Northern law firm appoints business development director

Law firm Ward Hadaway has made a key appointment with the creation of a new role to help drive further growth.

Alistair McDonald has been promoted to the position of business development director at Newcastle-headquartered Ward Hadaway following a competitive recruitment process.

The appointment marks a key milestone for business development across the firm.

One of Alistair’s first priorities is to support everyone at the firm, from trainee to partner, to develop the necessary skills and knowledge that help them to more effectively grow their client base.

Alistair’s extensive experience and proven track record in business development will enable him to work closely with the firm’s legal teams to identify new business opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and enhance client engagement initiatives.

He will also establish a specific business development team that will help support growth across the firm.

Martin Hulls, managing partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “We’re delighted to appoint Alistair to the role of Business Development Director, as we continue our growth trajectory across our three offices in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle.

“We have ambitious growth plans, and Alistair’s expertise will enable us all to better identify and seize new opportunities, allowing us to grow our client base and further strengthen our existing relationships.

“Continual personal development is something we place great emphasis on here at Ward Hadaway. Alistair leads by example and inspires others to grow in confidence. By providing our legal teams with business development skills, support and encouragement, and enabling an entrepreneurial culture across the firm, we can collectively contribute to the growth of Ward Hadaway.

“This will enable us to create even more exciting opportunities and propel the firm towards continued success. Congratulations, Alistair.”

The appointment follows the recent announcement of 19 firm-wide promotions,  12 of which took place within the North East team.

Alistair is a recognised figure in the North East business community and has forged close working relationships with a wide range of organisations across the region.

Recently, in collaboration with Invest Newcastle, Alistair attended the MIPIM event in Cannes, which is a four-day global real estate conference where delegates can meet the most influential decision makers from all sectors of the real estate industry, across the entire value chain.

Alistair said: “I’m delighted to become Business Development Director at Ward Hadaway.

“The firm is well respected, forward thinking and filled with talent, and is already seeing solid growth across all its offices.

“Its ambitious plans for the future are what makes this role so exciting.

“An effective business development strategy plays a vital role in all successful organisations.

“By embedding business development into the fabric of the firm, Ward Hadaway aims to remain at the forefront of legal services in the region and beyond, driving innovation and providing exceptional service to its clients.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with our talented teams, utilising our collective expertise to build on the great progress we’ve made so far in cultivating new relationships and key partnerships.

“I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.”