We understand the region and we’ re invested in the local community.
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Community support – pictured( from left) is Clean Slate Solutions chair Warren Harrison, business manager Kay Coleman and founder Richard Brice, with Muckle senior partner Hugh Welch.
Although the region has nearly 18,000 businesses, it still suffers from low business density in comparison to other regions in the UK, meaning that every business counts in creating a more prosperous and economically viable Tees Valley.
OPPORTUNI-TEES Leah joined the firm in early 2025, bolstering its already impressive private client offering and growing its presence on Teesside.
Although the firm has supported clients such as Tees Valley Combined Authority and Teesside International Airport for several years, Leah’ s appointment marks the start of a new chapter for the firm.
Leah, having spent her whole life in Teesside, is proud of the region’ s success.
“ Businesses are, quite rightly, starting to view Teesside as a huge opportunity for growth,” she says.
“ There’ s such a strong sense of identity as a place and a huge amount of protectiveness over Teesside clients. I have always been very proud to be a Teesside lawyer.”
However, it doesn’ t take a genius to work out that businesses that embed themselves in the region’ s communities, not just its economy, are best placed to help shape a more inclusive and resilient future.
Leah couldn’ t agree more, saying: " That was critical in my joining Muckle. The firm understood that in order to take from the community, you need to give back to the community.
“ Muckle has championed community support for many years, and that’ s only expected to grow as we continue to develop our team on Teesside.”
“ This has been through grant funding, volunteering and pro bono legal support. Most recently, we announced that local charity Clean Slate Solutions, which supports ex-offenders in finding work, is to receive another £ 5,000 in follow-on funding from our Muckle Fund at the Community Foundation for the third year in a row.”
The firm is also actively ramping up its social mobility efforts – particularly relevant as Teesside has been described as a‘ cold spot’ for social mobility.
As well as being a founding member of the North East Apprenticeship Scheme, Muckle is also working with The Social Mobility Foundation to improve career opportunities for young people from disadvantaged
We understand the region and we’ re invested in the local community.
backgrounds. The firm is working with a number of schools in the Tees Valley that have a high percentage of free school meals to provide pupils with accessible information, experiences and routes into law.
Leah says Muckle is committed to continuing to support the Tees Valley:“ We’ re a full-service commercial law firm, so we’ re able to support with all aspects of business as well as providing that wrap-around service from our private client team.
“ We understand the region and we’ re invested in the local community. We’ ve also got some exciting plans in the pipeline, so watch this space.”
For advice on your business, or giving back to the community, visit muckle-llp. com
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