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Our view....
Overall, it's been a reasonable couple of years for Ward Hadaway. Despite average profits per partner falling to £183,000,
they've managed to record steady growth across the board, and particularly on the property
front, to complement their traditional strengths in commercial litigation.
The firm managed to lure eleven new recruits
to the property department, including a couple of high profile partners from
local-rivals Pinsents. They also shored up their strong
reputation in corporate finance by becoming the first firm in the
region to offer
clients a corporate
finance package incorporating both financial and legal advice. The service began in 2002 and contributed to the
firm advising on deals worth over £400m in 2003.
They have got a very good reputation
for their work in the healthcare sector too, and in 2003 became the
only firm nationwide to be appointed to four health panels. The
Nursing and Midwifery Council, NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust and
the clinical negligence and NHS defendant arms of the NHS litigation
authority all took them on board.
In addition, the firm proved it
could beat the big boys by securing appointments to the Office of
Government Commerce, the Department for Education and Skills, and the
Treasury Solicitor's Department after it won a coveted L-Cat contract
to provide legal services in connection with IT, telecommunications
and e-commerce to the government.
On a less commercial note, the firm
takes part in its local council's modern apprenticeship scheme and is the only north-eastern firm to provide bursaries for law students
(there are four grateful recipients being supported through their
three years at Durham University as we speak, to the tune on £1,500
each a year). They benefit too from the unequalled kudos which comes from
having one of their number - head of rural planning Dr Malcolm Bell -
act as adviser to the makers of The Archers on the property issues that
arise amongst the good folk of Ambridge.
So if you're an Archers fan seeking
a lively firm with a hint of a social conscience, there's really no
other choice.
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