Ward Hadaway expands healthcare employment team with two partners

Leeds law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed Helen Badger and Gemma Lynch as partners, strengthening its employment law work with NHS trusts, independent healthcare providers and health tech businesses.

Helen and Gemma join from Browne Jacobson, where they advised clients across England and Wales. Their arrival comes as the NHS and wider healthcare sector continue to manage a range of issues, including staffing pressure, workplace risk and new operating models.

Helen advises public and independent healthcare bodies and has particular expertise in supporting her clients to manage complex employment issues. She regularly works at Board level to help develop workforce strategy and respond to challenging situations, including complex and high value litigation. Gemma has extensive experience representing healthcare clients in complex employment tribunal claims and advises on employment issues linked to service redesign, organisational change and group and collaborative operating models.

Harmajinder Hayre, head of employment at Ward Hadaway, said: “The NHS is the country’s largest employer. The workforce challenges facing trusts and providers are significant, and the healthcare sector are seeking pragmatic, solutions-focused and cost-conscious advice.

“These appointments strengthen our ability to support healthcare employers on issues that are often complex, sensitive and closely tied to service delivery.

“Helen and Gemma bring senior expertise in areas where clients need advisers who understand the sector, the pace at which decisions have to be made and the pressures leadership teams are working under.”

Helen has particular expertise in navigating complex and sensitive employee relations issues, with a focus on maintaining psychological safety of impacted employees, reflecting the growing scrutiny on how employers protect their people while maintaining services.

She said: “Healthcare employers are making decisions that can carry legal, operational and reputational risk, often in pressured circumstances.

“That calls for advisers who understand how NHS and independent providers operate and who can take account of the realities of staffing, safety, culture and delivery.

“Joining Ward Hadaway gives me the chance to continue that work within a national employment practice with a strong and growing healthcare specialism.”

Gemma’s focus is the employment law impact of change across the healthcare system, including group and collaborative operating models.

She said: “NHS bodies are being asked to work differently, which can create difficult employment questions, particularly where staff, leadership structures and consultation duties span more than one organisation."

“My work focuses on helping employers manage those changes in a way that is not only legally sound but is practical and workable for employers, and I'm looking forward to building on that at Ward Hadaway.”

Helen and Gemma join Ward Hadaway’s highly regarded employment team, which also includes healthcare specialists partner Caroline Shafar and directors James English and Mark McKeever. They are part of the firm's wider healthcare team, providing legal services including procurement, PFI, estates management, regulatory, inquests, investigations and COP work.

Managing partner Steven Petrie said: “Helen and Gemma’s arrival reflects the continued growth of Ward Hadaway and our investment in areas where clients need senior legal expertise.

“Healthcare is an important part of our national practice. These hires broaden our employment law capability for NHS and independent healthcare providers.

“They also support our wider strategy of building specialist teams with the sector knowledge and experience clients need across England and Wales.”