TEEDSALE LOWDOWN

FIRMS have reported an increase in the quality of work on all fronts. No doubt, this is due to the area's regeneration bringing more prestigious clients to the area.

JACKSONS COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE LAW is a respected and established firm, providing a full range of commercial and private client services.

TILLY BAILEY AND IRVINE - with 16 partners and 48 fee-earners - is the largest law firm in the Tees Valley. It has hired extensively from national law firms to build up its strength.

ENDEAVOUR PARTNERSHIP had a good 2006 with its strategy of focusing on providing purely commercial law advice to Tees Valley businesses and beyond is paying dividends. Its corporate practice is gathering momentum.

ARCHERS LAW saw private and business client work increase last year. The firm has moved to premises in Stockton.

NEWCASTLE LOWDOWN

DICKINSON DEES is the regional leader. With a national reputation for excellence and a client base across the country, clients express their continued confidence.

The firm is the largest in the North-East, with 71 partners and 840 staff.

Last year saw Dickinson Dees expand geographically as well as organically with a merger with York-based corporate boutique Philip Ashworth and Co. There was also an expansion in workload and high-profile deals across all practice areas.

EVERSHEDS' national network allows matters to be handled across offices, if needed. The Newcastle office has expertise in corporate and commercial, shipping, commercial property and clinical negligence. In one typical client comment, the firm was described as "extremely efficient, with a consummate understanding of our sector".

In the eyes of many clients and peers, WARD HADAWAY is the nearest competitor to Dickinson Dees.

With an increasing reputation for excellent corporate and commercial work, the firm enjoyed a highly successful year working on some of the most significant deals in the North-East.

Major lateral hires, including former Eversheds regional managing partner Chris Hugill and Melanie Pears and her team, also from Eversheds, boosted the growing public sector and regeneration side of the firm.

MUCKLE attracts praise for the business acumen and client care skills of its lawyers. A number of clients describe it as "punching above its weight" and regard its energetic and focused manner as a particular selling point.

WATSON BURTON achieved record turnover last year. Following its ambitious move into the Leeds market in 2005, it went one step further in last year and opened a London office.

Core practice areas include construction, in which the firm has a national reputation, insurance, international engineering projects and property development.

With Newcastle, Leeds and London, the practice is growing quickly.

Robert Langley is senior partner.

Hay and Kilner has a solid reputation, particularly in litigation and insurance, while an increasingly sophisticated insolvency practice is making headway and is well positioned in the marketplace. Clients comment on the firm's 'approachability and practical attitude'.

CRUTES LAW FIRM, under the leadership of managing partner Helen Ager, has offices in Newcastle, Carlisle and Stockton. The firm has forged ahead with its plans to become the "firm of choice" for small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

MINCOFFS SOLICITORS continues to attract heavyweight clients, particularly for commercial property work. The firm is popular with the business community in the North-East and further afield.

SINTONS is making good progress in expanding its client base and increasing the complexity.

This was demonstrated when it advised on the refinancing of a healthcare property portfolio worth 60m. This full-service firm has a growing band of satisfied clients with one commenting that it provides "clear, fast, and friendly advice voiced in a way that non-legal brains can grasp".

MCKEAGS had a successful 2006 following its move to premises in Newcastle city centre in 2005. It now has nearly 300 staff and its commercial property and banking and finance teams continue to demonstrate significant progress with panel appointments to banks andbuilding societies.

BLACKETT HART AND PRATT covers the region with offices in Newcastle, Darlington, and Durham. The firm merged with two Tyneside-based high street practices, Harvey and Marron, and Anderson and Haggie last year, which strengthened the family and commercial litigation areas of the firm.

Corporate, dispute resolution, and commercial property are the firm's core disciplines, with its sports division and planning department potential growth areas.

BROWELL SMITH AND CO is a trade union firm with an excellent track record in claimant personal injury work and occupational disease cases. Employment, immigration and family law are growth areas.

National firm IRWIN MITCHELL has established a clear footprint in the North-East since opening its Newcastle office four years ago.

Complex and high-value claimant personal injury and clinical negligence claims are the firm's forte.

SAMUEL PHILLIPS LAW FIRM is strong in clinical negligence, family and employment work, while its commercial property unit is developing well. The high-profile and respected Barry Speker is senior partner.

SHORT RICHARDSON AND FO-RTH'S leading employment practitioner, Michael Short, is a consultant to the practice, and the firm has a long-established reputation for employment work.

DAVID GRAY SOLICITORS is noted for criminal, immigration and family law.

THOMPSONS acts for a number of major trade unions. The firm has a leading reputation for claimant insurance work and is expanding its clinical negligence practice..

RUSSELL JONES AND WALKER in Newcastle has a respected personal injury and criminal practice and can draw on strengths in employment, clinical negligence, crime and personal injury throughout its nine UK offices.