Employment: The South: Hampshire & Dorset

THE FIRM This team is praised for ably and quickly providing outstanding advice on the whole gamut of employment issues. Clients include Apollo Fire Detectors and the South East England Development Agency, the latter of which the group advised on TUPE issues. The team also handled a highly sensitive claim on behalf of an employer accused of discriminating against an employee on grounds of sexual orientation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Max Craft is an all-rounder with a balanced skill set, while go-getter Gillian Leach is well liked by clients.

THE FIRM This team has handled an impressive array of matters over the past year, and consistently draws positive client feedback. It advised Woolworths on employee issues in the lead-up to the company being placed in administration. The group also advised Whitbread on the employment and TUPE issues associated with an outsourcing project involving approximately 500 employees.

KEY INDIVIDUALS The highly regarded Christina Tolvas-Vincent is singled out for inspiring clients' trust and friendly manner, while Jon Hales impresses clients with his knowledgeable and extremely helpful advice.

THE FIRM This remains one of the top employment practices in the area, acting for an enviable client list and eliciting great feedback. Clients include VT Group, New Look, Glen Dimplex UK and Southampton FC.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Clive Dobbin is singled out by clients for his "fantastic knowledge and experience in complex cases." David Roath also gains much praise for explaining legal arguments in an understandable way.

THE FIRM This team has received a steady stream of instructions over the past year, spanning both contentious and non-contentious matters for large to medium enterprises, and including providing TUPE and restructuring advice to notable blue-chip clients. It also successfully handled a number of exits of senior executives and claims for unfair dismissal.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tim Forer handles contentious defendant work with aplomb, while Marc Long successfully handled the TUPE obligations arising out of an acquisition of a retail chain. Michael Wilson wins praise for his "pragmatic and commercial advice."

THE FIRM Clients praise this small team for its advice on the regulatory issues of employment contracts. It is known for its expertise in the insurance markets and handles issues that straddle both insurance and employment law, in addition to more general HR support. Clients draw attention to the lawyers' dedication.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Dorlee Monschau is the head of the department.  

THE FIRM This team handles collective redundancy consultation and compromise agreements, and provides advice on individual contentious matters. Clients single out the group's excellent drafting prowess as one of its key strengths.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Susan Evans and Rayner Jones impress clients with their extensive knowledge of the law and ability to relay technical detail in simple terms.

THE FIRM Shoosmiths has a long-established reputation in Southampton. Together with the Thames Valley and Milton Keynes offices, the team has attracted a whole host of regional public and private sector clients, in addition to retaining key relationships with national clients such as Siemens and Hewlett-Packard.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Helena Derbyshire is consistently praised for proactively building relationships with key stakeholders and understanding clients' business objectives: "She is able to advise us from a compliance, legislative and commercial standpoint."

THE FIRM This team has had a successful year, with highlights including advising on a large-scale national reorganisation and redundancy exercise, and successfully facilitating the overturning of several unfair dismissal claims for a long-standing client.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Simon Rhodes earns praise for his "invaluable pragmatic and no-nonsense advice." Clients appreciate that he understands their business needs.

THE FIRM This team boasts a strong presence on the Southampton employment scene. Notable regional clients include the Concorde Club, Ramsay Hall and the Shelling Trust.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jonathan Gray is singled out as a solid and safe pair of hands for a range of contentious and non-contentious matters.

THE FIRM This team maintains a strong foothold in the region and acts for a lengthy list of notable regional clients. It handles an array of contentious and non-contentious employment matters.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Katherine Maxwell receives much praise for her sensible approach.