Our People > Helen Essery

Helen Essery

Position: Associate
Area(s) of expertise: Dispute Resolution/Employment
Date joined: March 2006
Email: HelenE@n-v.co.uk
Direct dial: (024) 7623 4227

Background

Helen has a Law (with American Law) LLB degree from the University of Nottingham, having graduated in 1993. She was one of the first to obtain this degree, which involved spending a year studying American law at the University of Texas in Austin. Helen gained her LPC from Nottingham Trent University in 1994. She trained with Howes Percival and qualified as a solicitor in 1996, specialising in dispute resolution. In 1999 Helen joined edge ellison in Birmingham, which later became Hammonds, where she remained until joining the Firm.

Helen has over ten years' experience in resolving commercial disputes and has experience of acting for a broad range of businesses from owner managed businesses to public limited companies. She has acted for clients from many sectors, including manufacturing, automotive, construction, information technology and retail.

Expertise

Helen regularly advises businesses in relation to disputes that they may have with their suppliers, customers, distributors, contractors or employees. Helen takes a practical and commercial approach to disputes. She recognises that court action is not always the best option and is well versed in alternative dispute resolution techniques.  

The disputes that Helen deals with are predominantly those of a commercial nature, including those relating to:

  • breach of contract, including, for example, supply, distribution and agency agreements, employment contracts and service agreements
  • warranty claims
  • negligence and tort generally, including professional negligence and defamation
  • employment issues
  • Data Protection Act issues
  • Human Rights Act issues
  • breaches of the Commercial Agents Regulations

Personal

As a mother of four young children, Helen finds that much of her spare time (if such a thing exists!) is spent at various safari parks, zoos and farms throughout the Midlands, or in organising or attending children's parties! Given half a chance, Helen would enjoy reading, travel and trips to the theatre…