United Kingdom > West Midlands > Human resources
Employment
Employment
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- DLA Piper UK LLP Birmingham
- Eversheds LLP Birmingham
- Pinsent Masons LLP Birmingham
- Wragge & Co LLP Birmingham
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- Cobbetts LLP Birmingham
- Gateley Birmingham
- Martineau Birmingham
- Squire Sanders Hammonds Birmingham
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- Mills & Reeve LLP Birmingham
- Shakespeares Birmingham, Stratford upon Avon
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- Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP Birmingham
- Averta Employment Lawyers Birmingham
- Hill Hofstetter LLP Birmingham
- Irwin Mitchell LLP Birmingham
- Shoosmiths Birmingham
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- Bevan Brittan LLP Birmingham
- Browne Jacobson LLP Birmingham
- Clarke Willmott LLP Birmingham
- FBC Manby Bowdler LLP Wolverhampton, Bridgnorth
- George Green LLP Cradley Heath
- Harrison Clark LLP Worcester
- Helen Mason & Co Rangemore
- Higgs & Sons Brierley Hill
- Knights solicitors llp Newcastle under Lyme
- Lanyon Bowdler Shrewsbury, Telford
- Plexus Law Evesham
- Weightmans LLP Birmingham
- Wright Hassall LLP Leamington Spa
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- Alsters Kelley LLP Leamington Spa
- Brethertons LLP Rugby
- Capsticks Birmingham
- Hatchers Solicitors LLP Shrewsbury
- KJD Freeth LLP Birmingham, Stoke on Trent
- Keelys LLP Lichfield
- mfg Solicitors LLP Kidderminster
- Sydney Mitchell Birmingham
- Thompsons Solicitors LLP Birmingham
- Thursfields Kidderminster
- W H Law LLP Dudley
‘Leading individual’ Nicholas Jew heads DLA Piper UK LLP’s team, which acts for Selfridges, IMI and Kodak. Highlights included Karen Macpherson advising Wipro Technologies on the employment details of various outsourcing deals. Sandra Wallace has a ‘no-nonsense, pragmatic and commercial approach’, and offers ‘knowledge and advice that is extremely valuable’. ‘The time the team invests into building client relationships sets it apart from much of the competition.’
Eversheds LLP’s team is credited as ‘knowledgeable and personable’. Its client base includes Centrica, Rolls-Royce and Diageo, and recently expanded to include Imperial Tobacco and Johnson Controls. The group advised Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council on the introduction of Single Status terms and conditions. David Beswick is a clear market leader, and Mark Hammerton is recommended as ‘professional and very knowledgeable’.
‘Absolute class act’ Linda Jones at Pinsent Masons LLP is regularly identified as one of the best employment lawyers in Birmingham. The group advised Asda on the employment aspects of its bid for Netto Foodstores, and subsequently represented Asda on the required disposal of 47 stores. Senior associate Charles Rae is a ‘personable and experienced lawyer’, and comes highly recommended.
Wragge & Co LLP has been busy advising on employee investigations and restructuring work, as well as handling day-to-day employment work for public and private sector clients. Jane Fielding and Jonathan Chamberlain are both well respected, with Fielding recently advising the Kennedy Trust on moving the Kennedy Research Institute of Rheumatology from Imperial College London to a new research centre. Martin Chitty is a ‘key standout’.
Cobbetts LLP’s team provides ‘advice that is down to earth and well thought through’. The team successfully appealed race findings for a large PCT, and advised a housing association on the restructuring of its senior executive team. Ashley Norman ‘provides innovative ideas’, and Kathy Halliday is recommended for matters in the housing sector.
At Gateley, ‘a partner is always available and the advice is excellent’. The group is representing BT in employment tribunal litigation, and acting for the Pertemps Group on contentious matters and strategic issues. Victoria Garrad ‘sees things from the client’s perspective and gives honest guidance that is valued highly’.
Martineau’s clients credit the ‘legal interventions made by the group with adding significant value’, and cite the ‘proactive, practical and pragmatic approach’ as crucial to ‘steering matters to a successful conclusion’. The team recently advised a university on the closure of two schools and the creation of a new school. David Faulkner, Jane Byford and Ben Thornber are ‘concise and pragmatic’.
Squire Sanders Hammonds is ‘very accessible, has quick turnaround times and provides very commercial advice’. Charles Frost recently advised Aston Villa FC on the contract for its new manager, while Ramez Moussa advised The Doyle Collection on various reorganisations. New clients include Game and Satmetrix.
Mills & Reeve LLP’s Jog Hundle and Martin Brewer ‘go the extra mile, give an answer instead of a set of options, are extremely responsive, are not afraid of a challenge, and make clients feel safe’. The team gained its first instructions from the University of Manchester and NHS West Midlands.
Shakespeares’ team acts for clients such as Red Bull and Birmingham City University, and gained further strength through the firm’s merger with Needham & James. The team defended a manufacturing company in tribunal against claims of unfair dismissal, equal pay, and sex and disability discrimination. Simon Gilmour is the key contact.
Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP develops ‘good working relationships’, and provides ‘advice that is timely and appropriate’. Simon Ramshaw is now part of the employment team, which is headed by Stephen Dalling.
Averta Employment Lawyers is a leading firm for executive severance work, and recently secured a £1.5m severance package for a CEO of a major plc within seven days of being instructed. David Sykes is ‘supportive, knowledgeable, easy to work with, and goes the extra mile’; ‘remarkable negotiator’ Rachel Broughton is ‘very meticulous and responsive’; and Alan Jones is ‘particularly good’.
Hill Hofstetter LLP’s Ranjit Dhindsa is ‘responsive, quick to learn the business scenarios, and incredibly thorough’, as well as having a ‘good hands-on approach to problem solving’. The team mainly acts for US, French and German clients in the logistics, manufacturing and engineering sectors.
Irwin Mitchell LLP delivers a ‘first-class service and sound legal advice from an experienced team at a very reasonable price’. Fergal Dowling is ‘prompt and accurate’, and associate Ami Sanghera is ‘someone you always want fighting your corner’. Chris Piggott joined from Clarke Willmott LLP.
Richard Santy took over as head of employment at Shoosmiths following the departure of Rebecca Sawbridge to Freeth Cartwright LLP. The firm advised Accord Housing on changing the terms and conditions for all its employees. Rebecca McGuirk ‘understands company issues and is not too risk averse’.
Bevan Brittan LLP predominantly acts for public sector clients, with a particular emphasis on the health sector. Sarah Michael’s team advised a number of NHS trusts on equal pay litigation.
Browne Jacobson LLP’s team advised on hundreds of equal pay claims against NHS and local authority clients. Iain Patterson ‘gives sound advice that is intelligible to non-lawyers’.
Clarke Willmott LLP is ‘good value for money’. The group advised Trane on a redundancy programme, and also acted for clients such as Cotswold Lifts and Capital Dynamics.
FBC Manby Bowdler LLP advised a construction client on the employment issues regarding a restructuring, and acted on a number of complex discrimination claims. Tracy Worthington and Alasdair Hobbs are the key contacts.
George Green LLP ‘offers a cost-effective service coupled with a practical and pragmatic approach’. Tim Lang is ‘hugely knowledgeable’. Clients include Thyssenkrupp Aerospace UK and Dudley College.
Harrison Clark LLP advised a client with over 500 employees on changing its contracts, and successfully defended a client against a race discrimination claim. Richard Green leads the team.
Helen Mason & Co recently advised a large engineering client on redundancies, and successfully represented Showcase Cinemas in an appeal. Helen Mason is recommended.
Higgs & Sons has a significant presence in the transport, haulage and brewing sectors. Tim Jones’ team represented Marston’s in a race discrimination claim.
Knights solicitors LLP currently acts for two Premiership football clubs and Bet365. Isabel Hancock successfully defended a chain of retail stores in a case alleging sex discrimination and breach of entitlement to request flexible working.
John Merry’s team at Lanyon Bowdler advised Zwanenberg Food and Grocontinental on TUPE issues, as well as representing a number of prominent clients on changes to their executive boards.
Jennifer Jones’ team at Plexus Law (formerly Everatt & Company) is ‘extremely knowledgeable and offers a practical approach’. The team is handling a significant number of equal pay claims for NHS bodies.
Tim Lang’s ‘commercially focused’ team at Weightmans LLP ‘delivers cost-effective, timely solutions’. Jane Hobson inspires ‘confidence in her ability to deliver what clients require’.
Wright Hassall LLP is best known for its contentious employment work, and recently defended a number of clients facing unfair dismissal and discrimination claims. Ian Besant and Suki Harrar are recommended.
Health and safety
Health and safety
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- DLA Piper UK LLP Birmingham
- Eversheds LLP Birmingham
- Pinsent Masons LLP Birmingham
- Wragge & Co LLP Birmingham
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- Beachcroft Birmingham
- Bevan Brittan LLP Birmingham
- Gateley Birmingham
- Irwin Mitchell LLP Birmingham
- Kennedys Birmingham
- Martineau Birmingham
- Mills & Reeve LLP Birmingham
- Shoosmiths Birmingham
- Squire Sanders Hammonds Birmingham
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- Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP Birmingham
- Buller Jeffries Birmingham
- Keoghs LLP Coventry
- Plexus Law Evesham
- Weightmans LLP Birmingham
Roy Tozer, frequently singled out as one of the top health and safety experts in the region, leads DLA Piper UK LLP’s ‘first-rate’ team. The group successfully concluded the Buncefield case on behalf of Total UK, and has since been involved in a number of fatality cases.
Eversheds LLP’s David Young has a strong reputation as one of Birmingham’s leading health and safety experts. His team represented Hertfordshire Oil Storage in the Buncefield case, and defended Marks & Spencer against HSE prosecution regarding its asbestos management regime during refurbishments at several stores.
Senior associate Sean Elson at Pinsent Masons LLP successfully defended Stephen Luckett, a crane operator, against a charge of manslaughter, and is currently representing a member of the UK Constructors Group in an ongoing investigation by the HSE.
Wragge & Co LLP was appointed as the sole health and safety adviser to a manufacturing company with a turnover of nearly £2bn, as well as picking up instructions from a local authority, a property management company and an aerospace company. Andrew Litchfield leads the team.
Beachcroft ‘always seems to be on top of the job’ and is ‘proactive instead of reactive’. The group handled a number of high-profile prosecutions, including two appeals. Andrew Roach is ‘vastly experienced in health and safety law and backed by a good team of solicitors’.
Adam Kendall’s team at Bevan Brittan LLP won the tender to provide training to the Health Protection Agency on legal issues surrounding major disasters. The group also handles all health and safety matters for Amlin’s insureds.
Gateley has notable expertise in construction-related health and safety work, acting for a number of major developers. Practice head Ruth Armstrong’s ‘strength is in her knowledge, dealing with the authorities and communicating with her clients’.
Irwin Mitchell LLP’s David Egan is ‘very knowledgeable, very quick and gives reassurance at all stages’. The group handled a number of claims involving manslaughter investigations, and work-at-height and asbestos related prosecutions.
James Shrimpton’s team at Kennedys handles health and safety work for a strong insurance client base, acting for clients such as ACE, Chubb and Fusion. The firm is currently representing a number of clients facing HSE prosecution.
Martineau represented a number of clients facing HSE prosecutions in relation to serious agricultural accidents, machine safety issues and asbestos management. Andrew Adams heads the team.
Mills & Reeve LLP is currently representing a client in an HSE inquest into the death of an individual crushed in a lift shaft, and is also acting for a client being prosecuted for alleged breaches of asbestos regulation. Associate Duncan Astill is recommended.
Shoosmiths’ clients are pleased with the ‘professional support and knowledge the team brings to the table’. Clients include Calor Gas and Interfiora. The firm sits on the London, Midlands and South East HSE prosecution panels.
Squire Sanders Hammonds counts the Engineering Employers Federation and the British Printing Industries Federation as clients, and in 2010 was appointed to the health and safety panels of EDF and Kier. David Gordon joined from Eversheds LLP.
Pensions
Pensions
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- Squire Sanders Hammonds Birmingham
- Wragge & Co LLP Birmingham
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- Eversheds LLP Birmingham
- Pinsent Masons LLP Birmingham
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- DLA Piper UK LLP Birmingham
- Gateley Birmingham
François Barker’s team at Squire Sanders Hammonds includes a number of top lawyers. Sarah Franklin ‘provides clear and practical advice’; Matthew Giles ‘demonstrates very high levels of skill and expertise’; Philip Sutton has ‘considerable knowledge and experience’; Ian Forrest is ‘excellent at putting legal jargon into plain language’; and Emma King, the firm’s national head of pensions disputes, is also recommended.
At Wragge & Co LLP, ‘the service is excellent, knowledge and experience is first rate, and work is completed on target’. The group acts for pension schemes such as Philips Pension Fund and Mitchells & Butlers Pension Plans, and corporates such as United Biscuits and Premier Foods. Richard Black is ‘solid and pragmatic’, and Glyn Ryland, Richard Lee and Paul Carberry are all highly recommended.
Eversheds LLP was appointed to advise the trustees of Stein Atkinson Stordy Pension and Life Assurance Scheme, and acted for Holden UK Retirement Benefits Plan on the scheme’s merger with the ICI Pension Fund. Liz Fallon is ‘good at explaining and executing work on complex pension issues’.
Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘strong, balanced team’ is ‘pragmatic, quick to respond, well networked and extremely valuable’, with Daniel Shelley singled out as ‘particularly good’. Clients include Cadbury Pension Scheme, AXA and GKN Group Pension Scheme.
DLA Piper UK LLP acted for Finning on the pension issues arising out of the sale of Hewden Stuart, which included three occupational pension schemes, and assisted Kodak in valuing its UK pension plan. Helen Miles heads the practice.
Michael Collins’ team at Gateley won a number of new clients, including Montpellier Pensions Administration Services and ArjoMed. The group is advising a retail client on an offer of an on-off increase to members’ pensions in exchange for surrendering entitlement to further increases over the statutory minimum.