Northern England footprint grows as law firm establishes another city base
Law firm Lewis Silkin is opening a new office in Leeds and has appointed James Keogh as a partner in the firm’s employment law group.
He will lead what will initially be a new three-strong team based in the city.
Having studied, trained, and worked in Leeds throughout his career, Keogh is well known in the region as a trusted employment and HR law advisor to some of the largest corporations in Yorkshire.
Keogh is a specialist in complex change/restructuring projects, industrial relations and trade union issues, sensitive investigations, and TUPE matters.
He will be joined in early summer by managing associate Gemma Woodhead.
Previously an in-house employment counsel at Warner Brothers, Woodhead spent eight years supporting various businesses across the entertainment group and helping to manage their workforces across EMEA.
The pair will be supported by associate Breesha Loughran, who brings expertise in workplace investigations and Employment Tribunal litigation.
The new office marks the latest step in the growth of Lewis Silkin’s national presence, following the firm’s launch and growth in Manchester last year, and adding to its offices and regional hubs in London, Oxford, Cardiff, Belfast, Dublin and Hong Kong.
Keogh said: “I’m over the moon to be joining Lewis Silkin and helping to build our new presence in Leeds.
“We’ll be a part of the UK’s leading specialist employment team, providing the firm with a strategically important base in Yorkshire and adding to the strength of its offering across the North of England.
“It’s an exciting period of growth for Lewis Silkin and our new footprint means we are perfectly placed to support the ever-changing needs of our clients.
“I look forward to our Leeds team making a valuable contribution to the continued success of this fantastic firm.”
Richard Miskella, joint managing partner, added: “James is a real rising star with a well-earned reputation in the region and beyond for advising on complex employment issues at the highest level, for a range of both national and Yorkshire-based clients.
“The combined team bring both depth of local market knowledge and breadth of expertise in our core and high growth sectors.
“Their appointment, and the opening of our new office in Leeds – hot on the heels of Manchester – is an important step forward to establish a strong and joined up presence in the North that will work alongside Lewis Silkin’s other offices.
“We are now able to deliver local access to the highest-quality teams and advice through our regional hubs – including in the North of England, one of the most dynamic and innovative economic regions in the UK.”
