Member Article

Hat-trick of new lawyers join ER experts

Specialist employment law firm and HR consultancy business ESPHR has further bolstered its growth and continuity plans following the arrival of three senior solicitors.

Jayne Nevins, Charlotte Morris and Jessica English bring further decades of legal experience to the organisation’s ESP Law team, which continues to help hundreds of UK firms with complex Employee Relations (ER) matters – especially during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Hailing from south Wales, Jayne arrives with more than 20 years’ experience in employment law and civil litigation – a decade of which was spent at the UK’s leading legal expenses insurance company, DAS.

With further roles at Peninsula and Everett Tomlin Lloyd and Pratt – as well as being a Cardiff and Vale College lecturer in employment law – Jayne wants to help businesses to not only survive a challenging climate, but come out the other side more operationally robust.

“Difficult decisions are being made by organisations on a global scale, so it’s humbling to be able to provide a helping hand to guide them through unprecedented circumstances, and strange new rules and regulations,” she said.

“ESPHR is more than a team, I feel like I’m part of a community. The values held, and the customer service, are both top class – I’m proud to be involved.”

Shropshire-based Charlotte brings a wealth of complex employment law experience following solicitor roles with Lanyon Bowdler, Ellis Whittam and WH Law LLP as well as previously chairing Future Alliance which promoted the Black Country’s professional sector.

Her 13-year legal career spans a range of sectors including retail, hospitality and education which has involved handling a high caseload of tribunal claims and tackling litigation matters.

Charlotte said: “Starting any new job during lockdown can be daunting and, given the nature of the issues we advise on – as well as the constantly changing guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – it has been intense, but it’s a challenge I’m more than ready for.”

Meanwhile, Merseysider Jessica – a former England Hockey goalkeeper – arrives from Widnes-based Community Integrated Care following two years as a solicitor specialising in ER. Her 14-year legal background includes senior solicitor roles at MWR Solicitors and Ellis Whittam.

Jessica added: “It’s a privilege to be able to work with such a dynamic client base and the team ethic at ESPHR has been clear from the outset. Its company culture makes for a place where you feel like you’re an important part of the journey towards becoming the ‘best of breed’ in the marketplace.”

Jayne joins on a full-time basis with Charlotte and Jessica job-sharing – something they both did during their time together at Ellis Whittam.

ESP Law changes the traditional legal sector ‘norm’ with an eight-strong team that operates remotely – even before COVID-19 caused a UK-wide mass move to home working. The team provides legal expertise on complex ER matters for more than 200 organisations, some of which have tens of thousands of employees, representing sectors including hospitality, retail and property.

Recently, the team has helped firms to restructure, furlough staff, understand the Job Retention Scheme and answer queries concerning redundancy, employee sickness absence and pay. As a result, ESP Law recorded its highest month of legal advice in March 2020 – with 449 enquiries spanning over 800 hours.

As the UK’s economy and healthcare crisis continues a lengthy nationwide recovery, Surrey-based ESPHR founder Peter Byrne believes ER will play a pivotal role in enabling organisations – and their HR departments – to get back on their feet and provide secure places to work.

He said: “Businesses will be restructuring, tackling redundancy matters and complying with new guidelines for safer working practices – not to mention assisting employees who have been directly impacted by COVID-19.

“The UK, its commerce and our employment law sector will be forever changed by recent events. We will be seeing the significant role in which ER plays in response to the global crisis, for many years to come.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .