Chambers & Partners 2008 Employment & Pensions




London

This large and impressive team is respected in the market for its standalone employment capability, which attracts high-profile and interesting work from heavyweight clients such as Pfizer and Honda. The group is "sensible to deal with" and its lawyers "fight good points" when it comes to litigation. Clients are impressed with the team's "recognition of commercial realities and upfront approach." A brand new Cambridge office opened in February 2007, adding to the group's comprehensive coverage of the South, with lawyers operating across London, Cheltenham and Guildford. The department is also looking to grow into the firm's Oxford office. Although increasing its work for employers, the team also acts for high-flyers in the City. The group is increasingly focusing on its international offering and recently handled the employment aspects of Arqiva's purchase of a business from BT that had locations in the UK, France, Italy, Holland, Germany and the USA.

Extremely well thought of, David Green is admired for his "practical resolution of cases." He focuses particularly on TUPE issues and trade union law.

Clients/Work Highlights: Wagamama; Chez Gérard; Caffè Nero; BNP Paribas and ntl.

David Green is ranked in tier 2 of 5 as a leading individual.

Guildford

While this firm is making a push to expand with a new office opening in Cambridge, Charles Russell's Guildford-based practice is developing a reputation across the South East. Acting for respondents and senior claimants, the "thoroughly decent and user-friendly" group is becoming more involved in complex employment tribunals and shareholder disputes. In other work, the team advised on the closure of 35 stores at PRG PowerHouse and the litigation relating to the nationwide redundancies. Hotel, catering and leisure clients are featuring more and more in the firm's workload.

Handling the HR needs of the RCN, Andy Williams' workload runs the gamut of employment disputes and non-contentious work. He is regularly involved in the employment aspects of corporate takeovers. Simon McMenemy heads up the department.

Clients/Work Highlights: Kingston University; RCN; the Alzheimer's Society; Hudson Engineering Services and Alphameric.

Cheltenham

The "pragmatism, creative solutions and flexibility" shown by this team of local employment lawyers is the cause of its leap in the tables. The group provides a "good depth and breadth of experience" to a "quality clientele ," including such names as Sotheby's and Which? Operating as one unit across its five UK offices, the team has been regularly involved in health and safety matters as well as statutory disciplinary and grievance procedures, disability discrimination and workplace stress.

Sarah Jane Turcan leads the team, which welcomed Lucie Fielding to the Cheltenham office from Ashfords in September 2006. The team offers training programmes for Colliers, Language Line Services and Travail Employment Group and has advised Abacus Group on HR issues arising out of a series of business acquisitions and consolidation.

Cambridge

Having attracted a team of bright, local lawyers from Hewitsons to its new Cambridge office, southeast star Charles Russell is not starting from scratch in the East Anglia market. With the local knowledge and expertise of Nick Sayer, Tim Tyndall and Hilary Aldred, the firm is placing a particular emphasis on charities, AIM and start-up clients. Sayer is regularly at the forefront of High Court injunction work whilst Tyndall and Aldred have been handling a rising number of employment tribunals. (The team will officially be based in Cambridge, as opposed to London, from 1 January 2008).

Nick Sayer is ranked in tier 3 of 4 as a leading individual.
Tim Tyndall is ranked in tier 3 of 4 as a leading individual.
Hilary Aldred is ranked in tier 4 of 4 as a leading individual.

Pensions
Kris Weber is ranked in tier 5 of 5 as a leading individual