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EMW Law LLP’s Jon Taylor, who has ‘ an amazing memory and in-depth knowledge of most employment law issues’, heads a five-associate team, recommended for ‘ excellent service and a consistently professional approach’. The firm recently advised on a high-profile, ten-day sex discrimination case involving a company’s managing director.

Shoosmiths reports an increase in contentious instructions, in addition to its high-level strategic advice to clients from the manufacturing, sports, retail, automotive and public sectors. Helen Jess heads a team recommended as ‘ very professional, helpful and friendly’.

Heather Cowley’s team at Taylor Walton LLP advises clients from the aviation, sports, IT and retail sectors. The firm recently advised a major client on broad-ranging implications of new age discrimination legislation.

B P Collins provides ‘ quality advice and a common sense approach’, advising a number of limited liability companies (in addition to a handful of plcs) such as Avid Technologies Europe. Jo Davis‘ always demonstrates a sound understanding of employment law’.

Offering ‘ excellent service’ and ‘ fair fees’, Denton Wilde Sapte LLP undertakes a growing amount of standalone employment work, including contentious work in the transport, retail, IT and public sectors. Associate Simon Whysall is recommended.

IBB (Iliffes Booth Bennett)’s Justin Govier, who provides ‘ practical advice on the employment law maze’, heads a team which acts for clients such as Adventis and Patek Philippe. Other clients come from the recruitment and education sectors.

‘ Always willing to take a commercial view and consider a client’s requirements’, Kimbells LLP is sole employment adviser to Avon Cosmetics, DaimlerChrysler Financial Services and Konica Minolta Business Solutions. Former team head Hilary Norris left for an in-house legal position, with Andrew Davidson joining from Bevan Brittan LLP to head the team.

Matthew Arnold & Baldwin advises clients from the construction, IT, retail, and manufacturing sectors, such as Mann Construction and Mailcom. Michael Delaney heads a team which expanded to welcome Adam Fuge from Norton Rose LLP. The team provides ‘ good remote service via e-mail and telephone’, and ‘ displays a practical approach to dealing with complex and difficult issues’.

Craig Havard joined Moorcrofts LLP from B P Collins in 2007 to head the team.

SA Law LLP is particularly active on the contentious side, especially in connection with redundancies and company restructuring. Clients include a large number of educational institutions.

Robert Dixon and former barrister Marc Jones are recommended in a Turbervilles team, which provides ‘ exceptional employment advice’, and is ‘ approachable, easily available by telephone and flexible about meeting arrangements’.

Also recommended are: Fiona Hewitt at Dunham Solicitors LLP, who brings a background in litigation to her employment work for an extensive limited liability client base; Brian Charlton at Geoffrey Leaver; Michael Lane at Gisby Harrison; Taj Rehal at Howes Percival LLP, who joined in February 2007 from Beachcroft LLP to head the office’s new employment group; and Darren Hayward at Nockolds LLP.

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Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Saving Face - Personalised URLs on Facebook - Make sure your marks are protected

    Facebook users can now register a personal URL for their profile page on the Facebook website. This raises concerns for brand owners as Facebook users may decide to choose a well known trade mark as their URL. The prospect of facebook.com/[yourmark] could become a reality. Consequently, Facebook has taken measures to reassure rights holders and prevent name squatting.
    - Boult Wade Tennant

  • Lease re-gearings and extensions: some issues to consider

    As a result of the recession, lease re-gearings and extensions are becoming increasingly popular for landlords and tenants.
    - CMS Group

  • A cautionary tale of self-investment and personal liability

    As investment strategies become more complex it is crucial that trustees comply with the relevant legal requirements. Recently there has been a series of Pensions Ombudsman cases that have imposed personal liability on trustees for inappropriate scheme investments. This article looks at two of these cases and the lessons that should be learnt from them.
    - Eversheds LLP

  • Pensions Regulator: alert in the economic downturn

    So far the Pensions Regulator has issued two statements (October 2008 and February 2009) on how it expects pension scheme employers and trustees to deal with the impact of the current economic crisis. In April the Regulator issued a further statement highlighting the kinds of behaviour that would cause it to intervene.
    - Eversheds LLP

  • A new disclosure regime: for better or worse?

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has finally issued a consultation paper outlining how it plans to revise the disclosure of information requirements for occupational pension schemes. The consultation proposes a simplified, more principles-based disclosure regime.
    - Eversheds LLP

  • Litigating financial markets disputes: do we have a deal?

    Until very recently no other sphere of commercial activity could match the financial markets for the size, volume and speed of their dealings. Trades involving enormous sums are often negotiated and agreed within the space of a few short telephone conversations, or during the course of a single evening, by sophisticated professional traders experienced and versed in the customs of the particular market. Often the broad commercial terms of a transaction are negotiated and it is left to the parties’ legal advisers to supply the detailed terms on which the deal is to be done.
    - SJ Berwin LLP

  • European Parliament votes to adopt updated Roaming Regulation

    BY A LARGE MAJORITY OF 646 TO 22 THE European Parliament has voted to adopt a compromise position on the European Commission’s (the Commission) proposals to amend the Roaming Regulation (Regulation 717/2007).
    - SJ Berwin LLP

  • Online behavioural advertising

    THE INTERNET ADVERTISING BUREAU (IAB), a UK online trade association, has recently published ‘Good Practice Principles for Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA)’, which come into effect on 4 September 2009. Several key internet advertisers have signed up to the Principles, including Google, Yahoo, AOL, Microsoft Advertising and Phorm.
    - SJ Berwin LLP

  • When an ‘aura of luxury’ prevents sales to unlicensed distributors

    On 23 April 2009 the European Court of Justice (ECJ), in Copad SA v Christian Dior & ors [2009], held that a trade mark owner can prevent third-party sales of its luxury goods where those goods had been obtained in breach of a condition in a selective distribution licence, designed to maintain the repute and prestige of the trade mark.
    - Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP

  • Competition law and retail financial services

    In the current financial climate, with regulatory intervention at the centre of public attention, the competition authorities have continued to focus on financial services. Significant developments have occurred in the UK and EU, in relation to credit and debit cards, the unsecured credit market, payment protection insurance and financial services generally.
    - Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

  • Agrofert Successful in Law Suit against PKN Orlen

    PRAGUE (30 June 2009) – The Arbitration court in Prague has decided in favour of company Agrofert Holding (“Agrofert”) in its claim against Polish company Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen (“PKN Orlen”). The Polish company has to pay, on the basis of decision of the arbiters, a contractual penalty which exceeds EUR 77.2 million (over 2 billion CZK) with accessories.
    – Pokorný, Wagner & Partner

  • UBS CHF 3.8bn share placement

    On June 25, 2009, UBS AG (SIX: UBSN) announced that it is offering 293,258,050 newly issued shares from authorized capital to a small number of institutional investors at a price of CHF 13.00 per share. After deducting cast associated with the placement, the amount of new equity capital expected to be raised is approximately CHF 3.8 billion.
    – Homburger

  • DWS reprises advisory role for MENA Infrastructure fund's investment in Oman's power sector

    Denton Wilde Sapte continues to act as legal advisor for MENA Infrastructure Fund, picking up an instruction to advise on its second investment, in which it has taken 32.8% of the shareholding in Oman's United Power Company SAOG (UPC).
    – Denton Wilde Sapte

  • Three partner admissions at Carey Olsen in Jersey

    Carey Olsen is strengthening its corporate, finance and fiduciary teams in Jersey by admitting three partners to these key practice areas.
    – Carey Olsen

  • Penningtons celebrates SRA and Farriers Registration Council tender wins

    Penningtons Solicitors LLP's professional regulation group is celebrating two key appointments with the news that it has been successful in tenders to advise both the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and The Farriers Registration Council.
    – Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Penningtons advises on Trans-Siberian Express luxury travel deal

    Penningtons Solicitors LLP has advised international tour operator Australian Pacific Touring (UK) Limited on its purchase of a majority share in GW Travel Limited, the market-leader in long-distance luxury rail tours. GW Travel's flagship holidays are trips on the world-famous Trans-Siberian Express.
    – Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Penningtons trainee encourages young Londoners to choose a career in law

    Catherine McCann, a trainee solicitor at Penningtons Solicitors LLP's City office, has been invited to contribute to a new guide published by the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry to help young people consider the many types of jobs available in the capital.
    – Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • BAKER & MCKENZIE ADVISES FIBERWEB ON JOINT VENTURE WITH PETROPAR

    London/Chicago/Sao Paolo, 26 June 2009 - Baker & McKenzie has advised Fiberweb plc on its proposed joint venture with Petropar S.A. The 50/50 joint venture, which will be named FitesaFiberweb, is intended to create the second largest producer of spunbond and non woven fabrics in North and South America. Completion of the transaction is subject to the approval of both Fiberweb and Petropar shareholders.
    – Baker & McKenzie

  • Salans awarded Best European Law Firm

    Salans has been awarded a Special Distinction in the Best European Law Firm award category at the 2009 International Legal Alliance Summit & Awards (“ILASA”).
    – Salans

  • unit specialising in transaction and financing consultancy

    HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater and the Munich-based team at Grub Brugger join forces: Joint establishment of a unit specialising in transaction and financing consultancy
    – Hermann Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerbe
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