Employer clients go to experts at Phillips
Sep 26 2008 The Journal
SAMUEL Phillips Law Firm is again recognised by Legal 500 for its expertise in a number of areas of legal practice for which it has gained national and local prominence. The firm, which was established in 1920, has grown substantially, particularly since the move to the impressive Gibb Chambers in 1998.
Legal 500 has recognised that the firm is well known for its strength in clinical negligence, family and employment and describes Senior Partner Barry Speker as “high profile and respected.”
Managing Partner Robert Gibson heads the employment unit. Sally Lomas Fletcher and Kathryn Rowe also specialise in employment law and Barry Speker is an employment judge in the North East Region.
The unit produces a monthly employment law newsletter online and deals with many high profile tribunal cases.
The department has attracted many employer clients and the firm acts for the Newcastle Hospitals and Northumbria Police. The unit offers an employment protection scheme for employers which has been particularly successful. This gives members full insurance cover against all tribunal claims and awards, as well as keeping members regularly updated on frequent changes in employment law and practice.
Robert Gibson, who is a national leader in relation to NHS equal pay claims, describes the firm’s employment protection scheme as “the best on the market.”
The unit provides a variety of seminars and training course on the many changes in employment law including most recently the introduction of age discrimination and changes in disability discrimination.
The family department is led by the “very practical” Jennifer Goldstein “who has a real eye for detail,” with family law specialists Elizabeth Gallagher, Claire Hunter and Caroline Lewis handling all aspects of family law. Jennifer has particular interest in high value divorce and resolving pension disputes.
The unit also has expertise in pre-nuptial agreements and deals with all aspects of children’s cases including adoption. The firm is the recommended local contact in dealing with child abductions. With five solicitors specialising in family work, the firm is recognised as in the top five in the North East for family law.
The nationally regarded clinical negligence team, again highly rated by Legal 500, is one of the largest in the area. It is headed by Barry Speker and Helen Routledge, both members of the Law Society Clinical Negligence Panel. The experienced Christina Batson has had many high value successes.
The firm has secured substantial damages awards in numerous complex clinical negligence actions and produces a regular publication
advising the Strategic Health Authority.
Barry Speker gives a wide variety of training to health professionals including consultants, general practitioners and dentists and writes widely on medico-legal subjects. He is an expert on inquests and acted on behalf of the organisers of the Great North Run in the inquests into the fatalities in the 2005 and 2006 events. He also handles inquests for Newcastle Hospitals, Northumbria Police and Sunderland City Council.
Paula Scully, with many years of public sector experience in Hong Kong and Australia, has recently arrived to assist in the Medical Law Unit.
Edward Pybus, who was formerly a partner in Eversheds, is a highly regarded property lawyer, with expertise in wills, inheritance tax planning and trusts.
Sandeep Nall and Anna McClean specialise in commercial property and Michael Storey heads the residential conveyancing team. Ingrid Forshaw’s expertise is wills, inheritance tax planning and probate.
The firm’s fully refurbished basement at Gibb Chambers accommodates the enlarged non-contentious department.
In the criminal section the “highly experienced” Stuart Grant is recommended by Legal 500 for all types of criminal cases in particular white collar crime.
Legal 500 2008 also refers to work done by the firm in personal injury (Alan Stobart), civil litigation where the very able Brendan McNeany has been recruited. The firm’s public sector is again recognised.
The firm has maintained its Law Society Lexcel accreditation as well as its Investors in People award demonstrating the firm’s commitment to providing the highest quality of personal service and promoting everyone in the firm to fulfil their ambitions. These are spearheaded by the firm’s Chief Executive David Laud.
Senior Partner Barry Speker said: “We are very pleased at the recognition which the firm has again received from the Legal 500. Our continued aim is to provide expert specialist legal advice and representation coupled with excellent personal service.”
