Howard Hymanson joins Harbottle & Lewis as Co-Head of Employment

Harbottle & Lewis is delighted to announce that employment law specialist, Howard Hymanson, has joined the firm as a Partner and will Co-Head the Employment Group with Marian Derham. The firm has a well established Employment Group which has grown significantly over the last few years and is recognised as a leading practice in both The Legal 500 and Chambers. Howard brings with him a wealth of experience which will further boost the firm's expertise in this area. He joins from Blake Lapthorn and took up his new role on Monday 2 February.

Howard provides advice on a full range of contentious and non contentious employment law issues. He has developed a particular expertise in conducting high value discrimination cases and has a wealth of experience in dealing with senior executive terminations, director/shareholder disputes and restrictive covenant injunctions.

Howard represents clients in the professional services, online travel, and the leisure and recruitment sectors, as well as a number of clients in the media and entertainment industry including Kudos Film and Television. He has worked on a number of high profile cases and is currently representing Gillian Switalski, an ex-City employee who is claiming £19m compensation for work-place sex discrimination. The case has already received significant press coverage. Howard also sits on the Legislative and Policy Committee of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Glen Atchison, Managing Partner, said: "We have a well respected employment practice which has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. Howard has an excellent reputation in the industry and will further enhance our reputation and offering in this area. We are delighted to have him on board".

Howard Hymanson said: "Harbottle & Lewis offers an exceptional opportunity to continue the development of an already highly regarded employment team in the entertainment and media sectors. My existing practice will fit in well with the firm's core areas of expertise".

Ends
[03/02/09]

Note for Editors

Harbottle & Lewis LLP
Harbottle & Lewis provides specialist advice to the media and entertainment industries. It is consistently recognised as a leading firm in these areas by independent sources.

Firm overview: The firm's work encompasses all areas of media and entertainment, including film, television, broadcasting, sport, music, publishing, advertising fashion and theatre and remains unique in having expertise right across these sectors.

We provide a complete range of commercial advice to our clients, including: buying and selling businesses and companies, joint ventures, finance, capital markets, commercial disputes, property, employment, immigration and tax. Other specialist legal areas include, sponsorship, intellectual property, legal issues relating to media, including defamation, advertising, brand protection, data protection, privacy, art and gaming and gambling as well as private client and matrimonial work. The firm's expertise in other areas such as aviation and charities is also widely recognised. Our media, entertainment and IP experience puts us in an ideal position to act for charities with strong brands, entering into commercial fundraising agreements and putting on major fundraising events.

Much of our work involves the technology, new media and telecoms industries and we have done ground-breaking work in connection with the digital exploitation of content and e-commerce generally. Specialist knowledge and understanding of the entertainment industry and related IP issues enables the firm to identify and deal with the key issues at an early stage, and then negotiate and provide commercially sound legal advice from a position of strength.

Issued by:
Caroline Renton
Head of Marketing
Tel: 020 7667 5231
Email: caroline.renton@harbottle.com