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Ward Hadaway Strengthens Team with 24 New Appointments

Ward Hadaway has announced the appointment of 24 new team members within its Newcastle headquarters as the law firm continues to grow strongly.

The appointments span a range of roles across various levels, from trainee positions to managing associate and director level, covering key sectors such as real estate, healthcare and commercial litigation.

Nick Gholkar, Executive Partner for Ward Hadaway’s Newcastle office, said: “As a full-service UK law firm, this latest round of appointments reflects our clear ambitions for substantial growth, both in terms of turnover and reach, as we work towards a goal of increasing our turnover by over 50% in the next five years, and doubling it in the next decade.”

“Our new team members, representing a blend of emerging and experienced professionals, will play a crucial role in this growth strategy. Their expertise will enable us to continue offering agile, high-calibre legal support to our diverse client base, while maintaining the independence that is core to our identity.”

Laura Hill joins as a Partner in the commercial litigation team. She brings specialist expertise and experience in handling AI-related litigation, a complex and developing area that demonstrates our capacity to support clients facing technology-driven disputes.

Nick continued, “Enhancing our teams to meet changing demands is also essential to our growth.  For instance, as AI innovation accelerates, we are seeing increasing demand to support businesses in navigating the evolving legal challenges it presents. We help clients design and implement AI solutions within a fragmented regulatory framework, while closely monitoring developing legislation to ensure compliance. Our growing expertise in this space ensures clients can innovate confidently while managing emerging legal issues.”

Partner Laura Hill added: “I’m excited to join Ward Hadaway, a firm that’s deeply committed to innovation and providing practical, client-focused solutions. As AI continues to transform industries, I’m eager to contribute to the firm’s efforts to help businesses manage the unique legal hurdles that arise in this space. With our strong track record in supporting tech companies, we’re well-placed to guide organisations through the complexities of AI, ensuring they can grow and innovate while managing risks and staying ahead of changing regulations.”

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