PICTURES BY CHRIS BOOTH
ADVOCATES
FOR AYCLIFFE
BHP Law , one of the North-East ’ s longest-established law firms , is expanding – and Aycliffe is one of the areas that is set to benefit from its full range of services . Peter Barron reports …
Amid the widespread hardships created by Covid-19 , many businesses learned valuable lessons during the two years of lockdowns – and BHP Law was among them .
Like millions of companies worldwide , BHP Law had to move swiftly to more flexible working arrangements when the pandemic struck in the spring of 2020 . And having staff working from home underlined the fact that BHP Law had a cluster of highly experienced members of its team living in the Aycliffe area .
“ Agile working helped reinforce the fact that we had a lot of expertise and experience on the doorstep ,” says Rosie Woodward , an Associate of the practice and Chartered Legal Executive , who has lived in Aycliffe since she was a teenager .
The result is that Rosie – alongside fellow Aycliffe resident and BHP Law partner Jemma Ebdon – is now spearheading BHP Law ’ s ‘ Aycliffe Initiative ’ to provide stronger legal representation for the growing number of businesses and residents in the area .
Aycliffe Business Park – boosted by the arrival in 2015 of the Hitachi train assembly plant – is now home to more than 500 companies , employing around 10,000 people . Business expansion has been matched by residential growth and BHP Law believes there is strong local demand for its full range of legal services .
“ Aycliffe has become a vibrant hub for businesses , and that has had a knock-on effect residentially , so it makes complete sense for BHP Law to raise its profile in the area ,” adds Rosie . “ We already have a strong customerbase in Aycliffe – both business and residential – but it ’ s about building on those foundations . Jemma and I , as Aycliffe residents , will be the main points of contact .”
BHP Law is one of the region ’ s longest-established legal firms , with roots dating back to the early 1800s , and has offices in Darlington , Durham , Tynemouth , Newcastle and Stockton . There are 12 specialist teams focused on : Commercial and Agricultural Property ; Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes ; Corporate and Commercial Law ; Court of Protection ; Employment Law ; Family Law ; Letting and Property Management Services ; Notary Public Services ; Personal Injury and Medical Negligence ; Residential Conveyancing ; Personal Disputes Resolution ; and Wills , Trusts and Probate .
Mum-of-four Rosie works in Corporate and Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution which specialise in mergers and acquisitions , management buyouts , financing , incorporations , licensing , franchising , and disputes in land , construction and engineering , possession , debt recovery , nuisance , and defamation .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 17