The independent verdict
Chambers & Partners
North East
This team is highly regarded for its advice to NHS and local authority clients on tribunal cases, including substantial equal pay claims.
It is also praised for its advice to national and multinational private sector employers on contentious matters.
Clients include Energizer Wilkinson Sword, Sage and over 60 NHS trusts.
Recommended for Commercial Awareness: ‘They make an effort to understand the business and its culture.’
Key individuals: The ‘highly professional, flexible and efficient’ Tim Smith focuses on advising clients in the public sector. He also sits as a part-time employment judge.
Bernard Hodgson provides advice to NHS and local authority clients with an emphasis on contentious matters. He is commended for his ‘good judgement’ and ‘common-sense approach.’
Joe Thornhill specialises in advising clients prior to dismissal.
Damien Robson impresses with his ‘no-nonsense approach to negotiation’.
Yorkshire
This team moves up the rankings this year having earned praise for its advice to significant employers on a range of matters, including employment tribunal claims and TUPE issues.
It recently successfully brought proceedings on behalf of The Oval Group against three brokers who had left the company to join a competitor.
Key individuals: Experienced employment law specialist Harmajinder Hayre is ‘commercially astute’ and has particular expertise in advising clients in the retail, financial services and transport sectors on industrial relations matters.
Richard Port recently joined Ward Hadaway from Clarion. He is praised as ‘an excellent source of advice’. ‘He is intelligent, thoughtful and sensitive to the various issues we need to balance,’ added one client.
(Source: Chambers & Partners UK Guide to the Legal Profession 2012)
Legal 500
The North
Ward Hadaway’s offering extends to both the private and public sectors; clients include over 65 NHS trusts and a plethora of councils across the North East, as well as Asda, Orange and Sage plc.
Joe Thornhill and Bernard Hodgson, who is one of three part-time employment tribunal judges at the firm, jointly lead the team.
Yorkshire
Harmajinder Hayre and the ‘effective’ team at Ward Hadaway advise clients such as Berry & Co and PwC.
(Source: Legal 500, 2011 edition)