Focus on the Employment team at Clarke Willmott
Our dedicated teams work hard to look after clients, whatever their legal needs. Our broad expertise across the firm means that any one of our lawyers has access to a network of experts who can be recommended to ensure you are receiving the best holistic legal care at the right time.
In this series, we are speaking with our legal experts in particular disciplines, to learn more about their areas of expertise and how they work together to provide exceptional legal care to our clients. In this edition, we spoke to head of our Employment team Marc Long to learn more about his team.
Tell us a little bit about the Employment team at Clarke Willmott
Clarke Willmott’s national employment team is led by partner Marc Long and supported by a team of 14 solicitors and support staff, including partners Jonathon Forrester, Louise Rogers, Paula Squire, Sharon Latham and Tim Copplestone.
A number of our highly experienced team members have been with Clarke Willmott for over 20 years. Marc will also reach this milestone in December this year, having joined the firm in 2004.
How do you support your clients?
We work with owner-managed businesses, SMEs, charities, large-listed companies and other organisations across a wide range of sectors, including sport, education, retail and corporate and commercial.
The team provides support with all aspects of employment law from low-level disciplinaries through to complex TUPE transfers and large-scale redundancies and restructurings. We cover everything employment related, including providing corporate support on transactions.
Our employment solicitors frequently advise on outsourcing and insourcing agreements, ensuring supplier contracts comply with all legal obligations. They collaborate closely with our corporate team to effectively manage employment issues connected with corporate deals, such as mergers and acquisitions, disposals and restructures.
We also work with specialist business immigration providers to help you navigate the best options for employing talent from abroad.
What are some ways that clients can be kept up to date with the latest legal news?
“Myself and my team frequently attend and speak at both in-person and online industry events. Additionally, Paula Squire leads the quarterly HR Lunch Club seminar programme where we discuss upcoming legislation and important workplace issues.
For over 20 years, our specialist employment solicitors have compiled a monthly employment law newsletter (currently titled ‘Employment Matters’), offering clients insight into the latest developments and proposed changes in employment law. I encourage employers to subscribe to the newsletter to receive these updates.”
Most recently, our Employment Matters newsletter looked at what can be expected from the employment law changes proposed by the new Labour government as well as:
- Code of Practice on “Fire and Rehire” practices
- So you think you are paying the national minimum wage?
- Professional sports employment contracts and bonuses
- Checklist: 10 things you need to do when employing staff for the first time
We also offer a free employment contract and handbook review, please reach out to Paula Squire to find out more.
What makes your team stand out?
“Our team is highly responsive, providing employers with practical, commercial and cost-effective legal advice.
We deliver value for our clients. Whilst some lawyers provide very dry advice, our team tries to provide practical advice that actually gets the client to where they want to be. What separates us from our competitors is that we always try to get the job done for a reasonable price, accurately and on time.”
The exceptional service provided by the team is evident in the number of long-standing client relationships with some clients working with the team for over 20 years. By working with Clarke Willmott, you can expect to receive the same level of commitment and dedication that sees so many of our clients return to our employment team.
What are your plans for the future?
Recent team growth has seen the appointment of partner Jonathon Forrester to our Birmingham office. “We have plans to continue this expansion by adding another senior lawyer to our new Callaghan Square Cardiff office and recruiting at a junior level to further support this growth.
We also aim to work more closely with the care home sector which is a growing area for employment law. I believe that the team’s expertise and close collaboration with the Healthcare sector could be highly impactful and important for growth.”
How can potential clients get in touch with Clarke Willmott?
If you would like to find out more about how our specialist employment lawyers can support your business, please contact one of our lawyers directly, call us on 0800 652 8205 or request a consultation.
Clarke Willmott has offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.
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