Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has strengthened its UK-wide employment practice with the appointment of new Leeds-based partner Gearalt Fahy.

Joining from Gateley Legal, Gearalt is a recognised expert in employment law and an experienced litigator. For over 20 years, he has advised employers across the UK on complex and strategic legal work, with a client portfolio spanning a range of sectors including energy, construction, retail and manufacturing.

Gearalt has a strong track record advising corporate businesses of all sizes from large PLCs and FTSE-listed clients through to SMEs and owner-managed businesses. In the latest edition of the Legal 500, Gearalt is described by clients as a "highly respected and top calibre employment lawyer’.

Jon Hales, partner and head of employment at WBD, comments: "We're pleased to welcome Gearalt to the firm and to the partnership. His specialisms align perfectly with WBD's sector offering and his experience brings a significant amount of complementary expertise to our Leeds team. His appointment demonstrates our commitment to support our regional and national clients with the highest calibre lawyers."

Gearalt adds: "WBD's employment team has a strong corporate and commercial offering and an impressive client portfolio, making it a very attractive firm to work with. The firm's international footprint also presents some exciting opportunities to get involved in and I look forward to working with clients and colleagues alike here in Yorkshire, the North East, across the UK and beyond."

WBD's employment practice advises clients across a large number of sectors with services ranging from employee outsourcing through to complex restructuring. The firm is highly ranked in legal directories and, in the Legal 500 published last month (September), the employment practice retained all of its five tier one rankings for employment, pensions and health and safety work. Clients have described the team as a 'go-to firm', 'professional through and through' and 'very commercially minded'.

Ranking in the UK's top 20 law firms, WBD supports clients with their regional, national and international growth strategies. Since its entry in the Leeds market in 2012, the firm has since become one of the largest law firms in the region, advising clients from seven offices in the UK and 23 offices in the US.