Two leading Bradford legal firms are expanding their specialist teams of lawyers to meet growing demand from businesses for advice on employment and environmental issues.

Schofield Sweeney has expanded its employment law service by appointing new partner Alex Clements.

The move has been prompted by the Government’s austerity measures which are expected to lead to widespread redundancies, strikes and unfair dismissal claims.

Simon Shepherd, head of employment law, said: “This investment in our employment law practice is in direct response to the increasing pressure facing business directors and HR managers to handle employment law issues effectively.

“Alex’s presence adds further weight to our strong employment team.”

Before joining Schofield Sweeney, Alex worked at two major national law firms and two regionally-based practices, gaining experience of a wide range of HR issues facing organisations, from major plcs to smaller owner-managed businesses and publicly-funded bodies.

Schofield Sweeney said her appointment was part of its strategic investment in key practice areas including employment law advice to employers and senior employees from its offices in Bradford and Leeds.

Alex said: “Employment law has always been a constantly-changing landscape, which presents numerous challenges to businesses in the face of heavy financial penalties for non-compliance.

“In the current economic climate, this is particularly acute, and company directors and HR managers need to know that they have access to fast, accurate advice from lawyers who understand the business’s objectives.”

Schofield Sweeney was recently named as the Yorkshire law firm of the year for firms with between 11 and 30 partners. The practice was established in 1998 in Bradford by senior partner Chris Schofield and managing partner Martin Sweeney, and opened its Leeds office in 2003.

Meanwhile, Gordons has appointed leading planning expert Kate Butterfield as a solicitor in its planning and environmental team.

She has been involved in some of the region’s most high-profile developments, including securing planning permission for Yorkshire’s tallest building, Bridgewater Place in Leeds, and advising on planning issues for the White Rose Shopping Centre.

Kate’s experience includes large-scale business parks, town centre regeneration schemes and acting for a number of independent schools.

She will work alongside Mark Blackburn in expanding the firm’s planning offer and also liaise closely with Gordons’ 30-strong commercial property team.

Head of commercial property Barbara Rollin said: “Kate’s experience and understanding of both private and public sector schemes creates an opportunity for us to generate increased instructions and to further underpin the activity the commercial property department already carries out.

“Her appointment signals our intention to continue to build our property business in line with our positive expectations for the market.”