Martin & Co Solicitors

Martin & Co Solicitors was established in Manchester by John Martin in 1999. John Martin is a named founder and specialist employment solicitor. The firm specialises exclusively in employment law. It has been independently recognised by the Legal 500 directory as a leading employment solicitors firm for over 20 years. The firm handles nearly all of its own advocacy in the employment tribunal rather than involving a barrister.

It advises on all aspects of employment law in Manchester, the north west region and beyond. The firm regularly appears in employment tribunals in Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and farther afield. It acts for both companies and individuals, with the split about half and half. For individuals, the firm acts for all levels of employee, from company directors downwards. For employers, it acts for a major charity with over 1000 employees, a significant construction company, Europe's biggest giftware packing producer, further education colleges and a number of independent schools.

The firm also acts for many SMEs in sectors like construction, IT, printing, manufacturing and packaging. It is happy to undertake work underwritten by a legal expenses insurer. It often charges a fixed fee for a first consultation. Its main services include advising on unfair dismissal, settlement agreements, discrimination claims, redundancy and disciplinary matters.

Settlement agreements and employment-related matters feature prominently in the feedback, with Ciaran and John Martin named repeatedly for the guidance they provide. Various customers describe the advice as clear and easy to follow, particularly when contractual clauses or workplace issues need explaining in plain terms. Something that features in review after review is how quickly questions are answered, whether by telephone, email or in person, and how readily meetings are arranged at short notice.

Reviewers often mention the professionalism and empathy shown during what they describe as difficult and stressful periods, with one client noting that the calm and measured manner of their solicitor helped them understand their position and available options. The efficiency of the process is another recurring theme, with matters reportedly handled swiftly from the first call through to resolution, including exit agreements and redundancy situations.

Communication before and after the work is praised as consistent and reassuring, and customers remark that reaching a person directly, rather than navigating automated messages, made the experience straightforward. The explanations given are described as thorough, covering rights and options before any signing, and the overall handling is characterised as seamless and stress-free. Legal assistance of this kind, delivered with patience and clarity, is what the feedback consistently highlights.