A Dickinson Dees of a good lead performance!

Sep 26 2003 By Karen Wilson, The Journal

Dickinson Dees has once again dominated the northern region in this year's Legal 500 and confirmed its position as "the region's clear market leader."

The firm has come first in 25 out of the 28 categories for which it is eligible, and second in the remaining three.

It has proved it is possible for professional service firms, with a base in this region, to compete with other firms from across the UK, including its London-based rivals.

Based in Newcastle and Stockton-on-Tees, Dickinson Dees is a company with strong roots in the North-East. It has achieved its status as one of the top 50 UK law firms from a base in this region and remains committed to the area.

Managing partner Neil Braithwaite said: "Legal 500 is an important measure for us to see how we are performing against our competitors here on our home patch.

"There is a thriving legal services sector in the region and this can only be good for all concerned - clients and other law firms alike.

The same is increasingly true in other professional service sectors - which is good news for the long- term prosperity of the professional service sector in the region."

Dickinson Dees was singled out for a special mention in Legal 500's regional review when it noted that: "The gap between Dickinson Dees and the chasing pack shows few signs of narrowing and the firm remains the region's clear market leader, dominating every market sector".

The firm was also selected under Legal 500's Strength to Strength section where the commentators said: "Despite no London office, the firm continues to develop a national presence in a range of practice areas.

It was appointed on ten new PFI schemes across the country, including the London Underground PPP."

Dickinson Dees' position as market leader in the North East is long-established and Mr Braithwaite is confident this will continue.

He said: "Our growth strategy going forward is to maintain our dominant position in the region while continuing to push for further expansion across all our practice areas nationally."

Dickinson Dees is the North-East's largest law firm. It now employs 690 people in the region and is one of the largest independent employers in the area.

Its clients include the National Trust, ICI, Go Ahead, Taylor Woodrow and Northern Rock.