• It is important for manufacturers to have legal advisors that understand their current industry pressures such as supply chain issues, recruiting skilled workers and unstable economic conditions.

    We are strategic legal partners, working with manufacturing clients. Our knowledge of the sector puts us in the best position to support their success – whether that’s running day-to-day operations, handling challenging times or embracing new opportunities.

    How can we help?

    Simply expand the sections below for more information on the services and support available to you.

    • Why choose Brachers?

      Our solicitors have been supporting the manufacturing sector for many decades. We understand your priorities and the issues that you face.

      We work with you, getting to know your business inside and out, so that we can give you advice that is tailored to your needs.

      As a full service law firm, our multi-disciplinary team of lawyers can provide you with specialist expertise for every area of your business.

      We also have strong relationships with other professional advisors such as banks, accountants and wealth managers. By working with these partners when required, we can provide you with a joined-up, comprehensive and cost-effective advice.

      Recognition of our expertise

      Brachers solicitors are consistently highly ranked in the leading independent guides to law firms, The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners, meaning that you can be assured you are receiving top quality advice.

      Brachers is ranked in seven practice areas and 11 lawyers are recommended in the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2024 including: Corporate/M&A, Employment, Litigation and Real Estate. Partners, Ash Jilani, Catherine Daw, Claire Williams, Colin Smith, James Bullock, Matthew Simmonds, Michael Oatham, Sarah Gaines have all been individually ranked by the directory once again.

      Brachers’ legal expertise has also been commended by the leading legal directory The Legal 500, with the firm being ranked in 14 practice areas, including five top tier rankings, and 33 lawyers recommended by the guide.

      Brachers is a member of the Kent Corporate Finance Alliance, an independent network of the top specialist corporate finance professional advisers in the region.
      If you require us to support you with cross-border work, we have strong links to legal experts around the world who can advise on business across international borders, through our membership of the Marcalliance global network of international lawyers.

      Our teams are also regularly recognised in prestigious legal awards, which have recently included the Insider South East Dealmakers Awards, the Credit & Collections Industry Awards and the Kent Law Society Awards.

      Find out more about our awards, accreditations and partnerships that make us stand out from the rest.

      Meet our clients

      Hear from our client Offset Print and Packaging about why they work with us.

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      How to contact our manufacturing solicitors

      Our manufacturing solicitors are based in Maidstone and Canterbury and are ready to help with any legal advice you need.

      You can call us on 01622 690691, email us or use the contact form on this page.

  • Get in touch

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  • Case Studies

     

  • We acted for the employer in a case brought by a former employee who was dismissed after he walked off the production line. 

    The employee claimed he had been dismissed because of whistleblowing and health and safety reasons. 

    We mounted a strong defence on behalf of the employer in a 15-day employment tribunal hearing.  

     

  • The claim was from an ex-employee of a south-eastern perfume/soap oil processing factory, who was allegedly exposed to asbestos from lagging of pipes/sills in the late 1950s to early 60s. There were additional claims for earlier exposure by building employers and he was an ex-smoker.

    We were instructed on the eve of the proceedings and identified likely breach duty but possible defences of causation (dependent on whether his exposure was above threshold to cause lung cancer) and contributory negligence.

    We prepared and served a defence, not admitting breach and disputing causation and contributory negligence with a detailed request for further information regarding the claimant’s employment and exposure history. We traced the company’s insurers and before handing over to their panel firm, we contacted a former colleague who confirmed the claimant’s account and instructed our own chest consultant to advise on causation and damages issues.

  • PD Ltd was a medium-sized company making display signs for the retail industry. Their former employee SB had died of mesothelioma. His widow claimed this was caused by asbestos exposure from making up shop sign/display boards when employed by our client in the early 1970s. She instructed leading asbestos specialist solicitors. They claimed from PD Ltd damages of over £250,000 plus costs.

    SB used to cut up the sign boards and sweep up debris for our client. His widow claimed the signs were made of asbestos insulation board (AIB). The company’s founder, the present MD’s son was still alive and he used to design the signs. We obtained a full statement from him to show that AIB was never used in manufacturing these boards and we supported this by our research confirming AIB was not used in that industry. We pointed out JB’s later career as a painter and decorator was a more likely source of asbestos exposure.

    We served the witness evidence and then drafted and served a full defence to the proceedings. We persuaded SB’s solicitors not only to discontinue proceedings but to pay our client back their own reasonable legal costs of defending the case.

    Our client commented, “… fantastic news and a huge relief to us … Thanks for everything.”

  • We provided all legal support to our client when they needed to close their Kent factory. Our advice covered the collective redundancy consultation process for over 250 employees across a nine-month period.

    Our work involved:

    • Project planning, including the provision of detailed timelines and Gant charts
    • Preparing template documentation
    • Meeting scripts and structures
    • Financial modelling of termination costs

    No employment tribunal claims were received following the conclusion of the process.

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