Woods Whur expands into regulatory law, opens Newcastle office

Licensing law firm Woods Whur has opened an office in Newcastle and expanded into regulatory law with the hire of James Thompson from Clyde & Co.

Thompson is a specialist in the field of corporate crime, from dealing with directors accused of manslaughter to assisting organisations faced with high-profile and complex inquests.

With particular expertise in healthcare, retail and industry, he is also a Solicitor Higher Rights Advocate. He appears on a regular basis in the Magistrates’, Coroner’s and Crown Courts.

Woods Whur already has offices in Leeds and London.

Thompson said: “I am delighted to be joining Woods Whur to head up the Regulatory Department, dealing with all aspects of health and safety, food safety and general regulatory issues. It is an exciting time for me as I believe that Woods Whur gives me the perfect environment to give my existing clients the support they need. What is also clearly evident is the opportunity that this gives me to add value to Woods Whur’s existing client base. I feel it is a real win-win.”

Woods Whur has also hired Vinnie Schumacher, who qualified as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand in March 2014 and worked at the largest law firm in New Zealand, Simpson Grierson, where he was actively involved in the commercial property and commercial litigation teams.

Grierson moved to Leeds in March 2016 and was employed running his own case-load in a contentious trust and estates team before joining Woods Whur.

Paddy Whur, a partner and co- founder of Woods Whur, said: “We are all delighted with these two new appointments and with the opening of our office in Newcastle. Along With Paul Holland based in East Yorkshire and Anna Mathias in London, we now feel that we are genuinely a licensing and regulatory law firm with a national reach.”