THE 21-partner Newcastle law firm Hay & Kilner has reported another strong year’s performance. The firm attributes much to its personal approach offered across a full range of commercial and personal legal services – leading to Legal 500 recommendations in 22 different work areas.

The firm was praised for its expertise in a large number of fields, including corporate, commercial, insolvency, employment, litigation, clinical negligence, debt recovery and private client.

Building strong relationships with clients is an area in which the firm prides itself. Martin Soloman, senior partner at Hay & Kilner and Legal 500 named leading individual, said: “We provide an efficient and personal service to all our business and private clients.

“Our independently-conducted research tells us we are succeeding in delivering that brand of service, and that it is greatly valued by our clients. We cover a wide range of specialist areas which is shown by our rankings in 22 fields.”

The dispute resolution team at Hay & Kilner, headed by the experienced and professional Martin Soloman, has an extensive capability, with partic- ular expertise in intellectual property, contracts, construction, partnership, railway litigation, judicial review and shareholder claims.

Responding to the increasing recourse to mediation as a means of settling a dispute, the department has been proactive in conducting mediations. Martin Soloman, an accredited mediator, is particularly busy in this area.

The Legal 500 has highlighted Hay & Kilner’s clinical negligence claimant team as one of the market leaders. The firm is one of the few in the region with a clinical negligence franchise.

It has an established reputation for handling complex and substantial cases, and is led by leading individual David Bradshaw, who is a member of the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Panel and also an assessor for the panel.

The firm is active on a wide range of cases including birth trauma and cerebral palsy. The team is fully capable of handling high-value, complex claims, including those arising out of spinal injuries.

Headed by named leading individual Nick James, Hay & Kilner’s corporate team receives instructions on a range of issues, including M&A, corporate reorganisations and MBOs. The team acted for HF Healthcare, the largest privately-owned independent wholesale and retail pharmacy group in the North East, on its sale to Alliance Boots.

The employment team, led by Neil Dwyer, advises on the full gamut of employment matters, from equal pay to unfair dismissal.

An established reputation for contentious expertise means the team regularly garners heavyweight tribunal work and is busy helping employers avoid such proceedings in the current climate.

Neil Dwyer, partner in Hay & Kilner’s employment team, said: “We are taking a number of initiatives to assist employers and human resource managers with the legal complexities of HR management.

“We are busy managing a number of redundancy programmes for our clients, ensuring the process is carried out sensitively and avoiding any pitfalls that could lead to expensive compensation claims.”

In the field of debt recovery, Hay & Kilner helps clients improve their cash flow. The firm has continued to expand its client base and the team works closely with commercial and litigation teams, providing a bespoke service to clients that include newspapers, accountancy practices and major financial organisations, both in the region and nationally.

Hay & Kilner’s seven–strong private capital department is headed by trust and estate expert Kirstin Cook, a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and includes a specialist trust manager.

Private capital work, particularly for the high net-worth client, has steadily grown. The firm has enhanced its established reputation in the field and is receiving increasing levels of referrals from accountants, bankers, independent financial advisers and existing clients.

The breadth and style of personal service and a diverse client base means Hay & Kilner are well-placed to react to the changing market place and they are looking forward to the challenges ahead.