Serving the Teesside Business Community | 57
Square One Law
expands into Tees Valley
S
quare One Law recently welcomed
Liz Truss MP, Chief Secretary to the
Treasury, to the North-East and officially
opened the firm’s new Tees Valley office.
The firm hosted a VIP breakfast meeting
for Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and an
invited group of Tees Valley business owners
and entrepreneurs who were able to discuss
the challenges and opportunities facing the
regional and wider UK economy with Ms
Truss.
The discussion raised some interesting
questions about the way the planning
system can help businesses, the impact of
disruptive and challenger enterprises and the
opportunities that could come from breaking
large government contracts into smaller ones
for SMEs.
Ms Truss said: “The Tees Valley is one
of the great success stories of the past
few years, with trade on the rise and
unemployment down.
“There are fantastic opportunities out
there for businesses looking to expand their
exports and as a government we want to
do everything we can to make it as easy as
possible for trade to prosper. And the area
is certainly benefiting from having a metro
mayor and the devolved powers that come
with that position.”
Mr Houchen said: “I am delighted that
Square One Law has chosen Stockton as
the location for their first office outside
Newcastle.
“As a region we’re renowned for our
expertise in heavy industry, chemicals and
engineering, but we have so much more
to offer. To see professional services firms
Tees launch – pictured (back row, left to right) is Square One Law EU and competition partner Neil Warwick,
managing partner Gill Hall and senior partner Ian Gilthorpe, with (front) Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen
and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss MP.
expand into the Tees Valley just shows how
much potential there is in our region.
“This investment and expansion is a vote
of confidence in the whole Tees Valley and
our skilled workforce.”
Square One Law’s EU and competition
partner, Neil Warwick, said: “The Tees Valley,
having secured one of the first devolution
deals in England, has stolen a lead in terms
of its economic regeneration.
“The devolution deal combined with
the Northern Powerhouse Investment
Fund means that there will be significant
investment in the Tees Valley over the next
decade with the Strategic Economic Plan
estimating an additional 25,000 jobs and an
extra £2.8 billion added to the economy by
2026.”
The devolution deal is only the latest
success after the decade of collaborative
working by the five local authorities, Tees
Valley Unlimited (the only LEP to be fully
integrated into a combined authority), the
university and colleges, all working together
with industry through award-winning cluster
bodies like NEPIC to create opportunities in
the Tees Valley.
Senior partner Ian Gilthorpe added: “Until
now we have looked after our clients across
the whole of the North-East and elsewhere
from our Newcastle base. However, the firm
is already very active in the Teesside region
and we spend considerable time working
with companies such as px Group, Able, JDR
Cables and Fine Organics.
“We’re delighted to have been appointed
by Tees Valley Combined Authority and the
South Tees Development Corporation. This
platform has provided us with the opportunity
to create and develop a Tees Valley office
which we intend to grow, employ people and
make a contribution to the area.”
The Tees Valley office is being led by
Square One Law partners Neil Warwick,
Helen Brain and Marie-Louise Bozonet, along
with senior partner Ian Gilthorpe.
Please contact Neil Warwick on 01642 433 390
or visit squareonelaw.com for further information.