Ward Hadaway welcomes 39 new legal specialists across its offices
9th September, 2025
Top 100 law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed 39 legal specialists across its Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle offices, strengthening its position as one of the UK’s leading independent full-service firms as it continues to grow strongly.
The new hires join a wide range of departments, including commercial, corporate, employment, housing, real estate, litigation, debt recovery & insolvency and private client. They include partners, directors, managing associates, associates, solicitors and paralegals, reflecting the firm’s commitment to developing talent at every career stage.
Birmingham has welcomed nine lawyers in commercial, employment and housing, including partners Chris Green, Sabina Kauser, Joanna Lee-Mills and Natalie Owen. In Leeds, 11 appointments span real estate, social housing, employment, private client and debt recovery, with new team members including managing associate Greg Cross and directors Ian Abel and Scott Nodder.
Meanwhile, Manchester has added strength in commercial litigation and real estate with six hires including real estate partner Richard Bradbury, managing associate Daniel Adcock-Kirsh and paralegal Lauryn Chan, while Newcastle has grown in areas across corporate, construction and private client, appointing 13 new professionals such as real estate partner Tom Wills, private client associate Kirsty Allen and Head of Department (private client) Alison Hall.
This latest round of recruitment follows the opening of Ward Hadaway’s Birmingham office earlier this year and the recent merger with Teesside-based The Endeavour Partnership, expanding the firm’s reach and capability across the North and Midlands. Together with targeted growth in key practice areas, these moves are part of a long-term strategy to increase the firm’s market share and extend its client base.
Steven Petrie, managing partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “Our continued growth is a direct result of the trust our clients place in us and the hard work of our people. We’ve welcomed talented lawyers and paralegals who share our commitment to providing practical, commercial advice and we’re continuing to invest in the future of the firm across all our regions and their communities.”
New joiners are supported through tailored induction programmes, mentoring and regular opportunities to work alongside colleagues from different offices and disciplines. This collaborative approach is designed to help people settle quickly, build strong professional networks and contribute to client work from the outset.
Chris Green, a partner specialising in regulatory compliance and investigations based in Ward Hadaway’s Birmingham office, said: “Joining Ward Hadaway at such an exciting point in its journey is a fantastic opportunity. The firm is serious about growth and is backing that up with real investment in people and places. What really appealed to me was the breadth of the firm’s service offering and the depth of experience in advising business and commercial clients. From day one I’ve seen how supportive the culture is and I’m looking forward to playing a role in building the firm’s presence in Birmingham and contributing to its success as a leading national player.”
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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