The ‘fair, reasonable, but very sharp’ Emma Phillips heads the department at DLA Piper. Phillips has a wealth of transactional, litigation and cross-border project experience. Sandra Wallace is another leading light who continues to manage an enviable employment client portfolio advising on a whole host of issues from business reorganisations to senior executive management issues. Wallace also has a keen interest in diversity matters. Lisa Hodgson has significant experience in the consumer goods sectors and leads the relationships with a number of well-known names in the high-end retail arena.  In addition, the team garners praise for its high-profile and complex employment tribunal and High Court litigation expertise.

At the Birmingham office of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, Audrey Elliott heads the department that acts for a number of FTSE 100 companies together with various global and Fortune 500 companies. It also acts for several public sector organisations as well as educational institutions. The group is well-equipped to handle tribunal work, labour relations and transactional matters such as outsourcing and business reorganisations. Hannah Wilkins specialises in supporting global companies (especially those in the IT sector), as well as UK plcs, on various employment matters. Principal associate, Michael Hardiman, is a known name for his employment tribunal work and for cross-border expertise.

Headed by Jane Fielding, the team at Gowling WLG advises a vast array of UK and international private and public sector clients on the full gamut of employment, labour and equality matters. It specialises in key sectors such as manufacturing, life sciences, technology and central government. Its contentious expertise covers High Court business protection litigation through to complex discrimination and whistleblowing tribunal claims. Martin Chitty acts for some of the UK’s largest housing associations and retailers - he advises on all areas of employment law while overseeing the team’s work on corporate transactions. Jonathan Chamberlain  has particular expertise in advising on business protection issues.

The large employment practice at Pinsent Masons LLP has a stellar reputation for its work with local, national and international household name clients. Under the joint leadership of Jonathan Coley and Helen Corden, it also acts for over 30 universities. Coley excels at defending strategic and high-value claims that could have a major reputational impact. Corden plays a pivotal role in the practice and is the UK head of Employment and Reward. Corden has particular expertise in TUPE, outsourcing and discrimination matters. Linda Jones has considerable expertise in gender and social mobility issues. Legal director, Rebecca Stephen, advises many clients in the higher education and financial services sectors.

‘Exceptional partners’ Alan Jones  and David Sykes, co-head the ‘highly skilled’ team at Averta Employment Lawyers LLP.  The 'responsive and collaborative' group focuses on the employment law needs of directors, managers, senior executives and other professionals. It thrives on negotiating exit packages, settlement agreements and discrimination claims. The group is active in the private and the public sectors and is also adept at advising on post-termination restrictions and TUPE transfers. Recently, it has seen an increase in corporate and SME work. Consultant, David Beswick, is another known name in the market. Izzy Canning is an able associate.

The versatile team at Browne Jacobson LLP, advises its national and international clients on the full range of employment matters. Key clients include household names, large multi-academy trusts and public and private healthcare organisations as well as central and local government bodies. Peter Jones’ work spans both contentious and non-contentious issues. James Tait  predominantly advises clients in the private sector and has a keen focus on TUPE compliance as well as the protection of trade secrets. Jacqui Atkinson is well-regarded for her experience of advising NHS organisations, trust boards and senior NHS managers.

The ‘professional and practical’ team at Gateley Legal receives plaudits for its ‘solutions focused’ advice. Under the leadership of the ‘commercially minded’ Benedict Gorner, the group receives a steady flow of  high-value and complex instructions. It continues to advise on a number of large-scale projects involving proposed site closures and on complex restructuring deals. Merran Sewell regularly supports clients with complex discriminatory and grievance issues and on change management programmes. Senior associate, Joanne Duck, continues to operate across a broad spectrum of industries including logistics, finance, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, construction and education.

Mills & Reeve LLP fields a ‘strong’ employment team that acts for a large number of high-profile clients across the private and public sectors. It continues to be busy advising on numerous complex employment cases and has provided employment support on many key corporate transactions and projects. Jog Hundle is highly regarded for her work in the health and care sectors. Nick Abbott  is renowned for his work with clients in the education sector. The ‘very well respected’ Richard Santy continues to act for several football clubs and has represented sports governing bodies on some complex cases. Richard Barker is also recommended. Jameel Mann joined the team as a principal associate from Knights plc.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP has considerable strength in the education sector and is particularly adept at advising on international collaborations between UK universities and universities overseas. It is also skilled at advising on large restructuring exercises,  senior management departures and at handling complex employment tribunal litigation. David Browne has particular expertise in the education sector along with Tom Long.  Michael Hibbs is well-regarded for his work across a wide range of sectors including education, logistics, manufacturing and insurance. Matt McDonald is another name to note.

With the ‘very well-respected’ Charlie Rae at the helm at Shoosmiths LLP, the practice receives plaudits for providing an ‘excellent service’. It handles a sizeable employment tribunal caseload for many major multi-national clients and has also significant experience of handling sensitive, senior executive exits in regulated sectors such as financial services. In addition, the group acts for a wide range of clients in the public, private and ‘third’ sectors. Other areas of focus include advising on business reorganisations and complex TUPE matters. Nick Vernon was promoted to the partnership.

Led by Charlie Frost, the team at Squire Patton Boggs garners praise for its ability to ‘always provide timely and practical advice’. It handles the full gamut of employment matters and has increasingly been advising on investigations and whistleblowing claims as well as diversity and inclusion issues. It receives a steady flow of instructions from international and blue-chip companies and has substantial experience in the sports arena too. It regularly advises on complex restructurings and other matters including high-value and complex litigation. The ‘really responsive‘ Ramez Moussa  plays a pivotal role in the department.

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP has a thriving employment practice that has considerable sector strength in the health and social care arena. Under the direction of Anna Dabek, it is also lauded for its experience in the charities and local government sectors along with its expertise in housing and education. The team covers a broad range of issues from advising on strike actions and TUPE matters to resolving employment disputes and advising on working time regulations. Matthew Gregson and Matthew Wort are also well-regarded.

The ‘reliable and responsive’ team at Freeths LLP acts for many key private sector clients as well as a significant number of public and educational sector clients. Rebecca Sawbridge heads the Birmingham employment team and is skilled at advising on all areas of employment law. The group is renowned for its work on complex restructures and TUPE matters as well as matters relating to the ‘gig economy’ and employment status.

The 'responsive’ team at Higgs LLP is headed by the ‘highly rated and excellent' Tim Jones. Jones is particularly recommended for his employment tribunal advocacy as well as for his advice on confidentiality and restraint of trade clauses.  The practice continues to be best known for its advice to SMEs, owner managed businesses and their families, primarily in the West Midlands region.

At the Birmingham office of Irwin Mitchell, Elaine Huttley  is recommended for her work on a wide variety of employment advisory matters and acts for high-street and household name clients. Huttley also has a special interest in advising on the employment aspects of shareholder/director management disputes. Donna Seferta  has a particular specialism in contentious matters and frequently advises on a wide range of tribunal claims such as discrimination actions, whistleblowing cases as well as unfair/constructive dismissal claims.

John Merry  leads a ‘professional and approachable’ team at Lanyon Bowdler  that is lauded for its ‘clear and concise advice’. It specialises in TUPE  issues and is also skilled at advising schools and colleges as well as farmers and growers on various employment matters. Another core area of expertise includes advising Court of Protection appointed deputies and case managers on the employment of carers.

Jane Byford  and Kathy Halliday co-head the department at VWV, which focuses on three key sectors namely education and charities as well as helping its strong commercial client base on a whole host of employment matters. Byford has a wealth of experience of advising universities and FE colleges on employment and HR issues. Halliday is well-regarded for her advice on change management projects and on complex employment litigation.

Weightmans LLP has a strong reputation in the hospitality sector and in local government and police. It has a dedicated equal pay team that is led by Jawaid Rehman  that defends a large number of equal pay claims against public sector organisations. Rehman is also recommended for his handling of cases involving embassies. Andrew Forrest  is an experienced advocate in the employment tribunal.

The employment team at Bevan Brittan LLP has an excellent reputation for its work in the healthcare, housing and local government sectors. In recent years, its work has also expanded more into the private, education and international sphere. Ashley Norman deftly handles a variety of contentious and advisory issues for various large private sector employers and numerous public sector bodies. James Gutteridge is also recommended.

The employment team at Capsticks LLP has ‘unparalleled experience in the healthcare sector and knows how to litigate employment matters concerning NHS trusts’.  Clients include the NHS and private healthcare providers along with clients in the emergency services, medical technology and the housing and social care arenas. At the Birmingham office, Chloe Edwards and Raj Basi are well regarded. Raj Chahal is also recommended and  Jonathan Lewis is praised for his ‘timely guidance and support’.

Heminsley Law is a ‘very sleek set-up’ that is led by Trevor Gibson. It advises companies on a wide range of people risks from employment law to bribery and corruption. The 'accessible' team frequently handles high-risk issues from whistleblowing and complex discrimination cases to IR35, bonus claims and the enforcement of restrictive covenants. Jemma O’Reilly has an excellent reputation too. Another highlight for the team was Simon Stephen joining the firm from Gowling WLG.

Sally Morris  leads a strong team at MFG Solicitors LLP that excels in providing TUPE  advice. It is equally adept at advising on discrimination claims, dismissals and on a whole host of compliance issues. The team is lauded for the ‘consistent quality of its advice’ and Christopher Piggott is another significant member of the department. Clients include UK plcs and Colleges of Further Education. The group also has key sector expertise in diverse areas such as professional services, manufacturing and retail.

Kate Johnson heads the practice at Pickerings Solicitors that  acts for organisations from a variety of sectors such as manufacturing, leisure, care, education and professional services. Johnson covers both contentious and non-contentious matters and has particular knowledge of claims of unfair dismissal, employment status and whistleblowing. Sue Hatton is another name to note for her work on all aspects of employment from recruitment and selection through to termination of employment.

Headed by Emma-Louise Hewitt , the team at Sydney Mitchell LLP has 'excellent legal expertise  and a common-sense approach’. The group provides ‘pragmatic advice’ to both employers and employees on a range of contentious issues. It also advises on other issues such as TUPE and is skilled at drafting handbooks. Dean Parnell  is another key figure who primarily advises companies and very senior employees.

Rebecca McGuirk is at the helm at Trowers & Hamlins LLP. McGuirk has a vast array of experience in advising major private sector clients as well as registered providers and care providers. Other key clients include charities and local authorities. She covers both contentious and non-contentious matters and has particular strength in advising on diverse matters such as trade union issues and strikes; restructures/ reorganisations as well as the ‘exiting’ of senior/ difficult employees.

Wright Hassall LLP continues to be busy advising various employers and employees on tribunal proceedings  as well as dealing with a number of large scale and complex redundancies. Another key focus is advising on settlement agreements for employees. Practice head, Tina Chander,  covers both contentious and non-contentious matters. Chander frequently advises on diverse issues such as TUPE transfers, collective redundancies and complicated high-level terminations.

The employment team at Aaron & Partners LLP, has through Ben Mason , a strong reputation for its specialism in sports-related matters, large-scale restructures, TUPE and corporate support work.  Mason also has a specific focus on financial, IT, manufacturing and the care sector. Chester-based Helen Watson , co-heads the department, and advises clients in the public and private sectors on contentious and non-contentious employment matters.

Jason Alcock and Martin De Ridder co-lead the department at Ansons which continues to be busy advising its commercial clients on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters. It frequently advises on disciplinary and grievance issues as well as cases where there are allegations of discrimination. The group is also skilled at advising on TUPE matters and redundancies.

Tim Lang , (who is also a fee paid Employment Judge who sits in the South-East), leads the employment practice at George Green LLP. It is known for its work with owner managed businesses and for providing support to the firm’s corporate department. The practice has solid experience in TUPE matters and in restrictive covenants/confidentiality litigation. Amy Brokenshire is another primary contact.

Practice head at Hatchers Solicitors LLP is Nigel Harrison, who advises various employers ranging from private limited companies to partnerships. Harrision is skilled at handling all aspects of employment law relating to the modern workplace. He is adept at advising on diverse matters such as  staff retention, redundancies and tribunal proceedings. The group has a particular focus on advising charities, the not-for-profit sector as well as schools.

James Leo spearheads a ‘very helpful’ team at The Wilkes Partnership, which primarily acts for employers as well as senior executives. It covers the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment services. The group covers a broad range of issues from TUPE and discrimination claims to also advising on restrictive covenants. Pam Sidhu has a particular focus on issues surrounding the management of international workforces.

 

Jonathon Forrester heads the department at Thursfields Solicitors, which receives a steady flow of instructions from its corporate client base as well as representing individuals on all aspects of employment law from disciplinary issues to managing senior exits. The ‘pragmatic’ Lisa Kemp frequently handles a range of contentious issues in addition to advising on the employment aspects of corporate transactions.

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Band Hatton Button LLP is recognised locally as having a strong employment department which continues to grow its commercial client base. Under the leadership of Mark Ridley, it has a varied case load of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Ridley is also skilled at conducting Employment Tribunal litigation.

At the Birmingham office of Clarke Willmott LLP , Anna Youngs is a key contact. Youngs mainly acts for employers from both the public and private sectors, on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. In addition, she sits as an employment judge in the South West region.

Head of department at DWF is Kate Meadowcroft, who advises employers on a whole host of employment issues with significant experience in advising on large scale change management projects as well as collective consultation programmes. The team has particular strength in the healthcare, social care and financial sectors.

Pillinger & Associates has a proven track record in the region for advising employers and employees on various employment and HR issues. Amanda Pillinger advises on cases such as unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and breaches of contract.