Expansion plans at Square One Law

Square One Law has continued its North East expansion strategy with the opening of a new office in Tees Valley on June 4 and the appointment a new managing partner.

Building on the commercial law firm’s existing client base in Tees Valley, the office on Stockton’s riverside will enable the firm to provide a dedicated service to its growing portfolio of clients in the area.

The move coincides with the firm being appointed to the Tees Valley Combined Authority advisory panel.  Square One Law also advises the South Tees Development Corporation on its masterplan to regenerate the former SSI site, which would generate a further £1bn a year for the local economy and creating a significant number of new jobs.

Among its recent Tees Valley client projects has been infrastructure solutions organisation px group’s acquisition of the Saltend Chemical Plant in Humberside, legal support to Able UK on contracts for the demolition of the Shell Brent Delta platform alongside work for companies such as JDR Cables, Fine Organics, Billions Europe and Durham Tees Valley Probation Service.

The leadership team in the Tees Valley office will be Square One Law partners Neil Warwick, Helen Brain and senior partner Ian Gilthorpe who will be supported by resource from the firm’s Newcastle office ahead of further recruitment in the coming months.

Neil Warwick said: “Tees Valley, having secured one of the first devolution deals in England, has stolen a lead in terms of its economic regeneration.  We have a very active cohort of clients in the area, which we will grow by having a permanent presence in the Tees Valley.”

Neil Warwick is the North East’s only EU and Competition lawyer and was also responsible for establishing a strategic alliance with Brussels-based EU law practice Kemmlers.  This alliance ensures Square One Law’s clients have access to European Institutions as well as giving them a base to have ongoing influence within the EU’s trading community.

Further strengthening Square One Law’s position in the North East market has been its ability to attract experienced and talented lawyers.  Earlier this year the firm welcomed Head of Property, Adrian Hill and has now announced its new Managing Partner, Gill Hall.

A highly-experienced IP/IT lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience in commercial and contracts law, Gill was previously the head of the commercial team at Muckle and, most recently, led the IP/IT team at national public sector firm, Hempsons.

Gill Hall said: “I worked with founding partners Ian Gilthorpe and Alan Fletcher when we were all at Muckle and I have watched the growth of Square One Law with interest.   I’ve joined the firm at a very exciting time and was attracted by the quality of its client base, its different and innovative approach to the way it delivers legal services together with the energy and drive of everyone in the business.”

Ian Gilthorpe, Senior Partner, said: “Gill has an excellent reputation as a commercial lawyer and a proven track record in people management. She’s ambitious and driven and I believe her skill-set will bring further diversity to the leadership team.

“The opening of the Tees Valley office and Gill Hall’s appointment as Managing Partner are key elements of our continued strategic growth.  Until now we have successfully looked after our clients from across the North East from our Newcastle base, but with the increasing amount of work we are delivering for companies in the Tees Valley, together with recent clients wins, it made perfect sense to establish an office in the area.”