Ward Hadaway appoints marketing director

Newcastle and Teesside-based law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed Dale Gorley as director of marketing in a newly created role designed to strengthen the firm’s market position and support its long-term growth strategy.

Dale joins from Womble Bond Dickinson, where he spent more than a decade in senior marketing roles, most recently leading marketing activity across the UK and internationally. 

During that time, he supported major organisational change projects including mergers, international expansion and a significant brand refresh, while helping align marketing and business development activity more closely with commercial objectives.

Based in Ward Hadaway’s Newcastle office, Dale will work alongside managing partner Steven Petrie and the wider leadership team to develop a more strategic and insight-led marketing function across the business. 

His remit includes increasing the firm’s visibility across key sectors and regions, strengthening client engagement and ensuring marketing activity delivers measurable commercial impact.

Dale will also focus on enhancing digital capability, refining systems and processes, and building closer collaboration between marketing and business development teams as the firm continues to expand nationally.

He said: “What attracted me to Ward Hadaway was the combination of ambition, independence and momentum. 

“It is a firm with a strong reputation and deep regional roots, alongside real clarity about how it wants to evolve and grow.

“The role offers the opportunity to shape marketing as a strategic driver of the firm, not simply to deliver activity but to support wider commercial ambitions as it continues to scale. 

“My immediate priority is to build a clear understanding of where the firm is today, through engagement with partners, teams and clients, alongside external insight. 

“This data-led approach will inform how we sharpen our market positioning and focus activity where it will have the greatest impact.

“Strong brands are clear about what they stand for and consistent in how they communicate it. 

“Ward Hadaway already has a solid platform, and the opportunity now is to build greater visibility, distinctiveness and relevance in the markets that matter most.”

Dale’s appointment follows a significant period of growth and investment for Ward Hadaway, including the opening of its Birmingham office and its merger with The Endeavour Partnership.

Steven added: “Dale brings significant experience of building high-performing marketing functions within ambitious law firms. 

“His appointment reflects our continued investment in the business as we strengthen our position across our key markets.

“He will play an important role in ensuring our brand, profile and client engagement activity supports our wider strategy, while maintaining the culture and independence that define Ward Hadaway.”

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