LAW
Momentum – Leah Duffield and Anthony Evans.
Our mission is to build strong relationships and to be a force for good in the community we live and work in.”
Anthony Evans, managing partner of Muckle, emphasised that Teesside’ s character is a perfect match for the firm.
He said:“ We have worked with many fantastic Teesside businesses and it’ s great to now make a permanent commitment to the region. We have been hugely encouraged by the reception we’ ve had so far, which I am sure is down to the quality of our team.
“ Our mission is to build strong relationships and to be a force for good in the community we live and work in. I am excited to see what we can achieve together.”
Muckle’ s commitment to the region is demonstrated by its work with the Tees Valley Combined Authority( TVCA). The firm has advised TVCA across a wide variety of legal services for several years and was also appointed to the legal panel for the £ 20m Teesside Flexible Investment Fund, managed by FW Capital, which aims to support economic development in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton.
Leah said:“ It is a good example of how established our roots are on Teesside.
Our work for TVCA has given us a strong understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges in the region.
“ It shows how integrated we are in the market here already.”
While Muckle has grown to an impressive 204 people, it deliberately avoids the impersonal feel of a massive corporate machine.
This allows the firm to offer extensive, top-tier specialisms – spanning commercial development, construction, engineering, banking, corporate finance, real estate finance and public procurement – while maintaining highly personal client relationships.
Leah added:“ The priority will always be client relationships and service levels. It is really important that this works across the business and is something we really do focus on.
“ Part of that comes from not being overly large. We know each other well, collaborate closely and stay genuinely connected as a team. Our ambition is to build a multi-service office in Teesside, offering a full range of legal services to clients across the region.”
This approach directly benefits the bigger clients and SMEs, but Muckle’ s investment in Teesside also extends beyond business transactions.
Embedded in the local community, Muckle is a proud member of the Middlesbrough FC Business Club and has a rich history of supporting local charities.
One example is its work with Clean Slate Solutions. Muckle’ s senior partner, Hugh Welch, has been a trustee of the charity since 2023 and the firm has supported it with £ 16,000 in grants to date.
In the last year alone, Muckle has provided a total of £ 27,260 in grant funding to eight different Tees Valley charities.
Looking ahead, the firm is eager to deepen such connections and will soon name its official Teesside charity of the year, committing to 12 months of dedicated fundraising, volunteering and pro bono legal work.
And to officially mark the move into a new Teesside office, Muckle will host a special event at the Hidden Oak in Stockton in June.
The voice of business in the Tees region | 41