Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

"The credit crunch has had a huge impact on business confidence across the region. Companies are now reacting to the deteriorating market conditions and are looking at ways to tighten their belts so their business can survive these hard times" says June Salmon, an Employment Solicitor at East Anglian law firm Kester Cunningham John.  "Human resources will be under the spotlight, so here are some top tips to help make the best use of your staff during these testing times".

Kester Cunningham John (KCJ) continues to make great strides in the ‘Chambers & Partners’ rankings; market observers credit the firm as having “moved forward at an impressively quick rate” in recent years and as being “widely perceived to be East Anglia’s most ambitious firm.”

Clients have been quick to praise the first class service they receive from Hewitsons in the latest edition of respected legal directory Chambers.

East Anglian law firm, Kester Cunningham John (KCJ), has succeeded against national competition to win a contract from the UK’s largest civil service trade union, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

As the economy continues to slow down, many organisations are faced with having to make redundancies to secure the future of their business.  Law firm, Howes Percival has received a marked increase in redundancy related enquiries and warns employers that they could risk facing Employment Tribunal claims if they do not act correctly when letting staff go.

The ongoing effects of the credit crunch mean tough times for many businesses - with belt-tightening and staff cutbacks increasingly evident.  If the worst does come to the worst, and redundancies become necessary, it is important employers know how to handle such a situation and are up-to-date with developments in the law.

Taylor Walton LLP, with offices in Luton, Harpenden and St Albans, has advised The Entertainer on its purchase of two toy stores from the Gamleys chain. The Entertainer is the UK's largest independent toy retailer with 47 stores and was founded by Gary and Catherine Grant in 1981 with a continuing mission to be “mad about toys”.

Leading Home Counties law firm Taylor Walton has announced the recruitment of technology and outsourcing law expert Dr Sam De Silva from international firm Pinsent Masons. He joins the Technology and Outsourcing Group in Taylor Walton, headed by Mike Pettit, who commented: