LAW firm Dickinson Dees has appointed leading environmental and health and safety lawyer MICHAEL HUTCHINSON as partner and head of its environmental and safety team, in Newcastle.

With more than 18 years' experience in the field, Mr Hutchinson has worked for some of the biggest names in the UK legal sector, including Linklaters, Freshfields and Mayer, Brown and Rowe & Maw, from where he joins Dickinson Dees.

Managing partner Neil Braithwaite said: "Michael's arrival, with his considerable reputation in this area, will enable us to build on our existing strengths in both our private and public sector work, ranging as it does from waste, through chemicals, engineering, renewables and utilities."