Buyers guide to legal services

Human Resources

An organisation's greatest asset is its employees. However, it is often also a business's greatest expense and handling staff issues in the correct manner is a critical success factor.
The legal 500 categorises human resources law firms into three categories: employment pensions; and health and safety, split across the West and East Midlands.

Legal Topics

West Midlands
The top category for employment was dominated by Birmingham, with DLA Piper UK LLP, Eversheds LLP, Pinsent Masons LLP and Wragge & Co LLP all featuring.

DLA Piper acts for Selfridges, IMI and Kodak, and in the last year it advised Wipro Technologies on the employment details of various outsourcing deals.

Eversheds advised Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council on the introduction of Single Status terms and conditions, and counts Centrica, Rolls-Royce, Diageo and Imperial Tobacco among its clients.

One of the major deals of the year, Asda's for Netto Foodstores, was a feather in the cap for Pinsent Masons, which advised the buyer on the employment aspects of the deal, and then on the disposal of 47 stores.

Wragge & Co advised the Kennedy Trust on moving the Kennedy Research Institute of Rheumatology from Imperial College London to a new research centre.

The same four firms made up the top category for Health and Safety, while Wragge & Co was joined by Squire Sanders Hammonds in the pensions category. SSH's Sarah Franklin was praised for her "clear and practical advice", Matthew Giles "demonstrates very high levels of skill and expertise" and Philip Sutton has "considerable knowledge and experience".

East Midlands
Five firms made up the top employment bracket in the East Midlands: Browne Jacobson LLP; Eversheds LLP; Freeth Cartwright LLP; Gateley; and Howes Percival LLP.

Browne Jacobson has recently advised in relation to potential strike action and equal pay claims in the education sector, while Eversheds acted for Bradford & Bingley transfer of 1,500 Northern Rock workers.

Freeth Cartwright was described as "cost effective, responsive, pragmatic and has strength in depth" and Gateley has a "focused team of lawyers". Howes Percival was cited as offering "practical and creative advice".

Browne Jacobson was joined by Shoosmiths on top of the health and safety list, but stood alone as the only tier-one firm in the pensions category.

Shoosmiths's health and safety team is led by Malcolm Upfold, with assistants Caroline Steel and Hayley Saunders noted for their "approachability, professional support and knowledge".

Legal 500 top firms

Employment: West Midlands

Level 1

DLA Piper UK LLP Birmingham
Eversheds LLP Birmingham
Pinsent Masons LLP Birmingham
Wragge & Co LLP Birmingham
For the full table click here

Employment: East Midlands

Level 1

Browne Jacobson LLP Nottingham
Eversheds LLP Nottingham
Freeth Cartwright LLP Derby, Leicester, Nottingham
Gateley Nottingham
Howes Percival LLP Leicester, Northampton
For the full table click here

Leading Individuals: West Midlands

David Beswick Eversheds LLP Employment
François Barker Squire Sanders Hammonds Pensions
Martin Chitty Wragge & Co LLP Employment
Ranjit Dhindsa Hill Hofstetter LLP Employment
Liz Fallon Eversheds LLP Pensions
Ian Forrest Squire Sanders Hammonds Pensions
Jog Hundle Mills & Reeve LLP Employment
Kathy Halliday Cobbetts LLP Employment

Leading Individuals: East Midlands

Paula Bailey Howes Percival LLP Employment
Edward Benson Browne Jacobson LLP Employment
Graham Irons Howes Percival LLP Employment
David Potter Freeth Cartwright LLP Employment
John Simon Harvey Ingram LLP Employment