Employment

Oct 1 2010 The Journal

Dickinson Dees LLP, Newcastle
Eversheds LLP, Newcastle
Watson Burton LLP, Newcastle
Ward Hadaway, Newcastle
Muckle LLP, Newcastle
Thompsons, Newcastle
BHP Law, Newcastle
Browell Smith & Co, Newcastle
Crutes Law Firm, Newcastle
Hay & Kilner, Newcastle
Jacksons Law, Stockton-on-Tees
Mincoff Solicitors LLP, Newcastle
Samuel Phillips Law Firm, Newcastle
Short Richardson & Forth LLP, Newcastle
Sintons LLP, Newcastle
Archers Law LLP, Stockton-on-Tees
Baines Wilson Solicitors, Carlisle
Burnetts, Carlisle
Endeavour Partnership LLP, Stockton-on-Tees
Hayton Winkley, Kendal
Sharon Langridge Employment Lawyers, Newcastle
Stefan Cross Solicitors, Newcastle

Clients are quick to highlight the collaborative approach of Dickinson Dees LLP‘s employment practice, noting that the team “talks through the issues”. The practice handles both contentious and non-contentious work for a predominantly employer client base, including Nissan, as well as public sector bodies. The team advised a German multi-national on the employment law aspects of restructuring its UK operations. Glenn Calvert heads the practice, and clients single out Claire-Jane Nicol who is “always professional, personable and approachable”.

Eversheds LLP’s Simon Loy and Shirley Wright advise a heavyweight array of public and private sector clients on employment law matters, particularly focusing on equal-pay matters for a number of NHS trusts.

Watson Burton LLP fields a “responsive and extremely commercial” employment team which, under the guidance of “down-to-earth employment expert” Christopher Graham, is many clients’ “first choice in any claim”. Recent highlights include advising New Vision on TUPE issues arising out of the implementation of an IT tourism management platform.

2009 saw Ward Hadaway’s team further strengthen its private sector client base thanks to new instructions by Drager Safety UK, joining a client roster that features the likes of Barratt Homes and Sanofi-Aventis. It also handles employment law mandates for public sector clients and was recently appointed to advise on the NHS Procurement North East scheme. Joint heads Bernard Hodgson and Joe Thornhill are recommended.

Muckle LLP further cemented its reputation with increased public sector work and significant client wins including North East Tyres and Exhausts Limited and Internacionale Retail Limited. It defended the latter in a multi-party action in an employment tribunal involving over 70 claims. Clients single out Tony McPhillips’ “particular skill in being able to see the big picture in every small detail”. Chris Maddock and Paul Johnstone are also recommended.

Thompsons has extensive experience advising both individuals and unions on discrimination and equal-pay claims. Iain Birrell is the key figure.

While Graeme Ritzema and the team at BHP Law advises a predominantly employer client base on redundancy exercises, TUPE issues and tribunal claims, it also has the capacity to act for employees at senior executive and management level.

Claimant-only firm Browell Smith & Co acts for both union and non-union members, with the practice’s reputation growing steadily through a number of key victories for its clients. The team continues to act for the GMB in relation to proceedings brought against district county councils.

Although traditionally strong on the public sector side, thanks to its links with local authorities and NHS clients, Crutes Law Firm has seen an increasing focus on private client and SME instructions from the likes of Eaga and General Mills. David Gibson heads the team and was joined in 2009 by Michael Ord from Eversheds LLP.

The “pragmatic and level-headed” practice at Hay & Kilner acts for employer-side clients, who particularly appreciate Sarah Hall’s “practical reasoning and plain, jargon-free commentary”. The team has been advising a number of high-value directors and shareholders this year in relation to their termination packages.

Senior partner Kevin Fletcher heads the employment team at Jacksons Law, which has been advising various NHS trusts on ongoing equal-pay litigation.

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s employment team “can’t be faulted”. In a turbulent 2009 for the practice as a whole, the firm welcomed pensions expert Nick Smith from Ward Hadaway to head up the employment team.

Robert Gibson heads Samuel Phillips Law Firm’s employment practice, which has a strong public sector client base. It acts for the largest NHS trust in the UK and is currently acting for a local authority employee on an unfair dismissal claim.

Short Richardson & Forth LLP’s employment team capped off a strong 2009 with a number of client wins, most notably from the shipping industry, to supplement its already strong offering in the petrochemical and energy sectors. Max Winthrop, Jean-Pierre Van Zyl and John McMullen are recommended.

Sintons LLP has a strong employer client roster that includes Amec Group and Arriva. It acted for the latter client in a significant claim for sex and disability discrimination and unfair dismissal arising out of a redundancy exercise. Christopher Welch heads the team.

Archers Law LLP’s clients report excellent service, with Robert Irons singled out for his “honest appraisal of cases”.

Joanne Holborn’s team at Baines Wilson Solicitors supplemented its strong public sector offering with some new plc client wins. The team acts exclusively for employers.

Burnetts has a particular focus on equal-pay issues in the higher education sector.

At Endeavour Partnership LLP, Julie Bruce is noted for her discrimination expertise, with the team seeing an increase in instructions in this area.

Hayton Winkley handles both contentious and non-contentious instructions.

Name partner Sharon Langridge is the key figure at Sharon Langridge Employment Lawyers.

Stefan Cross Solicitors is a niche practice with a strong reputation for equal pay claims.