Press Release – Nov 2025
A leading Yorkshire law firm has opened its newest regional office in Middlesbrough, taking its total network of offices to 24.
Ison Harrison’s latest opening marks another major milestone in the firm’s continued expansion, extending its trusted legal services further north with a specialist focus on inquest, personal injury, and civil liberties work.
The Middlesbrough office is led by Sarah Magson, who brings a wealth of experience from her many years at Watson Woodhouse Solicitors. Sarah is widely respected across the region for her expertise in inquest law, personal injury, and civil claims against public authorities. She represents clients who have sustained life-changing injuries, offers vital support to families during inquests, and advocates for individuals who have suffered injustice due to failures by the state. In recognition of her outstanding work, Sarah was named Lawyer of the Year at the Northern Law Awards 2024 and Inspirational Female Business Leader at the National Business Hero Awards 2024.
New branch manager Sarah said:
“I’m delighted to be joining Ison Harrison and to be leading the new Middlesbrough office. The firm’s values and focus on people-first legal service really appealed to me, and it’s fantastic to bring that approach to an area I know so well. Middlesbrough has a strong legal community and a real sense of pride. I’m looking forward to developing the branch and continuing to support clients who value expertise and care in equal measure.”
Sarah’s arrival has been a catalyst for growth, with five experienced lawyers joining her to launch the Middlesbrough branch and form one of the North’s most specialist teams in this complex area of law.
Joining Sarah is Dawn Makepeace, an expert in inquest work and human rights claims, who brings extensive experience supporting vulnerable clients through sensitive and challenging cases. Alistair Smith, a skilled litigator specialising in complex inquest investigations, particularly those involving Mental Health Trusts will also join the Middlesbrough team along with Sophie Kendall who works on personal injury and CICA claims, inquest, and human rights work, and Sarah Finney who is a highly experienced caseworker with a background in inquests, actions against public authorities and personal injury law. Experienced lawyer Paul Henderson has also been recruited, completing the impressive line-up when he joins in January.
Conveniently located opposite Middlesbrough Law Courts, the new office sits within a building that already accommodates several other law firms and barristers’ chambers, creating a natural legal hub for Sarah and her team.
Gareth Naylor, director and head of personal injury and inquests at Ison Harrison, said:
“Our move into Middlesbrough demonstrates how our growth is driven by people, talent, and opportunity. Sarah’s team brings a remarkable depth of experience and a strong sense of purpose in representing clients who have faced some of the most difficult circumstances. This new office reflects our commitment to specialist legal excellence, access to justice, and community-based growth across the North.”
The expansion into Middlesbrough follows a period of sustained growth for Ison Harrison, which became a 100% employee-owned business in 2022. Since transitioning to this model, the firm has almost doubled its turnover, opened several new offices, including Brighouse and Skipton in 2025, and made individual profit distributions to eligible employees totalling over £11,600 each.
Ison Harrison now employs more than 400 staff across Yorkshire, offering the broadest range of legal services in the region. The firm holds over 13 Law Society accreditations, including Lexcel, Clinical Negligence, Family Law, Immigration & Asylum, Conveyancing Quality, and SRA Higher Courts Rights – civil and criminal.
ENDS
