LAW firm Sintons has landed a major signing from Newcastle United with commercial solicitor Iona Sims putting pen to paper at the firm.

Iona joins from the Magpies where she was the club’s in-house commercial consultant advising on commercial and legal issues.

Previously, she was legal advisor to NewcastleGateshead’s FIFA World Cup Bid as well as being seconded to act as part of the legal team at Sunderland AFC.

Before becoming a lawyer, she spent six years running her own event management business specialising in sporting and corporate events.

Christopher Welch, joint head of the company and commercial department at Sintons, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Iona. Her direct experience of working in both large commercial organisations and SME’s will be valuable to our clients.

“Her appointment to our team is a further step in our growth plans. Our continued recruitment reflects the growth of the firm’s commercial group and the increasing share that it enjoys of the legal market across the North East.”

She said: “Sintons is a vibrant, successful and growing law firm, with a fantastic reputation for service excellence, exceptional performance and value for money.

“I was immediately impressed by the way Sintons works with its clients and develops close partnering arrangements. I very much look forward to working with the teamand contributing to their continuing success .”