Serving the Teesside Business Community | 11
The best part of my job is... assisting
clients in achieving their goals by applying
legal principles to conquer challenges but
while doing so taking a commercial approach
to every situation.
The biggest downside of my working
life is... dealing with lawyers who during
transactions consider themselves more
important than their clients’ instructions and
the deal in the hand.
Four words to describe me are... honest,
brave, sensitive and practical.
My business mantra is... be careful whose
advice you buy, but be patient with those
who supply it.
The advice I’d give to business start-ups
is... to spend a little on good advice now to
avoid the big pitfalls later.
The best business decision I ever made
was... taking partnership at Endeavour.
The worst business decision I ever made
was... accepting partnership! This is, of
course, not the worst decision, but the
transition from employee to business owner
and employer is one that must be carefully
considered and planned. Just because you
are skilled at your particular profession does
not automatically equip you with the varied
skills you need to effectively run and manage
a business. Take good advice and surround
yourself with a competent and focused team.
If I could change one thing to help my
business, and business generally, it would
be... to cut the unnecessary regulatory
frameworks and rules that inhibit creativity
and growth in all businesses.
My tip for Tees businesses is... be proud of
who and what you are, keep at the forefront
of your belief, that excellence exists outside
of the city.
When I was at school, I wanted to be... a
policeman, then a marine biologist and finally
a vet. After all, what sort of seven-year-old
really wants to be a solicitor?
My greatest achievement is... my kids and
making it to 40.
In retirement, I’ll spend my time...
probably wishing I had put more away for my
retirement!
BE CAREFUL WHOSE ADVICE YOU BUY, BUT BE
PATIENT WITH THOSE WHO SUPPLY IT.
Teesside’s a great place for business
because... excellence in all walks of life and
types of business does exist outside the city.
My biggest frustration about Teesside,
shared along with the rest of the North
East (but to a greater extent) is... that
Teesside has long been overlooked and
virtually ignored by successive governments
when trying to attract investment from both
the private and public sectors.
My favourite local charity is... the
Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic
Foundation (The Teesside Charity).
The biggest character on the Tees
business scene is... still Henry Bolckow, iron
master. Without his foresight the banks of
the Tees and the wider area would look very
different.
When I’m not working, I like to spend my
time... getting dirty with classic Land Rovers.
My guilty pleasures are... Pot Noodles and
ITV’s Heartbeat, but not together.
The best holiday I ever had was... not a
holiday as such, but a four-month geology
fieldtrip. It was a whole life experience,
with 25 university students left to their own
devices. What could possibly go wrong?
Not many people know this about me
but... my first career was as an exploration
geologist in the oil industry. It took me all
over the world, many places of which were
pretty wild!