base includes Southampton FC and Bournemouth FC.

Shoosmiths’ team is led by the ‘excellent’ Helena Derbyshire, who advises on TUPE regulations, reorganisations and employment matters. New clients include Phase Eight and British American Tobacco.

Clarke Willmott LLP has a ‘friendly, client-facing attitude’. Practice head Mike Wilson is ‘outstanding’ and ‘operates in a commercially practical way’. The team draws on sector-specific expertise to act for social housing and sports clients. Clients include the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants, Bandai and several independent schools. The ‘extremely capable’ Marc Long is noted for his advocacy experience.

Dorlee Monschau’s team at Coffin Mew LLP acts for several social landlords and housing associations, leveraging off the firm’s strength in social housing.

Lamport Bassitt delivers ‘very swift responses’, predominantly to unions. It handled 360 new claims referred by Unite in 2010, and also receives referral work from Unison and NATFHE. Jonathan Gray is ‘impressive’.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP fields a ‘very responsive, knowledgeable and commercial’ team. In 2010 it advised on several redundancy programmes, and on a disability discrimination claim and a whistleblowing claim, advising the employer in both instances. David Bickford is ‘excellent’.

Providing ‘outstanding service’, ‘first-class response times’ and ‘technically strong and confident advice’, Thomas Eggar LLP acts for Hastings Direct Insurance and Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistics. Esther Smith has ‘excellent professional expertise and customer service skills’. The team also includes qualified tribunal advocates. Associate Leon Deakin is recommended.

Trethowans LLP rates ‘ten out of ten’ for its ‘exceptional service’. Managing partner Simon Rhodes has ‘vast experience’ and his advice is ‘second to none’; Jon Loney ‘consistently delivers’. The ‘commercially aware’ team counts Northcliffe Media and Stork UK as clients.

Employment: Essex

Tim Ogle’s ‘excellent’ team at Birkett Long LLP delivers a ‘high level of service’ to clients such as the London Institute of Technology. Work highlights included advising the East of England Ambulance Service on sex and disability discrimination claims. The team also has expertise in complex immigration law.

The team at Birketts LLP advises on tribunals, victimisation cases and restrictive covenants for the likes of Colchester United FC, Essex County Cricket Club and Benefit Cosmetics. The team is led by the ‘very sharp’ Kevin Palmer.

At Ellisons, Jayne Scott’s team represented Bob Russell MP in a high-profile sexual discrimination case. Other clients include Colchester United FC and Advance.

Tony Fisher’s team at Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP covers the full range of employment matters and has a strong immigration law focus. In 2010 the team dealt with a variety of high-value contentious and non-contentious matters.

Thompson Smith & Puxon’s ‘excellent’ team acts for both individuals and employers in unfair dismissal and discrimination matters. Team head Richard Porter is ‘enormously supportive’ and acts with the ‘utmost professionalism’.

Jeremy Sirrell’s team at Palmers guides companies through the TUPE process and advises on restrictive covenants.

In 2010 Pinney Talfourd LLP advised on various redundancy packages and high-profile chairman suspensions.

Tolhurst Fisher advises on recruitment, tribunals and employee benefits.

Wortley Byers recently acted in a breach of contract claim and a number of employment tribunals.

Health and safety

John Mitchell’s team at Blake Lapthorn advises companies and individuals in HSE investigations. The team also handles advisory and regulatory work.

Kennedys provides clients with ‘outstanding customer service’ and ‘expert knowledge’ on HSE prosecutions. The team, led by Tracy Head and Kathy Dwyer, includes the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Mark Rogers.

Associate Andrew Clarke heads an ‘extremely impressive’ team at Brachers. In 2010 it advised on a number of HSE investigations on behalf of NHS trusts.

At Clarkslegal LLP, David Rintoul’s ‘excellent team’ recently advised in a number of noise-induced hearing loss claims and asbestos-related disease cases. Rachel Clayfield is ‘first class’.

Michael Veal’s cross-office team at Lester Aldridge LLP primarily advises on complex HSE prosecutions, while also conducting some defence cases for care home clients.

Moore Blatch LLP’s team is headed by David Thompson, who advises and prosecutes cases on behalf of the HSE, as well as defending companies and individuals in relation to serious offences. In 2010 the team defended the senior managers of SSE Engineering Ltd against health and safety charges.

Morgan Cole’s cross-office team is headed by ‘immensely experienced’ regulatory expert Paddy Roche. Acting on high-profile HSE prosecutions was the practice’s main focus in 2010.

Shoosmiths advises high-profile corporate clients in HSE investigations and prosecutions. Northampton-based practice head Ron Reid is an ‘exemplary professional’.

2010 saw Andrew Jackson’s team at Thomas Eggar LLP provide advice on the implications of noise in the workplace and associated regulatory provisions, as well as defend clients in HSE investigations.

Thomson Snell & Passmore’s team is led by Nick Horton and represents clients on investigations.

Pensions

The ‘responsive and professional’ team at Blake Lapthorn is headed by the ‘excellent’ Adrian Lamb, and recently welcomed Ian Flowers from Pitmans LLP and Alex McGill from Lawrence Graham LLP. Clients include Johnson Controls, Goodwood Estates and the Swatch Group.

David Hosford’s ‘proactive’ and ‘high-quality’ team at Pitmans LLP advises clients on issues arising from mergers, scheme closures and legislative changes. The team’s client base ranges across a variety of sectors including education, automotive and electronics, with active clients including Londis, CitiFinancial and Canon UK. New clients wins include TTL Chiltern and the Royal Agricultural College.

The ‘experienced’ team at Shoosmiths is spread across offices in Milton Keynes, Reading and Solent. David Thompson’s group advises clients on professional negligence, outsourcing and scheme alterations, and saw significant growth in litigation in 2010. Clients include Mattel UK, Konica and 3M.

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