Muckle LLP strengthens Teesside presence with two appointments in corporate and real estate

Leading law firm for businesses, Muckle LLP, is growing its real estate and corporate offering in Teesside as it continues to invest in growth and capability across the region.

The firm has appointed Oliver Hebdon as a partner in its corporate team and Samantha Alderton as an associate in its real estate team. Both will be based in Teesside, supporting clients across the region and beyond.

Samantha and Oliver’s appointments bring the total number of Muckle colleagues based in Teesside to six. Following private client partner Leah Duffield’s appointment in March 2025, the team welcomed Rachel List (real estate partner), Jack Reynolds (private client paralegal) and Claire Rance (office PA) in mid-late 2025.

Samantha, from Stockton-on-Tees, will support Gail Bennett, head of real estate, and Rachel List, as well as the wider team on a variety of real estate legal matters.

Samantha said: “I was drawn to real estate law because of the transactional element of it; every transaction is unique. I get to know our clients and their business on a deeper level, which is really important.”

Samantha advises on a wide range of general real estate transactions, including landlord-tenant, sales and acquisitions, secured lending and development.

Of joining Muckle, Samantha already knows she’s made the right choice: “Joining Muckle seemed like the natural next step in my career, and being part of the firm’s growth in Teesside is really exciting. I am already feeling settled into life at Muckle; everyone has been so welcoming.”

Oliver will primarily lead on M&A activity and support the acquisitive growth and succession planning of businesses in Teesside and beyond, drawing on support from the wider top-tier-ranked corporate finance team.

He said: “I love the fast-paced nature of corporate law and the combination of having genuine local knowledge, complex transaction experience and the firm’s strong national reputation will be a real asset to Teesside.

Oliver is pleased to be joining Muckle at this time of growth: “When the opportunity came to join Muckle and further develop the firm’s presence in Teesside, I knew it represented a very unique prospect. Muckle’s shared values and its ability to develop and retain exceptional people really stand out – it’s clearly a firm where people can build long-lasting careers which have a meaningful impact, and that is reflected in its culture and the commitment that its clients and wider community experience too.”

The appointments form part of a wider period of investment in Teesside for the firm, following increasing demand for specialist legal expertise from businesses operating in and around Teesside.

Leah Duffield, private client partner and lead Teesside partner, said: “Building a strong foundation of people and capabilities is integral to Muckle’s growth on Teesside, so we’re focused on bringing in the right people with the right expertise that will help this office thrive.

“I am delighted to welcome Sam and Oli to Muckle. Both bring exceptional knowledge of their legal areas and the wider Teesside region, which will undoubtedly play a key role as we continue to grow our client base in the region.

“I joined Muckle in March last year as the first to be based in Teesside, and I am proud of the team’s growth in such a short period of time. I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for us as we continue to expand.”