Nottingham-based specialist employment law practice Hutchinsons is set to merge with East Midlands' law firm Nelsons, which will make Nelsons' Employment Group one of the largest dedicated teams in the region.
The agreement to merge follows the decision by Hutchinsons' founder and sole partner, Richard Hutchinson to take up an appointment as a full time Judge at the Birmingham Employment Tribunal.
From 1st April, Hutchinsons' team of experienced lawyers, Jo McCarthy, Rebecca Madden and Mel Morton, supported by Pauline Taylor and Maria Booth, will transfer to Nelsons' Employment Law Group. All personnel, together with cases and client records unless otherwise arranged, will move from Hutchinsons' offices at 9 College Street to Nelsons' Stanford Street offices on 6th April. Richard Hutchinson will also join Nelsons to facilitate the transfer until he takes up his new appointment in May 2010.
Commenting on the merger, partner and head of Employment Law at Nelsons, Andy Jamieson says: "As part of the firm's wider strategy for growth across each of our three East Midlands' offices, the merger with this specialist firm will allow us to expand our employment practice, and extensively consolidate our position as a leading employment law advisor in the region.
"The synergy between the firms is excellent. Both Nelsons and Hutchinsons are recommended by the independently researched directory Legal 500 for specialist employment work, and we share a pragmatic approach to advising clients. The merged team of 11 dedicated lawyers, including two partners, will be a major force in the East Midlands."
Richard Hutchinson, who established Hutchinsons in May 1999, says: "Having made the decision to join the judiciary on a full time basis, finding the right firm to continue to meets the interests of clients present and past, with a high level of personal service and professional expertise, was critical.
"I am looking forward to the new challenge ahead and, having known the firm and individuals involved there for many years, I'm confident that our clients will be in safe hands with Nelsons."
In 2009, Nelsons' Employment Law Group had, despite the recession, one of its busiest years. The team's workload remains strong in the first quarter of 2010, advising on large scale restructuring for a range of companies and assisting with substantial redundancy programmes. The provision of Compromise Agreements and advice on changing terms of employment have also featured regularly in the work done for employer clients. Employment Tribunal work has also kept the firm busy with cases within the region and across the UK. In addition, the team has seen an increase in clients requiring bespoke HR training and has developed a range of employment law advice packages supported with documentation to purchase via the firm's Nelsons Online site.
