Muckle LLP > Newcastle upon Tyne, England > Firm Profile

‘There is a real commitment at Muckle to working collaboratively with the client to execute an instruction with precision, diligence and commercial awareness.’

‘Anthony Evans, who heads up Muckle’s Corporate Finance team, sees the big picture and small details, advising concisely, pragmatically and with an exceptional ability to understand the instruction. Working collaboratively he leads strategically and executes brilliantly.’

‘Matthew Walsh very quickly grasps and understands your requirements and adopts a calm and pragmatic approach, keeping a keen and focused overview of projects whilst ensuring his team are well briefed and coordinated throughout the process. He is well supported by Sara Worsick, who is very dedicated and hardworking and demonstrates a clear and concise knowledge of current business law picking up on complex matters and highlighting where templated documents are out-of-date.’

‘Muckle provide a diverse portfolio of expertise and has assisted us on issues ranging from noise abatement orders to contractual disputes and business sales/acquisitions.The firm always provides sound advice, in a very timely manner and at a reasonable rate.’

‘From the junior team to the senior partners, the people at Muckle genuinely care and are invested in maintaining a close relationship with their clients. As a client, I certainly feel valued and working with Muckle is always easy; dare I say it, it can even be fun at times.’

‘Tom Justice was appointed to support me in developing the license. I cannot recommend Tom and Muckle more highly – I’d definitely go back.’

‘Alex Craig is extremely client focused with exceptional technical knowledge. She takes the time to ensure she understands what we need on a matter-by-matter basis and uses this information to tailor her advice. I know that the advice Alex provides is always well thought out, rather than just going with the standard approach.’

‘Stephanie Brown is technically brilliant with the detail.’

‘Muckle provides an excellent in-depth service which combines expert legal knowledge with genuine commercial acumen.’

‘Susan Howe is the stand-out partner in the practice. She provides thoughtful and highly strategic leadership on every case.’

‘The firm combines a depth of knowledge with genuine commercial insight resulting in an exceptional client service experience. Put simply we would not consider going elsewhere’

‘Head of department Susan Howe has created the standout commercial litigation team in the North East. I wouldn’t go any where else for sound commercial, business focused litigation advice.’

‘What you get from Susan Howe is very clear legal analysis combined with a strategic commercial approach, and someone who doesn’t give up in a fight.’

‘Muckle has an excellent litigation team. It is responsive and able to adapt its litigation styles to the personalities involved in disputes to facilitate and achieve resolution before disputes escalate to full litigation.’

‘Leah Heatley is fantastic. She is our go to dispute advisor in the UK. Able to unpick complex problems, suggest strategies for resolution, and delivers difficult advice in way which is easy to understand to get buy in from the client. Also, able to put up a good fight!’

‘Through the Muckle Collect service we have achieved recovery of arrears and implemented debt reducing payment plans, to numerous accounts across the group. We have found the services provided by Muckle Collect to be of the highest order’.

‘Collections, advice and legal help are exemplary; the services timely, beneficial, and professional; the people friendly, efficient and always willing to assist; the financial benefits quickly sourced, and the costs in recovering to be fair and clearly defined from the outset.’

‘We have always received good service from Muckles from starting the debt collection procedure to keeping us informed of progress’.

‘Beverley Oliver and all colleagues have been informative on all stages with customers collections’.

‘Muckle Collect is great to use. Very simple and straight forward.’

‘The team are great and very responsive.’

‘Muckle Collect is a user-friendly portal and the team at Muckle are on hand to assist with any queries.’

‘Beverly Oliver has lots of experience in her field and has great team supporting her, they are excellent at following up claims and keeping us update.’

‘The team demonstrate a good understanding of our business and how HR matters impact the organisation.’

‘Chris Maddock is excellent, knowledgeable and he cares. He ensures that any legal jargon is simplified and makes any process understandable.’

‘Lisa Kelly is friendly, knowledgeable and gives business-focused advice.’

‘The people we deal with are very responsive, practical, informed and down to earth. Chris Maddock is excellent in terms of his technical knowledge and his approach to us as clients. I couldn’t praise him enough.’

‘Constantly good availability, followed up by strong, pragmatic advice.’

‘The employment team at Muckle are approachable, pragmatic and commercially minded.’

‘I value the firm’s directness and ability to provide practical advice.’

‘Engaging, friendly and very professional. The lawyers make the process of working with them enjoyable. Very good at building relationships too. Every single employee of Muckle LLP that I have met or engaged with have been memorable and great to work with and meet.’

‘Muckle has a relatively small team, but they are top class. They take the time to understand complex issues and to fund pragmatic solutions. In terms of Real Estate Finance, the integration with property and construction teams is seamless’

‘Louise Duffy and Zoe Ditch are excellent lawyers. Very easy to work with.’

‘The team at Muckle LLP are very proactive in the local market and have a very good reputation. Within their Banking team, they have a broad range of experienced individuals with specialisms in a number of different sectors.’

‘I find all of the individuals within the Banking team very easy to work with. They all have a can-do attitude and are willing to share ideas & solutions to get the best outcomes for clients. A lot of my interaction tends to be with Louise Duffy who is very approachable.’

‘Excellent interaction with their professional partners, good levels of support and guidance through a transaction.’

‘Louise Duffy is outstanding. She has excellent sector knowledge, sound commercial judgement and provides exceptional client service.’

‘Andrew Coddington is reassuringly responsive and provides great technical support on complex deals.’

‘The whole team is excellent. Everyone gives a quick & practical answer as well as making sure transitions are on track and managed. The team are always proactive, approachable and professional. Louise Duffy has been exceptional, and we would not have achieved completion on land acquisition and bridge funding without her attention to detail, commitment to driving the projects forward along with her expertise and knowledge.’

‘The team are friendly, approachable and explain legal issues and their advice in clear and accessible terms.’

‘People make the difference! Despite everyone being busy time is taken to get to know you as a client, understand the issue you need help with and then to discuss the different approaches that can be taken. A good blend of commercial, legal and common sense.’

‘Joanne Davison always has time, cares about people, charities and communities and you never feel you are wasting her time.’

‘Very client-focused and detailed with regard to taking on board client concerns and ensuring clarity of assessment and issues. In depth knowledge of the subject based on experience and knowledge. Significant client and issue support within a diverse professional team. Reasonable cost giving a very good value for money.’

‘Worked closely with Samantha Pritchard who’s attention to detail and assessment skills are excellent. Sam has a personal approach based on an empathetic character enabling her to deal with tricky issues and subjects sympathetically but in detail.’

‘Highly personable team who always leave you with a sense that they really care about their clients and will go above and beyond to deliver a quality service which meets a clients needs and exceeds expectations. Always found Joanne Davison and Richard Nixon to be incredibly approachable, thorough and efficient. Had the pleasure of meeting Ryan Douglas a promising Paralegal on the team who was supporting the work of David Towns from the Estates Team and it was great to see Junior staff encouraged and supported to deliver quality work as part of the team.’

‘The team are excellent, I would highly recommend as their knowledge of the charity sector and regulatory requirements is second to none. There is a genuine culture of collaboration and a strength in depth, drawing upon the relevant expertise across the firm in order to make sure we get the best advice possible. As well as providing excellent technical advice, they’ve invested time in and developed a real understanding of our organisation.’

‘Chris Hook has a clear and refreshing approach, and his advice is always prompt and focused. He has a strong an understanding of charity governance and the key issues for charities.’

‘Muckle’s education team is superb. They are highly knowledgeable of the education sector, very professional in their approach, and they are both compassionate and clear when dealing with sensitive issues.’

‘Joanne Davison is always a very positive and solution-focused individual. She has a depth of knowledge in the sector and where issues cross over into other legal areas she always finds answers for us. She is highly professional, courteous and goes the extra mile.’

‘Working with Muckle is always a pleasure, the team make things very clear to us which is helpful when dealing with complex issues. The respond very quickly and are always available to support.’

‘Richard Nixon is very responsive and progresses land issues with a problem solving and determined approach.’

‘Joanne Davison is responsive, pragmatic and always prepared to discuss a complex situation to come up with the most appropriate advice and solution.’

‘Jill Donabie is our lead partner and is very knowledgeable and helpful. She always responds quickly with a view of making our job a lot easier.’

‘Joanne Davison is great to work with. She is very knowledgeable of the education sector and the local education landscape and is also very approachable and an excellent communicator.’

‘The team at Muckle is always very helpful and knowledgeable. We have always had our queries and requests addressed promptly with professionalism. The team know our sector very well and have the skills to help us address our issues.’

‘The team is very responsive to client requirements with extensive knowledge of the social housing sector.’

‘I have been impressed with Muckle, and they deal with enquiries promptly and professionally’.

‘Sarah Barratt stands out. She is very professional; she always takes time to discuss matters in a clear and understandable way to non-legal clients.’

‘We have used Muckle for property disrepair claims. We are impressed with the level of knowledge and understand that they provided. The main strengths provided were the specific point of contact provided for all cases and also the ability to speak personally with whoever was dealing with the case at short notice.’

‘We are particularly impressed with the availability of individuals at short notice and the willingness to meet in person or on calls when needed. Sarah Barratt has been our main point of contact and we have found the work she has done for us to be excellent.’

‘I think that this is a very well run, responsive and competent litigation team. There are strong individuals who work well together and work very well indeed with counsel to deliver a very commercial and well focussed outcome for clients.’

‘Jennifer Pearson is outstanding. Her clarity, forensic attention to detail and common sense are second to none.’ 

‘Charlotte McMurchie and Sarah Barratt are both very approachable and very experienced and understand social housing as well as our objectives.’

‘Team leader Charlotte McMurchie is a smooth operator with a great set of skills. A joy to work with and always a laugh.’

‘Size, familiarity with our market, strong female partner team, good all round knowledge and clear on where their advice will stop- but then who we might want to talk to too’

‘Alex Craig- customer service, knowledge, and I feel like she wants us to be successful, is trying to find solutions that will allow our growth in a complex and highly regulated sector.’

‘The team work very quickly and efficiently, but not at the expense of service. They genuinely feel like an extension of our team due to the in-depth knowledge they have of our organisation. They look to develop a partnership with their clients, and really understand the business they are advising; that’s why we’ve had such a strong working relationship for many years.’

‘In all our dealings, Alex Craig is responsive and provides considered and pragmatic advice and guidance which goes beyond just legal support. She cares about her clients and works hard to make sure they get the best experience and insight. She leads a strong team that provides us with an excellent service at all levels.’

‘George Festing offers pragmatic and solutions-focused advice, he is an excellent litigator with a deep technical and legislative knowledge. I would recommend anyone engaging in commercial litigation to instruct George.’

‘Alex Spiers always takes a through and hands on approach, combining strong legal knowledge with a practical approach to clients’ needs. You can be confident that Alex will always look for solutions to avoid disputes if possible and resolve issues in an alternative way to get the best results for her clients.’

‘The team at Muckle are always diligent, capable and engaging. Most importantly, they know when to balance commercial needs with legal judgement.’

‘The individuals we deal with are calm, capable and highly experienced. Muckle tends to offer London quality legal advice within the North East. This isn’t common.’

‘I have worked closely with George Festing, a partner in the Muckle Media and Entertainment team. George is tremendously astute – and has a depth of knowledge relating to contentious music matters, in particular, which is on a par with any of the London firms operating in that market sector.’

‘George Festing is the stand-out partner. In addition to my comments above, George is a real pleasure to work with. He is extremely bright, personable and charming. George’s advice is considered, commercial and pragmatic. A real star.’

‘Muckle LLP’s insolvency team is made up of a group of experienced lawyers who specialise in advising clients on a range of insolvency and restructuring matters.’

‘The team has a strong reputation for providing practical and commercial advice to insolvency practitioners, creditors, debtors, directors, and other stakeholders in a variety of sectors, including construction, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare.’

‘Muckle LLP’s insolvency team is known for taking a collaborative and pragmatic approach to their work, working closely with clients to understand their specific needs and goals.’

‘The insolvency team strives to find innovative and cost-effective solutions to help clients navigate the complexities of insolvency and restructuring situations. Additionally, the team works closely with other departments within the firm, such as banking and finance, dispute resolution, and corporate, to provide a comprehensive service to clients.’

Overall, Muckle LLP’s insolvency team is highly regarded in the legal industry for their technical expertise, commercial awareness, and client-focused approach.’

‘Laura Keegan and Sarah Farish are the key lawyers. I have worked with both previously and would recommend them to others.’

‘I get a full legal service on construction matters from land acquisition, through planning, construction and letting. The team is experienced and works well as a collective on complex projects and issues.’

‘Adam Aston is an expert in his field; diligent and very client-focused.’

‘The lawyers provide an excellent value-for-money service.’

‘Charlotte Patterson-Ryan is exceptionally efficient and is able to drive deals and meet tight deadlines. Her pragmatism and practical approach are stand out qualities in addition to her technical knowledge.’

‘The team at Muckle LLP stand out because they adopt a hands on/’muddy boots’ approach with face to face meetings and on site visits. They are responsive and proactive. They want to understand what they are dealing with and be able to provide clear and focused advice specific to the job in hand. This makes my job as an agent much easier and instills confidence in my clients who like their pragmatic and commercial attitude.

‘I use Muckle for general rural and commercial property matters: sales/purchases; landlord and tenant; disputes; taxation; trusts. In respect of minerals and associated property matters, I believe Muckle are unrivalled in dealing with: first registration; landlord and tenant for operational mining/quarrying; disputes requiring both legal and commercial remedies.’

‘David Towns is a brilliant mind. I rely with regularity on David’s responsive and proactive approach to finding a pragmatic solution efficiently. He has the ability to distil down complex legal issues and present solutions in a very human way. My clients view David as a genuine and trusted adviser.’

‘A competent, professional, commercial and friendly team who clearly work well together.’

‘Approachable and immensely capable – quickly reactive’

‘Very good expertise in the Landed Estate Sector and a drive for good , prompt service and an enthusiasm to deliver solutions.’

‘Speed of response and an ability to organise themselves within the team so that there is case familiarity between more than one professional acting which is useful when working with wider teams from our side.’

‘Muckle are always on hand to provide advice and guidance, and you always know who you are dealing with, they provide a personal touch and value you as a client.’

‘Jennifer Pearson is a terrific solicitor. She has an amazing grip on detail and the law, case management and how to manage complex multi party litigation, working well with clients and other lawyers.’

‘Dedicated and dynamic team within the practice who take time to understand the nuances within the industry. Advice is given in a practical way, allowing solutions to be implemented making a difference to the sport.’

‘Each individual offers valuable advice and great attention to detail, and our partnership with Muckle goes from strength to strength as a result. An extended member of the team!’

‘Very knowledgeable and capable.’

‘They gave considered advice in relatable language. Very pleasant to deal with.’

‘Rachael’s team is proactive in client care, and always go the extra mile to deliver on exceptional client service. The team is well run and second to none when it comes to dealing with technically complex issues. It has a range of private client specialists who work effortlessly and seamlessly together, complement each other effectively. As a client you are assured and comprehensively advised; as an intermediary you know you can trust that your clients will be understood, looked after and, very importantly, charged fairly.’

‘Rachael herself stands out to be an absolutely pragmatic and strategic lawyer. She possesses unrivalled talent in handling the most complex situations with utmost ease, humanity and skill. She is very approachable and provides excellent, timely service- very client focused and exceptional on detail. By illustration perhaps, I have noticed how Rachael treats each client as if she’s known them their whole lifetime – they trust her to the hilt, no stone goes unturned and the result is robust, pragmatic advice, leading to comprehensive but workable solutions. She instils confidence and reassurance in her clients without leading them to the obvious.’

‘The individuals get to know their clients fully and ensure that they are looking at their circumstances holistically as opposed to just considering any one particular area. They are friendly and approachable and clients are always comfortable dealing with them. Both Rachael Stephenson and Tim Boardman have been introduced to some of my clients and both have provided excellent service which has also been commented on by my clients.’