A Yorkshire law firm has launched a new employment law and HR service after individual case enquiries increased by almost two thirds since the start of the year.

Leeds headquartered firm Ison Harrison has introduced an innovative ‘in-house’ retainer service, helping businesses navigate difficult workplace issues with unlimited access to first-class legal advice without incurring the typical costs associated with instructing an employment lawyer.

The service has been launched as a means of helping business owners and directors who have already been hit hard financially by the combined effects of Brexit, the pandemic and multiple lockdowns.

Prompted by the influx of employment and HR case inquiries following Covid-19 which are up over 60% since the start of 2021, the service is spearheaded by corporate employment solicitor Ben Palmer, who joined the Leeds office of Ison Harrison in March this year.

Ben was recruited to oversee the expansion of Ison Harrison’s corporate law division providing commercially aware, pragmatic HR and employment law advice to clients. Ben has considerable experience of successfully representing clients embroiled in complex and high value employment tribunal litigation.

Commenting on the introduction of the retainer approach, Ben said: “When running a business, it’s vital to get the right advice to help grow, develop and ensure the business is supported in the best way possible. This is especially relevant at the moment with many businesses and start-ups facing uncertainty and complex legal scenarios with staff following the pandemic. As this is uncharted territory for many businesses with many unable to afford legal advice on top of all their other running costs, the introduction of our in-house retainer service aims to provide accessible and affordable quality legal advice on a wide range of employment and HR matters.”

The new in-house service offers access to a full team of dedicated employment and corporate lawyers with decades of experience across the firm’s network of 15 regional offices. With the benefit of unlimited employment and HR support, insurance backed advice, access to IH’s HR Software Solution and over 75 webinars, IH provides a comprehensive service to meet its client’s demands, regardless of the challenges the ‘New Normal’ may pose to their clients.

The service is subscription-based and costs from £6 per employee per month.

Added Ben: “For most businesses, their workforce is the most expensive running cost and the success or otherwise depends on the performance of its employees. The retainer approach to employment law and HR advice ensures businesses have the confidence and support to achieve objectives, quickly and efficiently in the knowledge that it is fully protected should litigation arise."