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The ‘simply excellent’ 16-fee-earner team at DLA Piper UK LLP, led by Guy Lamb, continues to advise on high-profile matters for AXA and RBS. It received instructions from new client the Yorkshire Building Society in 2010, and won a place on the Lloyds Banking Group HR Panel. Adam Hartley is noted for his ‘no-nonsense, common-sense approach’, and legal director Jane Hannon is an ‘excellent support’.

Pinsent Masons LLP acts for a number of universities throughout the UK, and also counts Aviva, O2 and Northern Rail as clients. The team has ‘excellent industry knowledge’; it includes local employment head Chris Mordue, who has particular experience in the education sector, and national employment head Chris Booth, although the highly rated Philip Titchmarsh has recently left the firm.

Headed by the ‘very experienced and knowledgeable’ Robert Riley, the ‘highly responsive’ team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP handles a significant amount of work for FTSE 100 companies and other national corporates. Emma Whiting is ‘incisive’, and provides ‘excellent, practical advice’.

Beachcroft’s ‘consistently good’ 26-fee-earner employment team extended its reach in the commercial, insurance and local authority sectors in 2010, and sits on several prominent panels, including the BUPA panel. National head of health employment Rachael Heenan heads the department in Leeds.

The ‘first-rate’ Paul Cotton leads the ‘first-class’ 18-fee-earner team at Eversheds LLP, which in 2010 added Network Rail and Kuwait Petroleum to its client list. Simon Rice-Birchall is recommended.

Squire Sanders Hammonds continues to advise Tesco on all its employment matters, and gained Greggs as a client. The ‘strong and very responsive team’ is noted for its ‘pragmatic approach’, and is led by the ‘commercially minded’ Matthew Lewis.

Walker Morris’ employment team has a large private sector client base, and continues to handle instructions for major household names including Footlocker and Netto. The ‘approachable and very practical’ David Smedley heads the team, which provides a ‘first-rate service’.

Led by Ronald Drake, the team at Cobbetts LLP provides a ‘first-class’ service, and in 2010 handled a significant number of non-contentious matters. Philip Harman is ‘excellent’ and ‘very knowledgeable’. Jim Wright recently joined the team from Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

DWF LLP bulked up its employment team with the hire of a new associate from Eversheds LLP and three other lawyers. Recent clients wins include The AA, Countrywide and Vue Entertainment.

The ‘excellent’ and ‘totally client-focused’ team at Ford & Warren handles private and public sector work, and is led by managing partner Keith Hearn. It is instructed by National Express, and recently advised a major union.

Gordons LLP is experienced in tribunal matters. Clients include Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Lloyds Banking Group and Hallmark Cards. Philip Paget heads the ‘excellent’ team.

Matthew Brain leads the ‘high-quality’ Irwin Mitchell LLP team, which in 2010 advised Dr Oetker UK and Capita on TUPE matters.

Louise Connacher manages the ‘excellent’ six-fee-earner team at Lupton Fawcett LLP. Clients include The Card Factory and The Higher Education Academy.

The arrival of Alexandra Clements from Ward Hadaway has bolstered the team at Schofield Sweeney. She and the ‘pragmatic’ Simon Shepherd lead an ‘excellent and very professional’ team whose clients include JD Sports Fashion and a major waste recycling company.

The 25-fee-earner team at Thompsons Solicitors LLP, led by Marion Batten, handles claimant work for union clients, and has five assistants who focus specifically on equal pay issues. Recent work includes successfully challenging the severance payments made to factory employees after a mass redundancy exercise.

Harmajinder Hayre and the ‘effective’ team at Ward Hadaway advise clients such as Berry & Co and PwC.

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