Tait Walker was named as 2002's leading North-East corporate finance firm.

Despite what has been named the North-East's worst year for dealmaking, independent firm Tait Walker beat the big four in a league of deals completed in the region.

Tables published by Corp-fin, the database for UK corporate finance deals, showed Tait Walker Corporate Finance led the field last year with 11 North-East deals completed. The nearest rivals were KPMG, PWC and Tenon at five deals completed in the region.

The highpoint of the year saw Tait Walker steer the management buyout (MBO) of Colway Tyres, saving 100 jobs at Langley Moor.

Michael Smith, head of corporate finance at Tait Walker, said: "In many parts of the UK 2002 was very quiet in corporate finance terms, as indeed it was on the much bigger corporate finance deals here in this region. It is a testament to the resilience of the North-East economy that we completed so many deals in 2002, and especially to the entrepreneurial nature of the region's SME owners to keep growing, expanding, buying and selling to improve their business horizons."