Apex Employment Solicitors joins DSW Legal as its first licensee.

We are delighted to announce that Apex Employment Solicitors has joined DSW Legal as its first licensee. This marks an exciting new chapter for us and expands DSW Legal’s offering into employment law.

Moving forward, we’ll operate as DSW Apex, and our founder, Joanna Gooden, will become Partner and Head of Employment at DSW Legal.

We will, of course, continue to provide the personal, practical employment law advice that Apex is known for. But we’ll also gain access to the wider relationships, infrastructure and expertise of the Dow Schofield Watts group.

Building on the Apex approach:

Joanna founded Apex in 2019 with a focus on strong client relationships and personal service.

Today, our team supports employers and individuals across England with a broad range of employment law matters, from everyday workplace issues and employment documentation to complex disputes and Employment Tribunal proceedings.

We also provide retained HR administration support for smaller businesses without an in-house HR team.

Joining DSW allows us to build on that work without losing the qualities that have shaped Apex.

What does joining DSW mean for our clients?

For existing Apex clients, our approach remains the same. You will continue to work with a team that knows your business, understands the challenges you face, and provides straightforward advice tailored to what you want to achieve. However, as part of the wider DSW network, we will now be able to work more closely with specialists across complementary areas of professional services, helping you access joined-up advice as your businesses develop.

We will also provide employment law support to clients of DR Solicitors, DSW’s primary care consultant-model firm, as well as businesses across the wider DSW network.

Supporting growing businesses with employment law:

Employment issues often become more complex as a business grows. As recruitment increases and management structures change, employers find themselves dealing with everything from contracts and policies to performance concerns, grievances, disciplinary actions, and redundancies.

For growing businesses in particular, employment documentation and processes can sometimes fall behind other commercial priorities. Addressing those foundations early can make workplace issues easier to manage and reduce the risk of disputes developing later. As DSW Apex, we want to support businesses even before a problem arises. So, while we’ll continue our day-to-day advisory work, we’ll also be developing practical webinars and training for employers. Planned topics include managing disciplinary and grievance processes, avoiding common contractual pitfalls and preparing for changes in employment legislation.

Growing the DSW Apex team:

Becoming DSW Legal’s first licensee also allows us to play a role in shaping the development of its wider legal offering.

We aim to grow the employment team, increasing our capacity while retaining the personal approach our clients value and remaining focused on what has always mattered most: providing accessible, practical advice and building lasting relationships with the businesses and individuals we support.