LAW At Work (LAW) – the Edinburgh-based employment law, HR, and health & safety specialist – has announced it has joined associated businesses owned by Marlowe plc to become WorkNest, a new £35m brand.
The firm’s Edinburgh office will be the centre for WorkNest’s Scottish client management and home to teams of employment solicitors, HR consultants and safety managers. WorkNest’s Scottish presence further extends to hub offices in Aberdeen, Alloa and Glasgow.
Marlowe acquired LAW in December 2019, one of several recent acquisitions made by the leaders in business-critical services and software.
The business which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year was founded by Malcolm MacKay in 2001 to provide the employment law expertise of a legal firm, but without the prohibitive pricing. LAW gradually strengthened its offering with the acquisition of Square Circle HR, employee relations consultancy Empire, Solve HR and Deminos Consulting.
Alongside LAW’s Edinburgh and Aberdeen offices, the Glasgow office brings together LAW and Ellis Whittam employment law teams. Ellis Whittam, another specialist in employment law, HR and health & safety with many Scottish clients, was acquired by Marlowe in October 2020.
WorkNest’s Alloa office stems from Marlowe’s acquisition of Youmanage, an operational business tool, helping companies to improve the quality and effectiveness of their HR management processes.
Donald MacKinnon, formerly Group Legal Director at LAW and now Group Legal Director at WorkNest LAW – the new brand’s employment law service, said: “WorkNest brings together a broad range of services that will help our clients to further protect and nurture their organisations. LAW clients will continue to receive the high-quality support they know and trust, while now benefiting from a wider offer that helps employers to navigate the complex employment landscape.”
WorkNest comprises over 400 team members including more than 50 qualified employment law solicitors. It is the leading single source of highly qualified in-person advice and comprehensive digital services, empowering employers to manage all their employment, safety and wellbeing challenges. This depth of expertise enables organisations to manage the most sensitive issues, with the added reassurance of set-price subscription options.
WorkNest will operate with further offices in Bath, Chester, Gateshead, London, Loughborough and Woking and team members around the UK serving clients nationwide. Its combined client base spans more than 40,000 employers across 45 sectors.
