header-logo header-logo

Ward Hadaway—Paul Wigham

19 January 2026
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
printer mail-detail
Firm boosts corporate team in Newcastle to support high-growth technology businesses

Ward Hadaway has appointed Paul Wigham as a partner in its corporate team, adding further expertise to support high-growth businesses in the technology and innovation sectors. Based in the firm’s Newcastle office, Wigham brings more than 16 years’ experience advising on M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions.

Wigham has a strong focus on helping technology businesses and university spinouts accelerate growth, advising on M&A and fundraising transactions for founders, investors and management teams. His recent work includes advising the shareholders of Oak Engage on its sale to NorthEdge and Runecast Software on its sale to New York Stock Exchange-listed Dynatrace.

Commenting on his appointment, Wigham said Ward Hadaway has ‘a strong practice, a clear commercial focus and extensive connections to the local business community’, adding that the firm is ‘ambitious and entrepreneurial’. He said there is ‘a clear sense of momentum’ and that he is looking forward to supporting clients and colleagues with ‘trusted and pragmatic advice’.

Nik Tunley, national head of corporate at Ward Hadaway, said Wigham brings ‘many years of knowledge in the emerging technologies market’ and ‘trusted relationships with private equity and venture capital funds’. Managing partner Steven Petrie added that his arrival ‘demonstrates our continued investment in senior talent’ and further strengthens the firm’s ability to support ‘technology led and investor backed companies’ on complex transactions.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Stacey Brown

Muckle LLP—Stacey Brown

Corporate governance and company law specialist joins the team

Excello Law—Heather Horsewood & Darren Barwick

Excello Law—Heather Horsewood & Darren Barwick

North west team expands with senior private client and property hires

Ward Hadaway—Paul Wigham

Ward Hadaway—Paul Wigham

Firm boosts corporate team in Newcastle to support high-growth technology businesses

NEWS

NOTICE UNDER THE TRUSTEE ACT 1925

HERBERT SMITH STAFF PENSION SCHEME (THE “SCHEME”)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND BENEFICIARIES UNDER SECTION 27 OF THE TRUSTEE ACT 1925
Law firm HFW is offering clients lawyers on call for dawn raids, sanctions issues and other regulatory emergencies
From gender-critical speech to notice periods and incapability dismissals, employment law continues to turn on fine distinctions. In his latest employment law brief for NLJ, Ian Smith of Norwich Law School reviews a cluster of recent decisions, led by Bailey v Stonewall, where the Court of Appeal clarified the limits of third-party liability under the Equality Act
Non-molestation orders are meant to be the frontline defence against domestic abuse, yet their enforcement often falls short. Writing in NLJ this week, Jeni Kavanagh, Jessica Mortimer and Oliver Kavanagh analyse why the criminalisation of breach has failed to deliver consistent protection
Assisted dying remains one of the most fraught fault lines in English law, where compassion and criminal liability sit uncomfortably close. Writing in NLJ this week, Julie Gowland and Barny Croft of Birketts examine how acts motivated by care—booking travel, completing paperwork, or offering emotional support—can still fall within the wide reach of the Suicide Act 1961
back-to-top-scroll