Employment Law

Graeme Ritzema

Graeme joined BHP in 2002 and heads our Employment and Commercial Litigation Team based in Newcastle. Qualified in 1983, he previously practiced in Newcastle upon-Tyne with Eversheds and before that with Ingledew Botterell Roche and Pybus which became part of Eversheds where he also set up and headed the Employment Team as well as maintaining his Commercial Litigation practice.

Graeme has acted for a range of clients in and outside the North East region including some of the larger private sector organisations (utilities, banking, engineering, manufacturing).

Graeme’s practice and experience in the area of Employment is predominantly on the side of employers, and includes both contentious and non-contentious work, advising a range of clients in various business and industry sectors on the usual, and sometimes unusual, issues including appointment, management and termination issues, re-organisation and redundancy, business acquisitions and transfers. Much of the practice involves working closely with clients to advise generally and anticipate and avoid potential problems but Graeme also has substantial experience of advising on and conducting proceedings in the Employment Tribunal and the Courts including fraud investigation and recovery, post termination restrictions and claims arising out of transfers of undertakings.

Graeme’s practice and experience in the area of Commercial Litigation is also wide, including disputes relating to professional negligence, commercial contracts, competition, property matters and alleged breaches of statutory duties. He has regularly been involved in advising on and conducting litigation in the higher courts up to the House of Lords and the European Court of Justice.