Dedication to clients is hallmark of success
Sep 26 2008 The Journal
WATSON Burton has completed another strong year, with real growth across major departments and more promotions to partners and associates than ever before.
Legal 500 reflects the success of the law firm across its three offices in Newcastle, Leeds and London. It tops the leagues in highly competitive areas and attracts high praise for the quality of its client service.
CONSTRUCTION
Legal 500 praises the “ten out of ten” Watson Burton construction practice, which stands alone in first place for the sixth year running in the north of England. Legal 500 singles out head of department Rob Langley for praise, as well as partners Mark Lawton and Roddy Gordon.
Watson Burton opened an office in London in 2006 with a strong focus on construction, international engineering and insurance work because of the growing number of national clients advised by the construction practice.
This year the London office recruited one of the country’s leading construction lawyers, David Jones, who formerly set up and headed Hammonds’ construction and engineering practice in London, to strengthen its presence in the capital.
Legal 500 underlines the national reach of construction law at Watson Burton, and the practice’s strategy of strengthening non-contentious work to balance its established ability in disputes. Rob Langley said: “The quality of work we have won, and number of successful results completed by Watson Burton this year justifies our place at the top of the league. We have the expertise, resources and determination to drive the department forward regionally and nationally.”
EMPLOYMENT
Legal 500 states that Watson Burton’s “ambitious” five-partner employment team has had “a very good year with new client wins.” Those new clients include Teesside Power and the Gill Group.
The Watson Burton employment team is fast establishing itself as the highest profile team in the North with an increasing national profile. Clients have particularly praised practice head Dr John McMullen. Legal 500 quotes him as “the TUPE guru” and believes that his reputation carries the practice far.
The five-partner employment practice team also includes pensions partner Robert O’ Donovan together with Allan Henderson, Paul McGowan and Chris Graham.
This year the employment practice, in a client team headed by partner Paul McGowan, secured a major victory in an Employment Appeal Tribunal on behalf of members of the British Association of Colliery Management. The redundancy conditions of the 350-strong workforce at Ellington Colliery, Northumberland’s last deep mine, were challenged at court. Watson Burton won a judgment at the Newcastle Employment Tribunal against the mine owner, UK Coal, to pay the maximum protective award to all miners put at risk of redundancy. The decision is likely to cost UK Coal £2.5m.
The Employment team advises many higher and further education establishments in an “excellent and justifiably renowned” education practice with a growing portfolio. New education clients this year include ARMA (UK), the national association of research managers and administrators. Watson Burton was appointed as the first retained legal adviser to the association following a national tender.
Dr John McMullen said: “We are delighted to have welcomed new clients and retained the loyalty of longstanding clients this year. Our national reach and reputation has strengthened, bringing the team new, exciting opportunities. Our talented team is fully committed to growing further in the months ahead.”
CLIENT SERVICE
Watson Burton’s first class teams in corporate, commercial property, insolvency, professional indemnity, education, private client, family, sport, IP and IT, public sector, media and entertainment, licensing, charities, banking and finance, energy, environment, planning, property litigation and debt recovery are also highly recommended by Legal 500.
Clients comment on the absolute commitment to superb client service that hallmarks the Watson Burton approach to doing business. Legal 500 has succinctly stated that the law firm is thought by clients to be “excellent; very proactive, more responsive and personable than some of their competitors.”
Senior partner Rob Langley said: “We are a one firm, three-office operation that has driven forward relentlessly to create new opportunities for our staff. We have now established all the bases we planned and are recognised as a national law firm. We intend to continue to grow and nurture our talented staff and loyal clients.
“At the heart of our success is a dedication to excellent client relationships which permeates all our work. Together with the firm’s effective management, it means we can attract and offer first class expertise at competitive rates. That’s proving to be a winning formula for the firm and for our clients.”
