DSW Legal expands into employment law

DSW Legal, part of the Dow Schofield Watts (DSW) advisory group, has announced the arrival of its first licensee, Apex Employment Solicitors, marking a significant expansion into the employment law sector. Under the leadership of founder Joanna Gooden, who will take on the roles of Partner and Head of Employment, the firm will operate as DSW Apex. This move is part of DSW's strategic development of its legal platform, introduced earlier this year to attract top-tier legal talent seeking alternatives to conventional partnership structures.

Founded in 2019, Apex Employment Solicitors provides a range of advisory services to SMEs, covering areas such as disciplinaries, grievances, contracts, handbooks, redundancy, and negotiated exits. The firm has also established itself in representing employers and individuals in tribunal cases, addressing issues like discrimination, unfair dismissal, and breaches of contract. Furthermore, Apex offers retained HR administration support to smaller businesses that lack in-house HR resources, signifying its commitment to a holistic approach to employment matters.

Apex operates remotely from its Maidstone headquarters and serves clients across England with a dedicated four-person team consisting of Joanna Gooden, two senior associates, and an HR co-ordinator. The firm aims to expand its team to over ten senior associates within the next three years. By joining DSW, Apex is poised to enhance its client base, leveraging DSW's network of mid-market businesses and entrepreneurs while continuing its ongoing support for current clients.

The partnership will also enable DSW Apex to provide employment law guidance to the clientele of DR Solicitors, a primary care consultant-model firm acquired by DSW in 2024. Apex boasts experience dealing with tribunal cases involving the NHS, further diversifying its portfolio. The team plans to launch webinars and training programmes, designed to assist employers in managing grievances and disciplinary processes, avoiding common contract pitfalls, and adapting to evolving employment legislation.

Joanna Gooden expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating “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.” She emphasized that DSW’s entrepreneurial culture was a significant draw, providing access to a larger employer client base and a platform for team growth and practical training development alongside legal advice.

James Mallender, Managing Director at DSW Legal, highlighted the importance of this partnership, noting “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.” Mallender further explained that DSW’s model offers entrepreneurial lawyers the freedom to run their practices while benefiting from robust support systems, mirroring Joanna’s ambitious vision for Apex. He concluded by stating, “We’re looking to add further legal capabilities, giving mid-market businesses access to a broader range of legal services alongside the advice they already receive from DSW.”