Delivering opportunities and supporting growth

Congratulations on your appointment. With more than 20 years’ experience with the firm, you must be delighted to take this next step.

I am. It is a real honour and privilege to have the backing and trust of our board and the Newcastle partners but, most importantly, the support of the whole office in taking up the role.

I hope I can live up to their expectations.

The Newcastle office is the biggest by headcount in the firm by some margin, including the US, so the office head role is an important one within our business.

There is also an equally important external element to the role, representing the firm within our region.

You have succeeded Nigel Emmerson, who led the firm through a prolonged expansion phase that included a move to a flagship office in The Spark, on Newcastle’s Helix site. With those foundations to build upon, what are your key priorities in your new role, and how do you plan to achieve them?

Nigel has done a fantastic job over the last four years or so, not only in managing our move to The Spark but also in raising our profile in the region with a number of key partner organisations.

As a firm, we are as committed to the region as ever, and my plan is to continue that work and reaffirm that commitment.

These are exciting times for the region, and we want to be front and centre in delivering opportunities and growth with our clients, partners and key contacts in both the public and private sector.

I also want to see us continue the work we have been doing in making Womble Bond Dickinson a fantastic place to work and build a career, so I will be continuing to support our responsible business initiatives, our networks and our work in the wider community.

I very much see my role as encouraging, empowering and supporting our people at all levels as they grow; they are the true ambassadors for the firm, not me.

Your appointment coincides with sweeping change across the North East, as two mayoral- led devolution deals refresh market sentiment and spur great investment potential. How excited are you about the region’s new era, and how is Womble Bond Dickinson – with its offices in Newcastle and Teesside – placed to help the area capitalise on the opportunities afforded by its Westminster power transfer?

The creation of the North East Combined Authority is a huge opportunity for the region – the biggest in a generation – and the growth and social change that can, and must, be delivered will be transformational.

The growth and change that is already being delivered by the Tees Valley Combined Authority shows the way.

With our commitment and footprint in both authorities, we’d like to see a truly wider North East vision, with collaboration between all parts of the wider region to deliver growth.

What we need is focus on key sectors where the opportunities are the greatest for the whole region, offshore wind and energy being obvious ones.

As a firm, we have already been involved in some of the biggest projects to date.

On a personal note, I’m very proud to be part of the great team delivering Steel River Quay on the Tees.

With our longstanding and wide regional networks, we also see our role as a facilitator, bringing clients and contacts together.

You bring significant experience to the head of office role, having been a partner since 2005 and overseen its construction and engineering team for several years. As a leader, how important is collaboration and creating a sense of shared purpose across your teams? And how will you continue that in your new position?

Collaboration and creating a sense of shared purpose are absolutely critical to our success.

Throughout my time with Womble Bond Dickinson, I have witnessed first-hand the power of a united team working towards common goals.

As a leader, I believe in an open-door policy, encouraging open communication and the sharing of ideas across all levels.

It’s essential to foster an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute.

As office head, I will continue to prioritise these principles, ensuring we maintain a culture of collaboration, innovation and mutual respect.

By doing so, we can harness the collective strengths of our team, driving the firm forward and achieving great things together.

Womble Bond Dickinson’s reach extends far beyond the North East, with further UK bases complemented by a raft of US offices. How will the firm’s Newcastle site continue to contribute to its broader international strategy?

Our Newcastle office is a pivotal component of our international strategy.

This was highlighted by our hosting of the latest edition in our Transatlantic Lawyers Network programme at The Spark.

That programme is a prime example of our commitment to cross-border collaboration, providing clients with seamless, integrated legal services on both sides of the Atlantic.

This network enables us to leverage the diverse expertise and resources within our UK and US offices, offering unparalleled support for complex, multi-jurisdictional matters.

A recent testament to this collaborative approach is the Global Energy Transition Outlook report, which saw our UK and US teams work together to provide comprehensive insights and solutions for clients navigating the evolving energy sector.

This project highlights our ability to adapt to global market changes while maintaining the firm’s established reputation for excellence.

The world is an ever-changing place, with sector shifts augmented by fluid client demands. How will you balance maintaining Womble Bond Dickinson’s established reputation while innovating and adapting to market changes?

We know balancing our reputation with the need to innovate and adapt is a challenge, but it’s one we’re totally up for.

Our legacy is all about excellence, integrity and client trust.

To keep this going strong, we need to stick to these values while embracing change and always looking for ways to get better.

Innovation comes from really understanding what our clients need as they evolve and spotting market trends before they happen.

By investing in tech, boosting our digital skills and encouraging creativity and flexibility in our teams, we can bring forward-thinking solutions that hit the mark.

And let’s not forget, personal relationships are at the heart of what we do.

Building and nurturing these connections, listening to our clients and tailoring our services to suit them ensures we remain their go-to advisors, committed to exceptional service even as we find new ways to add value.

It’s all about finding that sweet spot – honouring our past while boldly stepping into the future.

By blending innovation with our traditions of excellence, we can keep thriving and leading in the legal industry, adapting to changes while holding on to the trust and respect we’ve earned.

The Newcastle office will be a key player in these efforts, contributing to our international strategy by fostering strong client relationships and driving innovative solutions across our global network.

Our dedication to collaboration ensures we stay at the forefront of the legal industry, ready to tackle the challenges and seize the opportunities of an ever-changing world.

 

www.womblebonddickinson.com/uk
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP