Ward Hadaway appoints strategic risk specialist

The move reflects continued investment in the firm’s national offering, bringing together legal expertise with operational and strategic advisory to support growing businesses, particularly in sectors such as leisure and hospitality.

Mike brings his extensive in-house experience managing complex operational risk across multi-site businesses, where he has worked at board level to identify emerging issues, implement governance frameworks and respond to critical incidents. His background spans regulatory compliance, safety management and business continuity, alongside advising on the practical delivery of risk mitigation across large organisations.

Chris Green, a regulatory partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “Mike brings a perspective that complements our legal expertise in a very strategic way. He has operated at the sharp end of business risk, advising boards and solving the issues that can disrupt operations or expose directors to personal liability.

“What makes this particularly valuable is the ability to identify risks early, often before they have been formally recognised within a business, and to put in place the structures and processes needed to manage them effectively.”

The role is designed to support clients proactively, rather than solely at the point where issues escalate into disputes or regulatory action. By combining legal advice with operational insight, Ward Hadaway can support clients across the full life cycle of risk, from prevention through to response and resolution.

Mike Gore said: “Joining forces with Ward Hadaway provides an opportunity to bring together legal expertise with hands-on operational experience. In many businesses, risk is addressed reactively, often once something has already gone wrong. The focus here is on working alongside leadership teams to identify where pressure points are likely to emerge and to put in place a clear plan for managing them.

“That can range from regulatory compliance and safety frameworks through to wider governance challenges, particularly for businesses that are scaling quickly and need to adapt their structures accordingly.”

The appointment also strengthens the firm’s ability to support directors in meeting their statutory duties, an area of increasing focus as regulatory scrutiny intensifies and expectations around governance continue to evolve.

Steven Petrie, managing partner of Ward Hadaway, said: “Bringing Mike into the fold is about broadening how we support clients as their businesses grow and become more complex. Legal advice remains central, but there is increasing demand for joined-up support that addresses operational and strategic risk in a more holistic way.

“Mike’s experience allows us to engage with clients earlier, helping them to anticipate issues and build more resilient organisations while ensuring that the legal framework supporting those decisions is robust.”

Ward Hadaway employs nearly 600 people and operates a network of offices across the North of England and the Midlands, advising clients across a range of sectors, including those with multi-site operations and complex regulatory requirements.