Well networked, Ian is well known in the region for strategic thinking, excelling at project management, service delivery and using his wide network to connect businesses and add value. He has always been passionate about his clients’ businesses and was a trusted adviser for major corporates through to start-ups.

Although Ian has been a transactional corporate lawyer, he is probably better known for his entrepreneurial approach at developing businesses. He stands apart from other lawyers in the region because he has developed two successful law firms – Square One Law and Muckle LLP and gained international experience at Eversheds.

Ian led the development of Muckle LLP over a 25-year period, taking it from a 15-person general practice firm to a full-service commercial firm of over 130 people. He then joined Eversheds as their North-East Business Development Partner before seeing the opportunity with Alan Fletcher in 2011 to start a new type of law firm that literally went back to square one and really focussed on how to deliver high levels of service to their clients. Eleven years on, Square One Law is now a major corporate law firm with offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Darlington and acts for a wide range of major businesses. Succession planning is important for all businesses and Ian concluded the time was right to pass the baton to the next generation of partners so he could go forward as a consultant and work with clients on specific business projects and help them develop and grow. 

Ian has experience as a non-executive director across manufacturing, professional services and financial sectors. He is well connected and known for his passion about the North-East and the development of talent in the region. 

Ian is also a keen sportsman and whilst Chairman of South Northumberland Cricket Club, played the lead role in its regeneration and the creation of the Newcastle Cricket Centre. It is now one of the leading recreational cricket clubs in the UK with over four hundred youth members and operating coaching programmes for youngsters (male and female) across the North-East from its state-of-the-art cricket centre.