Steve Mcnicol Email & Phone Number

Leading the M&A strategy at Fairstone, the most trusted, independent, whole-of-market wealth advisory firm in the UK and Ireland.Underpinned by the unique and highly successful Downstream Buy-Out model, the M&A team at Fairstone are committed to working in partnership with successful IFA and Wealth Management business owners, promoting a progressive approach to growth, sharing the value that is created together and providing long-term stability for principals, their teams and their clients.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester

Creating opportunities, developing relationships and delivering a first-class client experience at Ward Hadaway, one of the UK’s Top 100 law firms and a major force in the North of England with offices in Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester. Acknowledged as one of the leading law firms in the country by independent legal guides Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, our team of over 450 people includes many national experts across a wide range of specialist areas. Critically though it isn’t just our technical expertise that is nationally recognised- it’s also our belief in creating sustainable and enjoyable relationships that are underpinned by trust, clarity and understanding. Of course getting to that point takes time – which is something that we commit to investing in everyone that we work with.Sometimes others say it better than we can……..Ward Hadaway “is starting to edge ahead of its rivals because of the quality of its advice and the levels of client care”– Legal 500.We are proud to say that we are made in the North. Whilst our outlook is never narrow, we are a truly a Northern Law Firm for National Business.

A new role in the business focusing on: strategic business planning and business development strategy; client engagement; identifying and targeting new business opportunities; introducing new clients and work opportunities; and developing our regional profile.Key projects• Leading and implementing a review and overhaul of the firm’s business planning process.• Design and delivery of a Market Insights Programme feeding into a strategic business review.• Developing our profile in the region and in the sectors that we chose to compete.• Key client programme.• Leading on firm business development.• Responsible for the business development, marketing, PR, events and tender delivery team.• Leading on our internal “Building Regional Awareness” programme.Various regional and national speaking engagements, including:• Fulham Football Club - Leadership and cultural change• Northern Law Firm annual partner conference - Service excellence, culture change and investing in your people

A three month sabbatical taken after completing the handover to my successor as Managing Partner and before stepping into a newly created role as Client and Strategic Development Partner. After fifteen years at Muckle LLP, with eleven of them as managing partner, this was a welcome chance to recharge the batteries and spend some unashamedly “selfish" time with my family.

Chief Executive of a highly successful, award-winning professional services business. Delivering growth, culture change, increased brand awareness, large-scale internal infrastructure projects, financial success and a reputation for service excellence over a sustained period. Business named Regional Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards in 2012.Speaker at a number of regional and national conferences, including: • John Lewis Leadership Conference • The Managing Partner 6th annual conference on remuneration and reward strategies for law firms• CBI HR Group – service excellence, culture change and investing in your people • Bank of Santander Corporate Banking NE and Cumbria strategy and planning day• Panel member at the Be World Class conference • Service Excellence Experience 2 • Service Excellence Experience

Leading and developing our banking and insolvency team

Member of the Business Restructuring and Insolvency team, working mainly with Robin Spencer, Joe Bannister, Debbie Gregory and Chris Hanson on all matters relating to business restructuring and insolvency.

A 9 month secondment with the Restructuring Services team. Working on back to back trading administrative receivership appointments in the motor, leisure vehicle and marketing sectors. I gained a huge amount of business experience in my time with the team - the importance of gathering as much relevant information as possible and making informed decisions under significant time and creditor pressure. A very exciting and demanding time that in many ways has stimulated my interest in business leadership, probably influencing the career path that I have now taken.

I qualified as a solicitor into the corporate insolvency team, specialising in advice to insolvency practitioners who were trading businesses following an appointment as administrative receiver, the sale of distressed or insolvent businesses, general advice to insolvency practitioners both pre and post appointment, advice to banks and other financial institutions in relation to the financial position of customers and the extend and effect of their security, and assisting in relation to asset realisation and recovery.

Professional training contract

Law

Education record