Needle turns 18
“We’re still as ambitious, hungry and excited to grow as we were in 2007.”
Needle was founded on the 18th of october, 2007.
The team at Needle are delighted to be celebrating it’s 18th birthday this year, with the firm having been founded on the 18th of October 2007.
Upon reaching the milestone, founder and partner Sharon Needle commented:
“It’s amazing to think that it’s been 18 years since I decided to walk a different path and set up Needle. It was a decision I made at a time when there were a lot of changes going on for me, both personally and professionally.
“But it became clear to me that there was an opportunity out there for a law firm that delivers quality legal services for its clients around the world, through personal and dedicated service.
“At the same time we’ve always been committed from the outset to give an opportunity to work in law to people who at the time found that access challenging. A friend in the corporate finance arena said recently Needle practised things like equality and diversity before they became a thing and our strap line at the time reflected that we wanted to do things a little differently. We always set out to walk our own path.
“That’s what the firm was about in 2007, when we started out working from home (before that was common) with only a couple of employees – the late Daniel “Speng” Johnson and Tunika Onokwu who came to work with Needle from PATH, a Yorkshire charity helping people get access to work and into professions.
Sharon Needle, 2009
Daniel “Speng” Johnson
Tunika Onokwu
“I’ve been called ‘one of few survivors’ of small firm start-ups and I suppose that it isn’t (or wasn’t) particularly common for a corporate focused law firm to have been female founded.
“As with any business, there have been some ups and downs (anyone who founded a business in 2007/2008 can attest to that), but I am glad to say that the story of the firm over the past 18 years has been one of service built on the back of thousands of hours of commitment and hard work from all our team members - past and present.
“Equally, I’d like to express our gratitude to all our fantastic clients, fans and team members past and present who have supported us on every step of our journey.
“We’re still as ambitious, hungry, and excited to grow as we were in 2007 – and reaching 18 is a real coming of age for us. Here’s to the next 18 years! I am excited at the possibilities for the future of Needle”
Tunika Onokwu said, reflecting on the early days of Needle:
“Some beginnings are brief, yet they shape the journey for a lifetime.
Eighteen years on, I look back with sincere appreciation at my time with Needle Partnership.
“Though my stay lasted about fifteen months, it provided an invaluable head start in my legal career. The experience refined my professional discipline, introduced me to high standards of practice, and deepened my understanding of the law in action.
”I remain grateful for the colleagues, mentors, and challenges that helped shape the foundations of my journey in legal practice. Thank you Sharon, thank you, Needle Partnership!”
For further comment, contact: martin.hendry@needlepartners.com