The gap between Dickinson Dees and the chasing pack shows few signs of narrowing and the firm remains the region's clear market leader, dominating every market sector bar insurance as it expands its national client base. It is investing heavily in its TMT practice, having appointed David Marsh from Wragge & Co LLP as head of IT. Environment head Denise Dowen left the firm to join Halliwell Landau. Eversheds LLP remains the closest challenger to Dickinson Dees, despite the loss of senior partner Michael Spriggs to UK Land Estates and the departure of other partners, including David Hardman and Richard Pickersgill, who joined Watson Burton. The firm has an excellent public sector and international clientele, and Nick On's leadership of the banking practice continues to impress. Ward Hadaway is nipping on Eversheds LLP's heels after an outstanding 2002 when it invested heavily in its real estate practice. Major lateral hires include Niall Head-Rapson from Martineau Johnson to head the IP practice and develop a biotech capability; Malcolm Lloyd from Pinsents as head of commercial property and Alan Herbert, also from Pinsents, to establish a property litigation function. Partner Richard Freeman-Wallace subsequently moved to Watson Burton. Somewhat controversial was the firm's decision to take on a number of Ernst & Young corporate financiers. Watson Burton had an excellent 2002, attracting recruits from a range of sources: property litigator Richard Pickersgill and corporate expert David Hardman from Eversheds LLP; property finance expert Richard Freeman-Wallace, formerly property head at Ward Hadaway, and employment partner Christopher Graham from Leeds-based Ford & Warren. Robert Muckle remains extremely popular with owner- managed businesses. Long dominated by senior partner Ian Gilthorpe and managing partner Hugh Welch, the firm now has a range of energetic younger partners climbing through the ranks. Corporate head Robert Phillips, finance expert Stephen McNicol, commercial property head Jonathan Combe, employment head Tony McPhillips and technology specialist Mary Anne Macharg are among the region's leading individuals. Behind the leading five firms, Hay & Kilner is strong in insurance, private client and litigation. Client satisfaction is high, and senior partner Martin Soloman and corporate head Nick James are highly regarded. In a steady year, Hay & Kilner hired employment lawyer Chris Maddock from Howes Percival and bedded down the transfer of private client lawyers from Eversheds LLP. Crutes Law Firm had a good year in 2002. Its major partner hire was Nicholas Fairhurst who joined the property department from Betesh Fox & Co. It also gained key new clients in the Treasury Solicitor and Carlisle Housing Association. Managing partner Stephen Crute was appointed as chair of the Police Defence Lawyers' Forum, while Tim Wallis spent a year as president of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers. The firm is building up its commercial and property practices alongside its insurance litigation, public sector and housing teams. Mincoffs is in a period of transition following the retirement of its most high-profile lawyer Austen Science. Howard Gold remains a familiar figurehead, and the hire of Mark Green as litigation head was a good step. Tom Blewett and Alison Ainsley, who head the clinical negligence and personal injury teams respectively, are important assets. Sinton & Co enjoyed excellent growth in 2000 and 2001, and 2002 was a year of consolidation. But it made a number of key hires, including Robert Muckle litigation partner Catherine Wood and Chris Welch, a corporate partner from Watson Burton. It also invested heavily in its claimant personal injury team, which now rivals its defendant practice. Corporate, banking, property and private client are all burgeoning areas of expertise. Short Richardson & Forth is among the region's best employment practices and, in Michael Short, has an outstanding practitioner. In 2002, it lost David Wilkinson to Eversheds LLP. It also lost Johanna Heyderson, who left to do council work. We also recommend the firm for property and litigation. McKeags has an excellent property department that has fuelled the growth of a solid banking practice. Developers and landowners are bedrock clients. Browell Smith & Co is a top firm for claimant personal injury and has an impressive mining clientele. Blackett Hart & Pratt has a solid network of offices throughout the region and good practices in commercial, property, private client and insurance. National giant Irwin Mitchell opened in Newcastle in early 2003 and is expected to become a major player in the market. The Tees Valley: Jacksons is the leading firm in the region with an office in Stockton-on-Tees as well as Gateshead and Leeds offices. For commercial, property, employment and insurance work it has no peers locally. Tilly Bailey & Irvine also maintains a network of offices; Hartlepool attracts the highest profile work. It offers a good licensing team. Thompsons is pre-eminent in trade union and claimant insurance work. Despite the loss of Stefan Cross, who established his own firm, it maintains a good employment practice. Cumbria: Burnetts has an excellent reputation. Services include corporate, employment, public sector and insurance. Cartmell Shepherd offers a broad range of non-corporate expertise through its four-office network. Baines Wilson is a smaller firm with a strong commercial focus. | 
Have your say on the issues affecting you and your business in the North East >>>
Sign up to our Daily Emails and receive the latest business news and features delivered to your inbox >>>
Subscribe to our RSS nebusiness news feeds >>>
