header-logo header-logo

01 April 2026
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
printer mail-detail

Constantine Law—James Baker & Julie Goodway

Agile firm expands employment team with two partner hires

Constantine Law has recruited James Baker and Julie Goodway as partners in its employment team, taking the firm to 20 partners and continuing its recent growth. The hires strengthen its advisory offering to senior executives and employers, with the firm now counting 12 specialist employment partners.

Baker joins from Lee & Thompson, where he was head of employment, bringing more than 20 years’ experience across contentious and non-contentious employment law. His practice focuses on business protection, TUPE and advising senior executives and employers, particularly in sectors including media and entertainment, financial services and professional services.

Goodway joins from Thomas Mansfield Solicitors and advises on a broad range of employment and discrimination matters, including dismissals, whistleblowing and settlement agreements. She acts for both employers and senior executives, with experience in tribunal litigation and negotiating early settlements.

Managing partner John Hayes said: ‘We warmly welcome both James and Julie… their wide-ranging knowledge brings added depth to our growing employment team,’ adding that ‘our ability to recruit partners of James and Julie’s level shows both our growing reputation and the attractions of working for a progressive, collegiate firm like ours’.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Newcastle & North of England Law Society—Lesley Fairclough

Newcastle & North of England Law Society—Lesley Fairclough

Ward Hadaway partner becomes bicentennial president following regional merger

Devonshires—four promotions

Devonshires—four promotions

Firm promotes four senior associates to partner in annual round

Fieldfisher—John McElroy & Daniel Hayward

Fieldfisher—John McElroy & Daniel Hayward

Co-heads of dispute resolution practice appointed alongside partner promotions

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
back-to-top-scroll