Based in Exeter, Terry Falcao (pictured) will take up the role of Head of Employment for the firm and will look after clients across Devon and Cornwall.
With extensive experience of a wide range of commercial work, in both the public and private sector, Terry joins Stephens Scown LLP having represented national and international companies, as well as charitable and not-for-profit organisations.
A member of the Employment Lawyers Association, Terry has also regularly acted for local government and police forces. A former chair of the Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council, Terry has led on discrimination issues in terms of being involved in equal opportunity and anti-discrimination policies for local authorities and public sector clients. He is considered an authority on discrimination issues, harassment and bullying and has had a number of articles published in these areas.
He is recognised in the Legal 500 independent guide to the legal profession as being ‘efficient, knowledgeable and expert in the area’ for his employment law work and is one of the South West’s few specially-trained workplace mediators, helping to diffuse and resolve issues in the workplace without incurring litigation costs.
Terry graduated from the University of Nottingham and received his professional qualification from the College of Law in London. He trained with Russell, Jones &Walker in London and moved to Devon in 2002 to work for Ford Simey as a newly qualified solicitor and then partner and more recently as head of employment at Stones Solicitors.
Joining Terry at Stephens Scown LLP from Stones Solicitors is Marie Ashton, an HR specialist and associate member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) and administrator Sue Lewis. Laura McFadyen is already an associate lawyer within the firm’s employment team.
Commenting on his new role, Terry said: “Stephens Scown has a truly excellent reputation for the service it provides its clients - the firm has a very good ethos and attitude and shows it cares. It has a stable of really high-profile corporate clients that are second to none in Devon and Cornwall. As well as being my personal ambition, I think that we have been presented with a real opportunity to create the employment team of choice for companies across the South West.”
Terry also hopes to take on some claimant work for senior-level employees and in the most serious and complex whistleblowing and discrimination cases, is looking to make justice available to those who might not be able to afford legal representation.
Robert Camp, joint managing partner for Stephens Scown LLP, said: “To be able to strengthen our employment team and have Terry at the helm is a fantastic coup for Stephens Scown. He brings a huge wealth of experience in all employment law and HR matters and I am confident that he will be a great asset to clients, helping us to deliver our specialist business services right across the region.
Married with two children, Terry lives in Teignmouth and is a councillor for both Teignbridge District Council and Teignmouth Town Council. Outside of work, he enjoys riding his motorcycle, keeping fit and is a big music fan attending Glastonbury every year with a group of friends, providing free legal advice.
Terry is also a director for community and social leadership group ‘Teignmouth First’ which has been heavily involved in raising funds to provide free first-aid training for more than 200 people, cycling proficiency for young people and has helped to take over the Eastcliff Centre building, bringing The Cave back into use for the benefit of the local community.
For more information or to contact Terry, call 01392 210700, email employment@stephens-scown.co.uk or visit www.stephens-scown.co.uk.
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