Employment law team expands again | 16 December 09

THE employment law team at Ward Hadaway has had a triple boost, further reinforcing the firm’s position as having the largest employment law team in the region.

Associate Damian Robson and solicitor Mark McKeever (pictured top) have joined the team at Ward Hadaway’s Newcastle office while solicitor Charlotte Ashton (pictured above) has joined the team at the law firm’s Leeds office.

Their appointments mean that Ward Hadaway now has more than 30 specialist employment lawyers on its books, giving it the largest employment law team in the North-East.

The firm is also planning to make further additions to the team in the New Year.

Damian and Mark both join the firm from Dickinson Dees.

Damian has more than six years’ specialist experience in employment law matters and worked in-house at the Engineering Employers Federation for three years before joining Dickinson Dees.

The Newcastle-born Durham University graduate specialises in employment litigation, including employment tribunal representation, and in collective consultation issues.

Damian said: “I am really pleased to be joining Ward Hadaway.

“It is really going places as a firm and it is a people-focused organisation which genuinely understands and provides practical, pragmatic and commercial advice.”

Mark McKeever has two years’ employment law experience and his specialist areas include dismissals, discrimination and redundancy issues and major industrial relations issues.

Mark, a Northumbria University graduate, said: “Ward Hadaway’s reputation for excellence in employment law goes before it so it is great to be joining the firm.

“The team’s guiding principle of providing practical and pro-active advice which employers can use is so important and fits in exactly with what I endeavour to offer clients.”

Charlotte Ashton previously worked in-house at a large UK company.

The Newcastle University graduate advises on a range of employment issues and has experience in defending Employment Tribunal claims including unfair dismissal, breach of TUPE Regulations, sex, race, age and disability discrimination.

Charlotte said: “Ward Hadaway is making a name for itself for the quality and strength of its employment team so I am delighted to be joining that team.”

Joe Thornhill, partner and joint head of employment law at Ward Hadaway, said: “Damian, Mark and Charlotte will add even more strength in depth to what is already the largest specialist employment law team in the North-East.

“With more than 30 lawyers now in the team, we can deal with any issues which clients come across in the employment field both quickly and cost-effectively.

“Employers know they can trust us to provide the right advice at the right time in an area of law which is always changing.”

Ward Hadaway’s employment team advises some of the UK’s leading private and public sector organisations, ranging from major national retailers and manufacturers to NHS organisations and local authorities.

The team also provides an employment law insurance package – Praesidium – which gives vital protection and peace of mind to companies on a range of employment issues.

Ward Hadaway also offers small and medium-sized businesses tailored packages to help provide support on human resources and staffing issues.

* Find out more about our Employment Law services.