Associate member Tait Walker has opened offices in Durham.

The company new base will bridge the gap between their Newcastle, Morpeth and Teesside offices that are home to 155 staff, giving full coverage of the region.

Tait Walker’s new office, situated at Salvus House in Aykley Heads, will provide the platform to further their services to support existing clients and the scale up of the Durham business community. The team brings leading expertise in the manufacturing, construction and tech sectors in particular to the local area.

Heading up the company expansion is associate partner, Paul Shields, who will be supported by Michael Smith, the corporate finance team and other tax and wealth management specialists.

Michael Smith, who heads up the Corporate Finance team was recently named as Insider’s 2017 Dealmaker of the Year. In the last 10 years, Tait Walker has completed the most corporate deals in Durham out of any financial or accountancy firm.*

These include the Middlesbrough College acquisition of Durham-based NECC Training, the management buy-out of Tanfield Engineering in Consett, the acquisition of Blacks Autos in Darlington to Vertu Motors and management buy-out of JDP Contracting Services in Newton Aycliffe, to name a few.

Paul Shields, associate partner, said:” We have been working with clients across Durham for many years, and continue to grow our offering in this area, especially in corporate finance and specialist tax. With the launch of new funds in the area, including the £20m Finance Durham Fund, it’s an exciting time for local businesses and an ideal time for Tait Walker to have a new Durham home.