Ward Hadaway opens doors on new office

Jul 9 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

THE latest North East law firm to expand outside the region opened its Leeds office on Monday.

Ward Hadaway revealed its expansion plans last month, becoming the third of Newcastle’s major law firms to open offices outside the region.

Watson Burton opened an office in Leeds in 2005 and a London base in 2006, while Dickinson Dees also has a branch in the capital and one in York.

Ward Hadaway’s new premises are in Wellington Street in the city centre and has space to house up to 60 staff.

Managing partner Jamie Martin, said: “We are really excited about coming to Leeds and are delighted to have secured these offices.

“We feel that the terrific team we have recruited for Leeds, combined with the years of experience and know-how from our work in the North East, will prove to be a powerful combination that will give our clients the best possible service.”

The offices will be home to the firm’s initial team of five partners and two associates. Ward Hadaway corporate partner Andrew Hoyle will head the Leeds office. Hoyle said: “We have made excellent progress with our plans for Leeds. The team we have assembled will allow us to really hit the ground running when the office is officially opened and we look forward to working with the region’s businesses and organisations in the time to come.”

The team also features former Beachcroft construction partner Paul Washbourne; commercial property partner Kevin Weston, formerly of Cobbetts in Leeds; insolvency partner Steve Thomas, previously at Brooke North in Leeds; former Berrymans Lace Mawer employment partner Alex Clements and property partner Guy Morgan, a healthcare property specialist formerly at Bevan Brittan. Angelo Basu, previously head of the EU and competition team at Pinsent Masons in Leeds, and former Cobbetts property associate Jonathan Dickson complete the line-up.