Leading commercial law firm Thrings has strengthened its employment law offering to domestic and international clients with the appointment of Andrew Dekany as partner.
An accredited employment law specialist, Andrew joins Thrings from Holman Fenwick Willan, where he was a partner and head of employment.
In his new role, Andrew – who will be based at Thrings’ London offices in Pall Mall – will provide expert employment law advice and commercial solutions to multi-nationals and UK-based businesses. His business immigration expertise will also enable Thrings to continue expanding its international network through its London office.
Andrew brings a proven record in business development as a result of maintaining and nurturing a number of strong, long-term client relationships. He is expected to strengthen Thrings’ high-quality client base by bringing a substantial caseload of existing UK and international clients, including those operating in the energy, shipping and logistics sectors.
Andrew said: “Employees are a key asset of any business. The rapid pace of change within the employment law field, together with increasing awareness by employees of their rights, means it is more vital than ever to manage human resources carefully and efficiently.
“The internationalisation of employment also means business immigration is an increasingly important field. I am very pleased to be joining such an established employment team at Thrings and hope to contribute to the firm’s ongoing success.”
Andrew becomes the third partner in the firm’s seven-strong Employment team, joining head of employment, Kerrie Hunt, and Jeremy Nixon. The team provides proactive commercial advice on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law, working with clients to form a comprehensive employment and HR strategy and to minimise any financial and reputational risk from claims and dispute.
Simon Holdsworth, managing partner of Thrings, said: “Recent announcements concerning flexible working, zero-hours contracts and shared parental leave remind us that employment law remains high on the Government’s agenda. Whenever any new employment legislation is introduced, employers need to fully grasp the implications for the business and its staff, as well as understand their own responsibilities as an employer, as soon as possible.
“Andrew is joining a team which enjoys a reputation for providing employers with a practical view of employment issues, not simply the technical legal aspects of employment legislation. I am very much looking forward to seeing him bring his experience to bear, and helping our UK and international clients negotiate the complexities often involved with managing the people at the heart of their businesses.”
To support its strategic approach to growth, Thrings – which also has offices in Bristol, Bath and Swindon – has continued to invest heavily in staff in the past 12 months, with Andrew’s appointment following that of experienced legal professionals Malcolm Emery, James Myatt, Victoria Smyth, Edward Jackman and Bill Dunmore as partners.
