Pictured above: (l-r) Jenny Owens, Ian Hartley, Andrew
Forrest, Tim Lang, Zee Hussain, David Summers and Victoria
Duddles
In a bid to improve access to straightforward, fixed-fee
employment legal advice, Weightmans has recruited a further
four experienced employment practitioners from EEF -
The Manufacturers' Organisation.
The former HR and Legal Leader of EEF Midlands Andrew Forrest,
joined the firm's Birmingham Employment team in October 2010 and
his colleagues David Summers, Victoria Duddles, Jenny Owens and Ian
Hartley joined in January 2011.
All five will be based in Weightmans' Birmingham office and from
there will service clients across the Midlands.
In 2004, Weightmans launched its HR Rely product, then known as
Worksure, to provide a straightforward employment law advice
package to businesses nationwide - delivered by a dedicated team of
specialist lawyers on a fixed-fee basis.
Tim Lang, Partner and head of Employment at Weightmans said:
"The recruitment of such experienced practitioners is a real
coup for Weightmans and not least for the dedicated HR Rely team.
Each member brings a valuable new perspective on the challenges and
concerns of HR managers and directors on the ground, having
substantial experience in employment law, training, HR and
Industrial Relations.
"With an established and very positive reputation in the
Midlands, this team will complement our existing offering very well
and ensure that local businesses have the finest employment advice
on their doorstep."
The five are reunited with two former colleagues from EEF, Scott
Withers and Georgina Porter.
On their appointment, David Summers said:
"We are all excited about joining a firm with such an impressive
reputation in the employment law field and are looking forward to
help develop the HR Rely service further.
"Most businesses will at some point, perhaps even regularly,
find themselves in a situation which they should be cautious to
approach without legal advice. When they do ask for help, we want
to make sure that they get it quickly and in a language understood
by all."