Law giant Ward Hadaway expands with 39 recruits across four cities

Top 100 firm hires 39 specialists across Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle

Ward Hadaway has announced a significant expansion, appointing 39 lawyers across its four regional offices in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle. The move forms part of the Top 100 law firm’s wider strategy to grow its client base and strengthen its position in the UK legal market.

The new hires include partners, directors, managing associates, associates, solicitors and paralegals across multiple practice areas. In Birmingham, nine lawyers have joined the firm to bolster its commercial, employment and housing teams. Among them are partners Chris Green, Sabina Kauser, Joanna Lee-Mills and Natalie Owen, each bringing specialist expertise to the growing Midlands practice.

Leeds has seen the addition of 11 professionals, with appointments spanning real estate, social housing, employment, private client and debt recovery. The new recruits include managing associate Greg Cross and directors Ian Abel and Scott Nodder, who will play a central role in driving the firm’s work across Yorkshire.

Manchester’s office has welcomed six new team members. The commercial litigation and real estate departments in particular have expanded, with real estate partner Richard Bradbury, managing associate Daniel Adcock-Kirsh and paralegal Lauryn Chan among those joining the North West operation.

In Newcastle, 13 legal professionals have been recruited to reinforce the firm’s corporate, construction and private client teams. Real estate partner Tom Wills, private client associate Kirsty Allen and private client head of department Alison Hall are among the notable names strengthening the firm’s North East base.

This latest round of recruitment follows a series of recent developments at Ward Hadaway, including the opening of its Birmingham office earlier in 2025 and a merger with Teesside-based The Endeavour Partnership. Together, the moves reflect a clear growth strategy centred on regional investment and the broadening of its national profile.

Steven Petrie, managing partner of Ward Hadaway, said the expansion highlighted both client confidence and the firm’s commitment to sustainable growth. “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.”

Chris Green, who specialises in regulatory compliance and investigations and has joined as a partner in the Birmingham office, described the timing as ideal. “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.”

The firm said all new hires will be supported with tailored induction programmes and mentoring opportunities, enabling them to quickly integrate into teams and contribute to client work. A collaborative approach across offices and practice areas is designed to foster professional networks and encourage cross-departmental expertise.

Ward Hadaway’s investment in both people and infrastructure signals an ambition to establish itself as one of the UK’s most prominent full-service firms outside London, with regional strength underpinning national growth