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Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire

DLA Piper UK LLP provides ‘appropriate guidance’, handling matters ranging from High Court disputes to HR training and restrictive covenant enforcement. The firm recently represented the London Stock Exchange in an unfair dismissal claim, and advised De Beers on the relocation of employees to Africa. Guy Lamb and his team ‘always deliver what is required’, and the ‘approachable’ Adam Hartley gives ‘sensible, commercial advice’.

Eversheds LLP’s team has ‘strong commercial acumen’, and is ‘outstanding’ on both disputes and transactional issues. In 2011, Simon Rice-Birchall defended a national client in a sensitive discrimination claim. Paul Cotton remains ‘best in class when clients need a no-nonsense approach to complex union issues’. Ben Wood was promoted to partner in 2012.

Pinsent Masons LLP is the ‘go-to firm for strategic boardroom disputes’, and is ‘solution oriented’. ‘Technically strong’ practice head Christopher Mordue is an expert in university employment matters and trade union disputes, and the ‘top-notch’ Christopher Booth and Jon Fisher provide ‘market-leading HR services’, and ‘deliver to short timescales’.

The ‘excellent’ team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP focuses on discrimination claims, whistleblowing and TUPE support. It advised Wolseley in relation to boardroom terminations, and Emma Whiting represented Barclays and Network Rail in tribunals. Practice head Rob Riley instils ‘great confidence’.

DAC Beachcroft LLP’s 25-strong team advises regional health employers, insurance firms and retail brands. The ‘pragmatic’ and ‘personable’ Rachael Heenan acted for Chesterfield NHS Foundation Trust in a £4m Supreme Court dispute with a former employee.

Squire Sanders LLP regularly handles internal reorganisations, foreign placements and unfair dismissal cases, under the leadership of Matthew Lewis. It recently added Greggs and TM Lewin to its burgeoning roster of retail clients.

Walker Morris’ ‘cost-effective’ team is led by the 'very commercial' and 'pragmatic' David Smedley. It acts for clients including Moss Bros and Caterpillar in relation to employment tribunals, TUPE transfers and redundancies.

Ward Hadaway’s employment offering grew with Richard Port’s arrival from Clarion. Harmajinder Hayre heads the group, which regularly acts for retail and financial services clients in relation to TUPE litigation and complex dismissals. Asda and FedEx UK are key clients.

Blacks Solicitors LLP recently won new instructions from a UK accountancy firm and a national hotel group. Chris Allen oversees the five-fee-earner team.

Cobbetts LLP’s recent highlights include advising Jones Lang LaSalle on a £27m TUPE transfer. Other mandates included defending certain local authorities in equal pay litigation, and representing the Home Delivery Network in employment tribunals. Ronald Drake and Philip Harman are recommended, alongside practice head Jim Wright.

DWF LLP’s client roster includes DHL and several regional colleges. The team has eight fee-earners, and is led by Matthew Yates.

Brian Harrington heads Denison Till’s four-strong team, which represents landed estates and large employers in the region, including the UK branch of Icelandic Group. It handles matters such as company restructuring, HR training, and executive disputes. Tiggy Clifford is also recommended.

The ‘fantastic’ team at Ford & Warren regularly acts for NHS trusts and other public bodies, and is led by Keith Hearn. Ben Daniel provides a ‘good balance of legal and operational perspectives’.

Gordons LLP counts Morrisons as a longstanding client, and also acted for new client Bosideng UK, the Chinese clothing retailer. Group head Philip Paget is recommended, along with Paul Stokey.

Irwin Mitchell’s team saw the departure of Matthew Brain in 2012, and is now led by Glenn Hayes. Key clients include Capita and Age UK.

Langleys Solicitors LLP saw the departure of Nick Sheppard in 2011, but recruited ‘solution-focused’ partner Stephen Elliott from Ward Hadaway. Providing advice ‘virtually on demand’, the firm assists SMEs regionally and nationally in relation to tribunals, redundancies and compromise agreements, and has ‘good technical expertise’.

Louise Connacher’s team at Lupton Fawcett LLP provides ‘value-for-money’ advice, across TUPE issues, director disputes and union claims. It advises clients in the education and printing sectors, among others. Andrew Gilchrist ‘goes the extra mile’ for clients.

Simon Shepherd leads the ‘excellent’ team at Schofield Sweeney, which has strong roots in the education sector. Alexandra Clements provides ‘appropriate guidance’ in a ‘timely and effective manner’.

Thompsons Solicitors LLP’s practice is headed by Marion Batten. The firm represents trade unions including UNISON and Unite.

Employment: Sheffield and South Yorkshire

DLA Piper UK LLP represents clients such as Syco, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Sheffield City Council, in discrimination claims and other employment litigation. Clare Gregory handles TUPE outsourcing issues, and the ‘innovative and pragmatic’ Alan Chalmers is ‘one of the best employment lawyers around’.

The newly merged HLW Keeble Hawson provides ‘legally sound, commercial advice’. The ‘personable’ team is strong in transport, engineering and professional services. Joan Pettingill is ‘particularly recommended’ for her expertise in TUPE and redundancy issues, and Barry Warne is ‘extremely knowledgeable’.

The ‘quick’ and ‘thorough’ team at Nabarro LLP advises on employment issues arising from large corporate acquisitions, and is ‘very good’ in tribunal matters. It includes Equality Act expert Tracey Marsden, who is noted for her ‘constructive advice’. Clients include Coal Mining UK and Sport England.

Howells has built a well-regarded claimant practice under Pam Kenworthy, and has vast experience in disability discrimination cases.

Irwin Mitchell’s Liesel Whitfield recently represented Age UK in an age discrimination case at the Supreme Court.

Taylor & Emmet LLP provides ‘impressive advice’, handling dismissals, discrimination claims and employment regulation. David Poddington is a ‘voice of reason’, and ‘extremely diligent’ associate Jenny Arrowsmith instils ‘absolute confidence’ in clients.

Andrew James heads Thompsons Solicitors LLP’s Sheffield team. It represents trade unions including Unite, the PCS and the GMB.

Wake Smith LLP provides ‘swift assistance’ on employment issues, acting predominantly for SMEs within manufacturing and the arts. Mark Serby displays a ‘high level of ability’ in serious disputes.

Employment: Hull and East Yorkshire

Andrew Jackson is particularly active for clients in the sports and shipping sectors, and also acts for quasi-public bodies. The firm’s expertise includes discrimination claims, reorganisations and compromise agreements. ‘Highly respected’ associate Lee Whiting is an ‘absolute professional’, with a ‘first-class knowledge base’. Jonathan Dale heads the team, and Mary Walker is also recommended.

Donna Ingleby took over the reins of Rollits LLP’s employment team, after Neil Maidment left in October 2011 to become an employment judge. The firm is regularly instructed by charities and local authorities in relation to collective redundancies and TUPE matters. Associate Edward Jenneson is also recommended.

Gosschalks’ recent mandates include successfully defending a client against discrimination claims, and advising a Yorkshire recruitment company in relation to the Agency Workers Regulations. Ted Flanagan is recommended.

Health and safety

Teresa Hitchcock is DLA Piper UK LLP’s national practice head, with Paul Burnley in Leeds also recommended. The firm has expertise in corporate manslaughter and asbestos cases, and defends corporates in regulatory investigations. Pfizer and Kraft are among its clients.

Eversheds LLP’s ‘exceptionally reliable’ team acts for a number of Yorkshire factories in safety investigations and criminal prosecutions, and it has also advised East Sussex County Council in relation to fatal accidents. David Young heads the team, which includes the ‘highly competent’ Kevin Elliott.

Nabarro LLP acts in HSE prosecutions and inquests following fatal accidents, and is regularly instructed by blue-chip companies in the energy, chemical and industrial sectors. Lukas Rootman is recommended.

Pinsent Masons LLP gives ‘top-rate’ advice to blue-chip clients in serious health and safety cases. The team is jointly led by Pauline Munro and the ‘highly efficient’ Sarah Taylor, who remains ‘one of the stars of the profession’. It recently defended a managing director in a corporate manslaughter case.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s lawyers have ‘the best possible skills’, and provide ‘swift and comprehensive advice’ of ‘exceptional quality’. Mike Elliker is a ‘consummate professional of the highest order’, and specialises in mining safety prosecutions.

Andrew Jackson’s team is ‘prompt and polite’, and acts for clients across the manufacturing, maritime and oil industries. Jeff Swales is praised for his ‘in-depth’ and ‘accurate’ advice.

DAC Beachcroft LLP has real prominence in the health sector; recent mandates include representing care home provider Dimensions in two Magistrates Court prosecutions concerning employee injuries. The group also advises commercial clients, and is increasingly active in the motor industry. Ruth Winterbottom is recommended.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP’s knowledge of health and safety issues is ‘excellent’; the firm does a ‘great job’ for its clients. Richard Clarke is experienced in PACE interviews and HSE investigations, and Henry Kirkup is a ‘first-class solicitor’.

DWF LLP’s key clients include Aviva and Lidl. The firm advises companies in health and safety investigations, and has seen an increase in corporate killing instructions from insurers. Rupert Nevin is recommended.

Walker Morris assists regional emergency services, national retailers and care home operators in internal accident investigations.

Pensions

Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides a ‘superb level of service to trustees’, and regularly advises blue-chip clients on scheme closures and amendments. Rachel Rawnsley is at ‘the top of her game’, and is an ‘impressive debater’. Her ‘quick’ and ‘impressive’ team is adept in pensions litigation and SIPP matters, with Britvic and trustees of the Asda Pension Plan among its key clients.

DLA Piper UK LLP provides ‘pragmatic and commercial advice’ on matters such as defined benefit pension schemes, and planned mergers and restructures. Vikki Massarano and Kate Payne provide a ‘first-class service’, consistently delivering to ‘extremely pressured timescales when serious issues are at stake’.

Squire Sanders LLP is ‘excellent in the area of pensions law’, with expertise in scheme mergers, auto-enrolment and de-centralisation issues. In 2011 it added Santander and Wakefield County Council to its client list. Catherine McKenna was recently promoted to the role of global pensions head, and the team received a major boost when Anthea Whitton, a ‘lead adviser’ on occupational pensions, joined from Pinsent Masons LLP in 2012.

Eversheds LLP represents employers and trustees, and is very active in Northern Ireland. With particular experience in the regulated utilities sector, the team regularly advises on legacy issues and scheme design changes. Kelda and Bombardier are key clients. Terry Saeedi heads the group, and Claire Carroll was promoted to partner in 2011.

Pinsent Masons LLP provides ‘quality advice’ to large corporates, insurance companies and public sector clients, and Jacqui Timmins is a key contact for trustee work. Mercer and Westfield Health are clients. Anthea Whitton recently left to join Squire Sanders LLP.

The two-partner team at Walker Morris acts for national corporations and trustees on transactional pension matters, complex restructuring, and sectionalised schemes. Trusts specialist Andrew Turnbull heads the team, and Jo Ratcliffe is noted for her experience in Beckmann liability matters.

Wrigleys ‘goes the extra mile’ for trustees, and provides a ‘bespoke service’ that is of ‘a high standard’. Practice head Leigh Holmes is recommended for her ‘clear, concise advice on complex legal issues’, and Raymond Ainscoe is a ‘pragmatic’ adviser.

Cobbetts LLP’s ‘prompt’ and ‘reliable’ five-strong team provides pensions advice in relation to the public sector, social housing and M&A transactions, and is noted for its ‘excellent value’ and ‘clear invoicing’. Richard Shelton heads the group, which includes Patricia Critchley, an ‘understated star’ who provides ‘thorough and clear’ guidance.

Irwin Mitchell provides a ‘good level of service’, and regularly advises corporate pension scheme trustees. Nigel Bolton, who is ‘excellent at simplifying the black letter law’, advised the trustees of the Dyson Group Pension Fund on a reconstruction.

Clients of DWF LLP note its ‘quick responses’ and the fact that it allows ‘direct access to solicitors’. The group advises on trusteeship and small self-administered schemes, and is led by the ‘pragmatic’ and ‘committed’ Mark Ridler.

Kate Buckham is the key contact at Dickinson Dees LLP, and advises employers and trustees on liability management and benefit restructuring.

Craig Engleman leads the team at Rollits LLP. It acts for regional employers, charities, and educational institutions, advising on matters such as benefit restructuring, scheme rule amendments and Pensions Regulator clearance in transactions.

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