Finers adds partner to employment

Finers has recruited Pritchard Englefield employment partner Howard Goulden.

Goulden's move has been announced as Anthony Barling, who is currently head of Finers' employment team, takes over from Peter

Jay as the head of the corporate and commercial department.

Jay has stepped down after five years in the position so that he can concentrate on client development, both for the department and for the firm.

Finers' employment team is part of the firm's commercial department, but Goulden says he hopes to build a separate employment practice, working alongside Barling.

"We are a team and we will be working together," he says.

Goulden, who leaves Pritchard Englefield after nearly 10 years, was one of the founder members of the firm's employment department.

On the reasons for his move, Goulden says that his appointment is in accord with Finers' decision to respond to client demand by building up its employment practice.

"I have a history of bringing in work and networking," he says. "I have a commercial background and the firm sees those skills as useful in developing an employment law practice and having the ability to generate business."