Last Word: Steven Petrie

Congratulations on the record annual financial results. What do they say about Ward Hadaway and its service delivery?

Client service has always been at the core of everything we do. Our commitment to providing first-class legal services is what truly sets us apart. These results reflect that commitment, and the hard work and dedication of our people. We are proud to have built long-lasting relationships with our clients, and these results are a direct outcome of our relentless focus on meeting their needs and delivering exceptional value.

The firm’s financial successes were driven by its offices in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle’s Quayside. How important a role will the latter of those three play in achieving future growth objectives?

Each of our offices plays an integral role in our growth, with each being at a different stage of its journey. Our Newcastle office, established in 1988, remains the largest of the three offices, and has laid a strong foundation for our expansion. It will continue to play a pivotal role in our future growth. The North East legal market is growing in national prominence, and we are proud to be a driving force behind that. Our Leeds and Manchester offices are also critical to our plans. Although they are smaller in size compared to Newcastle, they are located in larger legal markets, and both continue to grow strongly. Their position within these markets means they are perfectly placed to continue driving double-digit growth year-on-year, and we expect both offices to contribute significantly to our ongoing success.

You celebrate your first anniversary as managing partner on April 1. How do you look back on the last 12 months, and what are your goals for the rest of your term?

It has been a year of significant change and progress. We’ve successfully restructured our departments to make them more manageable, rolled out and embedded our value and behavioural framework across the firm, and our new vision and strategy are in place with clear targets: £75 million by 2029 and £100 million by 2034. We’re currently ahead of target, which is testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire team. We’ve also made substantial investments in our Newcastle office, with ongoing refurbishment work to enhance the space for our people. Nick Gholkar took on the role of executive partner in the Newcastle office last year, and we welcomed our new financial director in January. From an emerging talent perspective, 15 trainees joined us across the firm in 2024. Our headcount is now 521 and growing, and we’re also bringing in new partners in 2025, which will further our plans for significant growth. Looking ahead, my goal is to continue driving the firm’s strategy, building on the progress we’ve made and ensuring that we are on track to meet our ambitious growth targets. It’s been an exciting first year, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead *.

*As N magazine went to print, Ward Hadaway revealed merger talks with The Endeavour Partnership, based in Thornaby, near Stockton. Officials say the move would “create a stronger, more diverse business to serve clients even better”.