A renowned North East commercial law firm has set up a specialist employment law office on Aycliffe Business Park.
Whitehead and Low Solicitors LLP, one of Northumberland’s leading commercial law firms, have opened an Aycliffe office to establish a presence in County Durham.
The Aycliffe team is headed up by Paul Humble, a senior employment lawyer with considerable experience of acting for a wide range of employers throughout the region.
Paul is a solicitor of 16 years standing, and was appointed as a fee-paid Employment Tribunal Judge in 2011. When Paul is not practising law in the North East, he sits as a Judge in Manchester Employment Tribunal on a part-time basis.
Paul Humble, who lives locally, said: “Whitehead and Low want to diversify regionally and establish a presence in the South Durham region. Aycliffe Business Park is a good place to be situated. There is plenty of business growth on the Park, and we’re keen to work with companies of all shapes and sizes and maturities here in Aycliffe. We are employment law specialists and we already act for a range of employers throughout the North East and Yorkshire.”
Paul is joined by Ben Healey, a lawyer of six years who specialises in commercial and employment work, and by Paul Stevens who provides additional support for the employment department. Whitehead and Low also benefit from experienced specialists based in Bedlington, Northumberland including the managing partner John Whitehead who specialises in commercial property.
Whitehead and Low say they are ideally placed to offer expert, face-to-face advice.
“We’re one of the few regionally based law firms to provide a comprehensive human resources and employment law service from qualified lawyers,” Paul added.
“We have a level of employment law expertise that many other law firms can’t offer and we take the time to get to know our clients. We get to know business owners and managers personally and gain an understanding of how their businesses work.
“We provide long-term solutions to clients and meet with them on a regular basis so that they have the assurance of knowing who they are dealing with and that someone is close at hand when a problem rises rather than having to rely upon a faceless individual at the end of the telephone.
“Our approach is to be practical and business focused, resolving employee problems as soon as they arise. A proactive approach can save companies a lot of time and money in the long-run. When things do go awry we can provide experienced tribunal representation so it’s the whole package.”
Whitehead and Low offer an online Human Resources support tool, which allows holidays, absences and disciplinary issues to be administered via an online system. This is designed to simplify staff management and provides a central resource where management and staff can access employment policies and procedures.
Whitehead and Low can provide advice, assistance and representation in respect of the full range of employment law issues, including the following:
• Disciplinary and dismissal procedures
• Grievance procedures and their application
• Performance Management
• Managing long-term illness and capability
• Redundancy and restructures
• Business sales, transfers and the implications
• Contracts of employment and making changes to contractual terms
• Unfair dismissal and discrimination claims
• Breach of employment contract claims
• Working hours and holiday entitlement
• Parental leave and time off for dependants
• Equal pay and minimum wage claims
• Harassment and victimisation in the work place
If you wish to discuss any employment law issues in the first instance you can contact Whitehead and Low’s Aycliffe team on 01325 328850 or email: [email protected] for more information.
