Leading Partners

Employment: Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire in South West

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

With a client portfolio comprising regional, national, and international businesses, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP covers the full gamut of employment issues. Sara Wilson helms the practice and has a growing focus on the healthcare sector in addition to being a go-to advisor for high-net-worth individuals. Another key contact in the group is Kelly Evans, whose expertise covers whistleblowing, business transfers and grievance issues, amongst others. Syma Spanjers left the firm for an in-house position in April 2024.

Practice head(s):

Sara Wilson


Other key lawyers:

Kelly Evans


Testimonials

‘The employment team at Charles Russell Speechlys is incredibly easy to work with. They always respond promptly and provide good, pragmatic, commercial advice which is invaluable.’

‘Sara Wilson and Kelly Evans are excellent in their field and have provided timely and excellent advice whenever we have needed it.’

‘They are just so easy to deal with, friendly and personable, but with superb advice. I cannot prosper them highly enough.’

‘A willingness to listen to a unique issue.’

‘The employment team has a great knowledge and understanding on employment law, are always able to discuss matters diplomatically to enable the right course of action to be taken.’

‘The team’s strengths are their ability to quickly understand a specific issue and clearly guide us through the process to get resolution. They are quite specific and direct in their feedback as to where the risks are.’

‘Sara Wilson stands out for how knowledgeable and helpful she is in helping us resolve complex issues. She digests information quickly.’

‘The team offers comprehensive employment law guidance, ensuring that our employer practices adhere to legal requirements and best practices. The expertise of the associates we have worked with provides assurance that our documentation and approach to employee relations cases are aligned with industry standards.’

Key clients

Plymouth Citizens Advice


Sotheby’s


Neal’s Yard Remedies


Zenzero Solutions Limited


Framatome Limited


PCC of Holy Trinity Brompton


Alpha International


Neal’s Yard Remedies


Sony PlayStation


Work highlights


  • Continued to advise Sotheby’s in relation to its employment matters.
  • Continued to advise a well-known retailer in relation to its employment matters.
  • Advised Zenzero Solutions Limited as part of a broader cross-office team in relation to four bolt-on transactions.

Clarke Willmott LLP

Clarke Willmott LLP‘s diverse client portfolio benefits from the firm’s ability to advise on standalone employment matters as well as those intersecting with other practice areas, such as data protection and corporate. The practice is particularly popular with businesses and employees active in agriculture, education, retail, and manufacturing. Paula Squire heads the Taunton employment team and Marc Long oversees the national practice out of Southampton. Katy Ponsford left the firm in June 2023, while Kathryn Walters joined from Osborne Clarke LLP in July of the same year.

Practice head(s):

Paula Squire; Marc Long


Other key lawyers:

Kathryn Walters


Testimonials

‘They were very supportive of mental and physical health needs. Even at the hearings they would pre-warn the judge of my need to take a break due to my health condition. The practice is the best I have experienced.’

‘I cannot praise Paula Squire enough, she found justice for me. She also took the time to understand the complexities of the care sector. I have rarely seen this in a solicitor.’

‘Paula Squire’s legal practice stands out due to its exceptional attention-to-detail and personalised approach, ensuring a deep understanding of clients’ situations and goals. The team’s responsiveness and commitment to keeping clients informed highlight their dedication to excellent service.’

‘The individuals in Paula Squire’s team distinguish themselves through a unique blend of sensitivity and professionalism, particularly when navigating challenging discussions. What sets them apart from competitors is their ability to handle delicate matters with ease, ensuring these conversations feel less daunting for clients.’

‘A comprehensive team with specialisms across the board, leading to a well-rounded team offering.’

Key clients

Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust


Acheson Construction Ltd


BMR Solutions Ltd


BioCare Limited


Powersystems UK Ltd


Sunlife Ltd


Leweston Farm LLP


Cardstream Services Ltd


Roland DG (UK) Limited


East Devon District Council


South Somerset District Council


Hestercombe Gardens Trust Limited


Amica Care Trust


Summerfield Developments SW Ltd


Chelston Park Nursing and Residential Home Ltd


Brean Down Caravan Park


Abbey Manor Group Ltd


Branston Ltd


Plus One (South West) Ltd


Milsted Langdon LLP


Refresco Beverages UK Ltd


St Margaret’s Hospice Somerset Ltd


Wyke Farms Ltd


Severn Delta Ltd


Chatham Clothing Ltd


Greenslade Taylor Hunt


Warren Farms Holiday Centre Ltd


Northam Farms Ltd


National Farmers Union


J & K Aquatics Ltd


Ocean Estate Agents Ltd


Management Consultancies Association Ltd


R.J. Heathman (Contractors) Ltd


UTAC Ltd


Plantforce Rentals Ltd


YMCA Somerset Coast


University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust


Cooper Associates Group Ltd


Tweenhills Farm & Stud Ltd


Teddy Mountains (UK) ltd


Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club Ltd


Albert Goodman LLP


Freedom Dairy Systems Ltd


Goonvean Holdings Ltd


Geckoella Ltd


Veja Faire Trade Sarl


White Lake Cheeses Limited


Pennard Hill Farm Ltd


Prestige Profiles Ltd


Laines Consultancy Ltd


Gundenham Dairy Limited


Briarwood Products Limited


Work highlights


  • Assisted the Bridgwater & Taunton College Trust in negotiations with trade unions, outsourcing and charity advice, policy provision and advice on same-sex schools and inclusion.
  • Advised Wyke Farms Limited on various employment law issues related to their large workforce, including modern slavery legal obligations, gender pay gap, equality, diversity and inclusion, recruitment overseas, in-house training and changes to terms and conditions.
  • Advised BMR Solutions Limited on matters including status issues and end-user client demands .

Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Harrison Clark Rickerbys excels across the entire spectrum of employment law, advising SMEs, globally active companies, and individuals. Further to the practice providing corporate support relating to insolvency and M&A in particular, the team has a vibrant standalone employment practice handling complex disputes, exit negotiations, and restrictive covenants. Rachel Roberts leads the team and also acts as deputy head for the firm’s national employment practice; she is well-versed in dealing with TUPE matters, tribunal litigations, and restructurings. Whistleblowing and trade union disputes form part of Catherine Mitchell‘s longstanding experience in this field. Rowena Kay is also a name to note.

Practice head(s):

Rachel Roberts


Other key lawyers:

Catherine Mitchell; Rowena Kay; Ellis Walby


Testimonials

‘This team always provides valuable advice which is clear and concise.’

‘Responsive, attentive, common-sensical, commercial and clear. Loyal and mutual.’

‘Catherine Mitchell understands our business, possesses excellent communication skills, expertise, delivers results and has a very high customer service level.’

‘Commercially-minded, tactical thinkers, but very user-friendly. Their lay clients have total confidence in their work product.’

‘The employment team at HCR is absolutely fantastic. They are always on hand to assist with matters, no matter how big or how small, and give responses without the jargon making their advice as easy to understand and implement as possible.’

‘Rachel Roberts is incredible. She is so understanding and provides a service that doesn’t send you around the houses, unsure of what to do next. Her direct, but friendly and supportive approach is amazing.’

Key clients

Workshop Group Limited


Carmuge


Pertemps Recruitment Partnership Limited


Direct Wines Limited


SPTS Technologies Limited


Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureaux


Weston College


South Gloucestershire & Stroud College


Safran UK limited


Ruroc Limited


Work highlights


  • Provided Pertemps with comprehensive legal advice relating TUPE queries, holiday pay issues, and agency worker regulations issues.
  • Advised Direct Wines Limited on employee relations and restructuring matters, with a significant piece of advice on wage calculations and working time.
  • Advised on the employment aspects of a London-based sale.

Willans LLP

Willans LLP continues to field a strong practice with strengths across the entirety of employment matters, ranging from senior-level severances to TUPE matters and internal investigations. The firm also has a dedicated business immigration sub-team, and is particularly specialised advising clients in the tech, high-end engineering, and charity sectors. Lead partner Matthew Clayton complements his employment experience with strengths in ancillary areas such as data protection. Jenny Hawrot is another key name focusing on both contentious and non-contentious issues including whistleblowing claims and contractual work.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Clayton


Other key lawyers:

Jenny Hawrot; Hayley Ainsworth


Testimonials

‘The team are all really helpful, responsive, practical and supportive. They strike a perfect balance between ensuring appropriate advice is given and thinking through what’s practical and realistic within an organisation.’

‘Matthew Clayton is exceptional – calm, reassuring, practical, knowledgeable and incredibly supportive. I honestly don’t know what we would do without him.’

‘Working in partnership with Willans gives us peace of mind for our business when acting in the best interests of our clients. I feel we get honest, up-front advice from the legal team, and they work collaboratively with us to ensure we are putting our clients first.’

Key clients

Gloucestershire Constabulary


ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute


Commercial Limited


International Corporate Governance Network


Ecctis Limited


Caring for Communities and People


HR People Support Limited


Advanced Vehicle Systems Limited


Marchants Coaches Limited


Rappor Consultants Ltd


Delphix Software Ltd


Excelerate Technology Ltd


Randall & Payne LLP


The Dean Close Foundation


Cobalt Health


Hobbs House Bakery Limited


Viper Innovations Limited


Astreya Limited


Hydro Aluminium UK Ltd


Martha Trust (Hereford) Ltd


Good Sustainable Retail Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Caring for Communities and People on potential TUPE issues arising following a successful tender to provide residential care services.
  • Defended Delphix Software Limited against claims of race and sex discrimination and harassment, automatic unfair dismissal and breach of contract.
  • Provided both employment law and business immigration support to Hydro Aluminium UK Limited on its ongoing sponsor duties and management of its sponsored workers.

BPE Solicitors LLP

Praised for its ‘well-informed, comprehensive and thoughtful advice’, BPE Solicitors LLP fields a varied employment practice that is popular with domestic and international clients across sectors including healthcare, insurance, and retail. On the contentious side, the team assists clients with claims before the employment tribunal, High Court, and Court of Appeal, while the non-contentious side includes TUPE, restructurings, and policy drafting. Sarah Lee is the practice head, handling complex litigation alongside advisory work like grievances and transactional support. Heyma Holmes and Chris Aldridge left the firm in 2023 and the beginning of 2024, respectively.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Lee


Other key lawyers:

Steve Conlay


Testimonials

‘Communication is always the most important thing in any relationship. In my dealings with BPE, Sarah Lee has been exceptionally good at ensuring I have the information I need when I need it. She also ensures that a one-on-one conversation is had when it will expediate matters.’

‘I have found BPE Solicitors excellent to work with. In handling a sensitive and complex matter, they have provided well-informed, comprehensive and thoughtful advice at a reasonable price. They are quick to respond to queries and patient in explaining any issues that I have struggled to understand.’

‘Sarah Lee has been excellent in providing clear, accessible advice and very responsive where I have questions or need further advice at short notice. She also recommended a very good barrister for a hearing. I have found her really good to work with and would strongly recommend her.’

Key clients

Totally Plc


Spectrum Medical Group Limited


The Rail Delivery Group


Gloucester Rugby Limited


The Royal Academy of Engineering


The Helping Hand Company (Ledbury) Limited


Community Foster Care


The Prisoners’ Education Trust


Roots Human Resources Community Interest Company


Lilian Faithfull Care


The Smallpiece Trust


AccXel Limited


Satellite Applications Catapult Limited


Tradebyte Software Limited


Weird Fish Limited


Dodo Pub Company Limited


Crown Lift Trucks Limited


Work highlights


  • Defended the client in a race discrimination claim brought by one of their senior clinical doctors.
  • Settled a long-running collective consultation case, brought by Unite the Union and 18 claimants on behalf of our client.
  • Provided employment advice and support to longstanding client on a multi-million-pound series of acquisitions in the insurance sector.

Porter Dodson LLP

With a focus on care and medical sector clients, Porter Dodson LLP's team is active in standalone employment matters. It also frequently works closely with the firm’s corporate and commercial property teams to support clients across a broad-range of issues, such as grievances, transactions, and TUPE business transfers. Yeovil’s Sarah Young leads the team jointly with Laura Roper in Taunton.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Young; Laura Roper


Other key lawyers:

Kate Shawcross


Testimonials

‘They give clear concise advice that is commercially considered.’

‘Straightforward advice that is easy to understand and make decisions based on.’

‘I have found Kate Shawcross to be proficient and very numerate with complex Schedules of Loss.’

‘Sensible and pragmatic advice. Work well together as a team.’

‘Easy to talk to and explain things well.’

‘We have used the services of Porter Dodson since 2011. They have, and continue to be supportive, professional and key in our ability to be effective employers. Their knowledge, experience and advice have supported us through some difficult matters with positive resolutions.’

‘Portor Dodson has strength-in-depth as a team. They communicated well with us and kept us updated clearly and explained issues in a way that provided clear options to be considered.’

Key clients

Toolstream Limited


AJ Wakely & Sons


Pitt Godden & Taylor LLP


Summerfield Developments


David & Charles Limited


AH Warren Trust (Holdings)


Oakfield Academy


DB Foods


Meyers Group


Tone Valley Service


Coneygar Lodge


Taunton Road Medical Centre


Preset Calibration


Somerset Landscapes


Quantock Vale Surgery


Cranleigh Gardens Medical Centre


Grove House Surgery


Polden Hill Vets


Work highlights


  • Advised AH Warren Trust (Holdings) Limited on the employment implications of the sale of Coombe Farm Retail to Eversfield Organic.
  • Advised the client on the employment implications of the sale of a prominent hotel.
  • Advised a manufacturing business in relation to the employment implications of its disposal of part of its business for £14m.

Stone King LLP

Stone King LLP stands out for its strengths advising clients in the education and charity sectors on employment matters. The firm has a varied client portfolio which also spans industries such as transport, hospitality, and logistics. Practice head Craig Vincent is active in the firm’s Leeds and Manchester offices, while the South West group is based in Bath and includes education specialist Jean Boyle as well as Peter Woodhouse, who is experienced across the full range of employment work.

Practice head(s):

Craig Vincent


Other key lawyers:

Jean Boyle; Peter Woodhouse; James Barratt


Testimonials

‘Stone King offers a completely comprehensive service from advice with difficult parents, SEND-related issues, school transfers and all employment issues. They explain things really clearly, never judge or confuse.’

‘They explain clearly, using good analogies and not legal jargon. They never judge, even when you have made mistakes, and always give sound and fair advice. They teach you ‘the good practice’ way of doing things and always provide templates and check any work produced.’

‘Always calm and approachable. Jean Boyle is excellent, as is James Barratt. I have dealt with both many times. I literally could not do my job without them.’

‘The team is always very quick to respond and always provides detailed and professional advice and guidance. Our organisation feels very supported by Stone King, and in turn empowered to make fair and informed decisions.’

‘James Barrett supported us in a recent tribunal case. Thanks to his knowledge and expertise we were able to navigate through the process confidently. James correctly identified the weaknesses in the case and subsequently the options available to us, resulting in the case being thrown out.

‘James Barratt is excellent. A pragmatic lawyer, he communicates well and has a strong grasp of both the law and the facts in any given matter.’

‘Personalised support and guidance from James Barratt during a difficult employment case. Continuous communication and explanation regarding the case.’

‘Stone King’s employment law team has provided excellent advice and service to our organisation for several years now. They are highly responsive, empathetic, pragmatic and have a deep understanding of our sector (education).’

Key clients

Future Academies


Futura Learning Partnership


St Columba’s College


King Edward’s School, Bath


Kingswood School


Causeway Charitable Services


United Learning and United Church Schools Trust


Family Action


St John Ambulance


Felsted School


The Futures Trust


Trinity High School


Red Kite Learning Trust


Oakhyrst Grange School


The Vines Academy Trust


Hope Learning Trust


The Fitzwimarc School Academy Trust


The Richmond Upon Thames School


Headline Pictures


Unity Schools Partnership


Altus Education Partnership


Ethos Academy Trust


Wilsons

Praised for its ‘depth of knowledge and strategic thinking’Wilsons advises companies and individuals in a broad-range of matters relating to trade unions, data protection, TUPE transfers, as well as providing employment training for clients and assisting on corporate transactions. Anthony Edwards leads the team and has longstanding experience that covers the entire employment life cycle from recruitment to exit.

Practice head(s):

Anthony Edwards


Other key lawyers:

Sophia Zand; Natasha Letchford


Testimonials

‘The team understands the education sector and therefore the issues that schools face. The team is very reactive and always provides responses and solutions tailored to fit the school environment.’

‘Depth of knowledge and strategic thinking have been instrumental in guiding us through complex legal matters. Their ability to anticipate challenges and provide innovative solutions sets them apart. Plus their meticulous attention-to-detail and strong work ethic have consistently impressed me.’

‘Flexible, knowledge and adaptable. Answer matters very quickly. Great on comms back and forward to us.’

Key clients

Gurr Johns International Limited


Wallgate Limited


Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Benevolent Fund Limited


Foundation X


Charity A


Shareholders of Vessels Value


Daily Dose


Independent School D


Work highlights


  • Acted for the shareholders of VesselsValue Limited in the sale of the company to US company Veson Nautical, LLC.
  • Advised a foundation of five independent schools on defending and successfully settling an employee’s discrimination claim and providing support in respect of an ongoing pay dispute with recognised trade unions.
  • Advised a charity on a number of employment matters, including the introduction of a salary exchange pension and benefits scheme, restructures and grievances concerning discrimination and equal pay claims.