DR Solicitors’ clients to access employment advice as DSW Legal expands into employment law with the arrival of Apex Employment Solicitors
DSW Legal, the legal division of business advisory group Dow Schofield Watts (DSW), has welcomed Apex Employment Solicitors as a licensee, expanding its legal offering into employment law.
DSW Apex will be providing employment advice to clients of DR Solicitors. Apex’s experience includes involvement with tribunals involving the NHS, alongside its wider work with businesses across different sectors.
Founded in 2019, Apex advises SMEs on employment matters including disciplinaries, grievances, contracts, handbooks, redundancy and negotiated exits. It also represents employers and individuals in tribunal proceedings involving discrimination, unfair dismissal and breach of contract
The firm will operate as DSW Apex, led by founder Joanna Gooden, who becomes Partner and Head of Employment at DSW Legal. Headquartered in Maidstone, DSW Apex operates remotely, serving clients across England. Its four-person team comprises Joanna, two senior associates and an HR coordinator.
Joanna Gooden, Partner and Head of Employment at DSW Legal, said: “I’ve built Apex around strong client relationships and personal service. Joining DSW gives us the opportunity to build on that foundation, retaining our independence and client focus while benefiting from the relationships, infrastructure and wider expertise of an established professional services group.
“DSW’s entrepreneurial culture was a major attraction. Its network opens the door to a broader employer client base and gives us a platform to grow our team and develop practical training alongside our legal advice.
“As the first legal licensee, we also have an opportunity to help shape how DSW’s legal offering develops. We want to become the first point of contact for employment matters across the network, working closely with colleagues to give clients joined-up advice as their businesses grow.”
James Mallender, Managing Director at DSW Legal, added: “Welcoming Joanna and the Apex team is an important step in broadening our legal offering. They bring an established practice and employment expertise that will support clients of DR Solicitors and the wider DSW network.”
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DR Solicitors strengthens primary care expertise with appointment of Legal Director
DR Solicitors, a specialist healthcare law firm that’s part of DSW Legal, has strengthened its primary care team with the appointment of Sarah Cook as Legal Director.
Sarah joins from Porter Dodson LLP, where she spent more than four years helping to grow the firm’s primary care offering. During her time there, she advised GP practices and dentists on a broad range of legal matters, including partnership arrangements, partnership disputes, PCN matters and employment issues, while also playing a key role in developing the team. This contribution was recognised with the team’s first Chambers ranking for medical partnerships.
Sarah’s career in healthcare law spans more than 15 years and began with her training at Bevan Brittan, before moving in-house to the British Dental Association (BDA). During more than a decade at the BDA, she progressed from legal advisor to Head of the NHS Business Advice Team, advising dental practices across England and Wales on regulatory, contractual and operational matters.
In her new role at DR Solicitors, Sarah will focus on advising GP practices and other primary care providers through a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, while also supporting the continued development of the firm’s specialist primary care team. Sarah will play a leading role in maintaining and growing the firm’s market-leading expertise, acting as a key point of contact for clients while also focusing on business development to bring in new work for DR’s consultants.
This latest appointment comes as DSW Legal continues to bolster its presence as a disruptor in the UK’s legal market. Having recently appointed James Mallender as Managing Director for the legal division, it is focused on attracting entrepreneurial legal teams to create their own practices, while continuing to expand its existing expertise at DR Solicitors.
Sarah Cook, Legal Director at DR Solicitors, said: “Having grown up in a family of dentists, and spending time working in my Dad’s practice, I’ve always had a vested interest in primary care. This passion has guided me throughout my career to support the important work primary care provides. It’s a sector that’s constantly evolving, and practices need advisers who understand not only the legal issues but also the wider operational and strategic challenges they’re facing.
DR Solicitors has an outstanding reputation in the primary care market and is recognised for the depth of its expertise. Joining a team with such a strong specialist focus was a natural next step for me. I’m looking forward to continuing to advise clients while helping to grow the team and ensuring practices have the support they need to navigate whatever comes next.”
James Mallender, Managing Director of DSW Legal, said: “Sarah is a hugely respected primary care lawyer and brings a wealth of experience from both private practice and in-house roles. Her understanding of the challenges facing GP practices and dental providers, combined with her commercial and pragmatic approach, makes her an excellent addition to the team.
“As we continue to expand our DSW Legal offering, we’re focused on bringing in the right people, bringing with them expertise that will strengthen our proposition in the market. Sarah’s expertise will be integral to doing just that for DR Solicitors, ensuring our clients can access the high quality support they’ve come to know, while our consultants can access fulfilling work.”