Square One Law opens latest office on Stockton riverside with fresh appointment

Square One Law has continued its regional expansion with the opening of a new office in Tees Valley, as well as a new managing partner.

Building on the commercial law firm’s client base in Tees Valley, the new office on Stockton’s riverside will enable the firm to provide to its growing portfolio in the area.

The move coincides with the firm being appointed to the Tees Valley Combined Authority advisory panel.

Square One Law has also advised the South Tees Development Corporation on its masterplan to regenerate the former SSI site, which would generate a further £1bn a year for the local economy and creating a significant number of new jobs.

The leadership team in the Tees Valley office will be Square One Law partners, Neil Warwick, Helen Brain and senior partner Ian Gilthorpe - supported by resource from the firm’s Newcastle office ahead of further recruitment in the coming months.

Gill Hall is an IP/IT lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in commercial and contracts law. Gill was previously the head of the commercial team at Muckle and, most recently, led the IP/IT team at national public sector firm, Hempsons.

She said: “I worked with founding partners Ian Gilthorpe and Alan Fletcher when we were all at Muckle and I have watched the growth of Square One Law with interest.

“I’ve joined the firm at a very exciting time and was attracted by the quality of its client base, its different and innovative approach to the way it delivers legal services, together with the energy and drive of everyone in the business.”

In other news, Neil Warwick is the North East’s only EU and competition lawyer and was also responsible for establishing a strategic alliance with Brussels-based EU law practice Kemmlers.

This alliance ensures Square One Law’s clients have access to European Institutions as well as giving them a base to have ongoing influence within the EU’s trading community.

Neil said: “Tees Valley, having secured one of the first devolution deals in England, has stolen a lead in terms of its economic regeneration.

“We have a very active cohort of clients in the area, which we will grow by having a permanent presence in the Tees Valley.”