In June this year, the former head of Harmers Workplace Lawyers, Joydeep Hor, announced that he would be launching his own firm, People & Culture Strategies (PCS), providing advice to companies on bullying and harassment.

"What we're really doing is utilising our skills-set and modifying and consolidating the service offering into areas that lawyers traditionally haven't," Hor said.

PCS opened the doors of its Sydney office on 1 July with a starting team of nine lawyers, some of whom Hor brought with him from Harmers. Since then, Hor has been engaged in legal action with Harmers regarding his departure.

Despite this, Hor sought to establish the new firm with the best resources he knew: "A few of my Harmers team members are joining me and we've been able to attract a really great team, in terms of the energy and enthusiasm, [who want] to get involved at the beginning in what should be an exciting venture," he said at the time.

In launching his own firm, Hor said he hopes to exploit what he sees as a large void in the market.

"There is a real need for a firm that can connect immediately with the human resources community. I think that's a gap in the market that I have been trying to fill in my own practice and I wanted to build a business around that," he said.

"I very clearly want PCS to be the first port of call for employers in this country on any workplace law issue and that's not just when there's a problem, [but] also as a sounding board."

At the time of the launch, Hor said over the next 12 months he hopes to double the size of his client base and look at recruiting more lawyers to his team. "Definitely interstate expansion and further diversification into HR consulting and even OHS consulting," he said.

Replacing Hor as managing partner, Harmers promoted long-standing partner Shana Schreier-Joffe in August, leaving Michael Harmer to continue his role as chairman.

Schreier-Joffe has extensive experience across all areas of workplace law and has acted as a lead partner for a number of high-profile discrimination cases.

Related articles:

>> Nov 18, 2010: Legal battles left Jessica Rowe devastated

>> Sept 1, 2010: Harmers announces new managing partner

>> Aug 31, 2010: Harmers in dispute with former managing partner

>> June 30, 2010: Ex-Harmers head launches new firm

Click on the images below to read more about the top Movers & Shakers in 2010:

>> Click here for full coverage of the 2010 Movers & Shakers list