Hill Dickinson: Building from the ground up

Anyone who has ventured into Newcastle’s city centre recently won’t have failed to notice the progress being made on the £155 million Pilgrim’s Quarter regeneration project, which spans an impressive 463,000sq ft and wraps around four streets.

While less conspicuous, just 50 yards from the development and opposite the Laing Art
Gallery, international law firm Hill Dickinson is laying its own foundations in the city at Portland House, with an aim to offer clients a credible alternative in the North East regional market.

Since opening a Newcastle office in 2022, the firm has enjoyed rapid growth, having started with a seven-strong health team.

Now with a headcount of more than 20, the firm has extended into other service areas to broaden its national reach into the North East.

Most recently, in May this year, a new corporate team was established, led by partner Tom Pollard and supported by legal director Liam Stubbs and senior associate Nicole Axon, who have worked with Tom for nine and five years, respectively.

The team is already well-known and established in the North East, having advised
on a wide range of regional, national and international transactions, supporting ambitious businesses, private equity funds, family offices, management teams and high-net-worth investors alike.

Building something exceptional

Tom, who joined the firm alongside Liam and Nicole, says he was attracted by the challenge of establishing a corporate team in the North East and helping grow the wider Newcastle office.

He says: “Our ambition in the North East reflects the vision for our national business services group, which has seen focused expansion through strategic lateral hires, enriching the team with a broad service offering and deep, sector-specific insight.

“We intend to build something exceptional in Newcastle, which will follow the success the firm has already enjoyed when establishing and successfully growing other regional offices, such as Leeds and Birmingham, in recent years.

“Newcastle, and the wider North East, has such a vibrant, creative and resilient business community.

“The region is ambitious and full of dynamic businesses and leaders, and we want to support them with their corporate work as they’re scaling up, securing investment, undertaking an exit or navigating other forms of corporate transactions.

“We also want to support them with their wider business legal needs and, as the office continues to grow, we will be offering a wider range of services locally.

“We’ve seen such rapid growth since opening, and that’s driven by the appetite in the North East for a firm like ours.”

Liam adds: “It’s exciting to be part of a team and firm that is looking to build a significant presence and become a major player in the North East legal market.

“We’ve got a real sense of momentum, and both the office and wider corporate team is growing in a way that reflects the firm’s ambitious growth strategy.”

 

International reach and expertise

The highly experienced new corporate team specialises in advising on a full range of corporate work, in particular domestic and cross-border transactions, providing North East clients with the highest calibre of advice that Hill Dickinson’s national corporate team is renowned for.

Tom says: “Having a dedicated corporate team in the North East marks an important step in the firm’s commitment to supporting businesses, funders and business leaders in the region.

“It’s about enhancing and strengthening our corporate capabilities in the North East

“And by combining the team’s expertise with the firm’s wider capabilities, we can offer clients end-to-end advice, whether that’s nationally or internationally.

“It means a business or funder in the North East can enjoy international reach and expertise, without having to go out of region.

“We know from experience that the preference of North East business leaders and funders is always to use advisers in region, for reasons of efficiency but also, importantly, to support the regional economy.”

For Liam and Nicole, one of the biggest draws for joining Hill Dickinson was the chance to help spearhead a new regional corporate team and create a legal powerhouse firmly embedded in the North East, rather than functioning as a satellite office of a larger international firm.

Liam says: “It is really important the Newcastle office has a genuine regional focus.

“We are creating a team that’s firmly rooted in the North East, with the scale of an international firm behind us to help assist our wider ambitions.

“We can really tailor our approach to the North East market and build strong, lasting relationships with local businesses, investors and the wider professional community.

Nicole adds: “It’s exciting to be part of something that is genuinely valued and backed by the wider firm’s strategy for national regional expansion.

“We’ve got a lot of autonomy, which we are relishing and putting to good use already

“The approach at Hill Dickinson is very welcoming, supportive and collaborative, which has been hugely beneficial in allowing us to land so smoothly and integrate the team into the wider firm.”

At the heart of the region

For Tom, the opportunity to create something distinctive – regionally focused but backed by the resources and connections of a Top 50 UK law firm – is exciting.

He says: “As a team we are known for our calm, effective and pragmatic approach to corporate work, delivering a high-quality combination of technical expertise, commercial acumen and excellent client service.

“The opportunities to build upon our existing reputation and continue to deliver clients the best possible legal advice and experience throughout their transactions has been enhanced by joining Hill Dickinson, given their strength in depth.

“We know the North East is a flourishing region ready for growth and investment, and we intend to remain at its heart for years to come.”

And being part of a firm with 12 offices employing more than 1100 people – including seven in the UK and five in Monaco, Limassol, Piraeus, Singapore and Hong Kong – offers further benefits.

Liam says: “The corporate team’s involvement in major cross-border transactions opens doors and provides expertise for clients in the North East that simply wouldn’t be available otherwise.

“We can draw on the market knowledge and intel from our other offices to provide the best possible advice and support to clients, and give them the attention, focus and strategic advice they deserve.”

Nicole adds: “It’s the best of both worlds. “We get the resources and support of an international firm, but we still have the freedom to tailor our approach to the North East and build real, long-term relationships here.”

The firepower of a national leader

While the transition to Hill Dickinson was a step into new territory, Tom says the response from the business, investor and professional community has been “overwhelmingly positive,” with many “excited to see what we can now deliver”.

He says: “The level of support we have received has been incredible – it has energised the whole team, and we are on track to build something we can all be proud of.

“We have a strong pipeline of regional work, currently undertaking several buyside mandates for North East private equity funds, as well as acting for a number of portfolio companies that are executing buy-and-build growth strategies.

“We’re proud to be playing a key role in the region’s dealmaking activity.”

Liam adds: “Being able to work with a team that is rooted in the North East, but has the backing of a leading national corporate team, gives us an incredible range of experience and expertise that will only benefit clients.

“Clients know they’re getting a team that understands the challenges faced by regional businesses and investors, yet has the knowledge and skill set to provide support across a full deal lifecycle, from initial investment and bolt-on acquisitions to large-scale exits

“Our approach is perhaps best summarised by the words of others, who confirm that we are

‘… a great blend of the warm relationships of a regional firm with the firepower of a national leader’”.

And while Tom and his colleagues are understandably reserved about setting firm targets for growth in the coming months, the imminent arrival of a new associate five months into their new venture underscores their ambition to become “the go-to corporate team in the North East”.

Tom says: “Our plan is to further grow the corporate team, by building upon the strong foundations we already have and expanding around that with strategic lateral hires that are aligned with the team’s approach to client service standards, quality, culture and approach.

“Over the next few years, our aim is to develop a full-service offering in the North East across the business services group.

“With that in mind, we expect to announce further hires across the Newcastle office in the coming months.”

Liam adds: “We are incredibly ambitious, which is testament to the move we have made and the impact and growth we are driving.

“But success is not just about numbers; it’s about creating a positive culture, sustainable relationships and a reputation for first-class legal advice and support in the North East and beyond.”

Learn more at hilldickinson.com or call 0191 823 0530.