Employment Lawyer Returns To Former Base

Experienced employment lawyer Tom Long has returned to Birmingham and London law firm Martineau after a spell at rival firm DLA Piper.

Mr Long has rejoined Martineau’s highly regarded employment law team as an associate, 18 months after leaving for pastures new.

He will specialise in complex employment tribunal litigation, complementing the firm’s existing team as it looks to grow the employment law group in the months and years ahead.

Jane Byford, Martineau’s head of employment law, said: “Tom has a very successful track record both as a business winner and as someone who gets the right results for clients when they become embroiled in employment disputes.

“Although the flow of new employment legislation appears to have slowed down a little, for the time being at least, there is no let up in legal activity in this area, with the effect of the credit crunch and economic slow down likely to be the creation of more conflict in the immediate future, as companies look to cut back on jobs.

“Tom’s return is excellent news for us and we expect to be recruiting more employment lawyers in the near future.”

Mr Long’s extensive experience includes advising on high profile employment tribunal cases and accusations of discrimination.  He has also advised on the employment law aspects of numerous mergers and acquisitions in a variety of sectors.

Mr Long said: “I am delighted to be returning to Martineau with the benefit of additional specialist experience in employment law and I believe that I can make a real contribution going forward to what is already a very highly regarded team."

The firm’s managing partner, Bill Barker, added: “The Martineau ethos centres on growing talent from within so that we can provide clients with a tailored, continuous service.

“However, it is important to complement this strategy by introducing dynamic individuals from an external source, to expand our knowledge pool to meet the changing needs of clients.

“Tom’s return to the firm is particularly positive for us since it combines both of these elements, with his skill-set sitting very well within the team’s structure.”

Apart from Martineau and DLA Piper, Mr Long, a graduate of Oxford University, has worked for Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw and Beachcroft Wansbroughs.  He has also spent time seconded to global insurance giant Marsh & McLennan.