FTI Consulting Opens Leeds Office – Fifth UK Hub 2026 Leeds

Key Points

• FTI Consulting has officially announced the launch of a new office hub in Leeds, marking its fifth location in the United Kingdom.
• The new Leeds office will be supported by the firm’s long-established Manchester outpost, strengthening its integrated restructuring and debt advisory services across the North of England.
• Matthew Callaghan, Head of UK Restructuring at FTI Consulting, confirmed that expanding the national footprint has been a strategic priority following the success of the Manchester office opened three years ago.
• Managing Directors Emma Lister (from Manchester) and Richard Hall (from London) will relocate to Leeds to strengthen the firm’s local team, with more new hires expected in the near future.
• Matt McErlane has joined FTI Consulting as a Managing Director in its Corporate Finance segment specifically to help establish the Leeds office, bringing over 10 years of restructuring and turnaround advisory experience.
• The team will initially operate from offices on Boar Lane in Leeds.
• Globally, FTI Consulting employs more than 8,100 people across 33 countries and holds a diamond standard rating for corporate governance, forensic and litigation, and restructuring in ConsultancyUK’s 2026 consulting industry rankings.
• The firm already operates two offices in London, plus locales in Glasgow and Manchester, before adding Leeds.
• The Leeds office is designed to support the mid-market throughout the region with integrated restructuring and debt advisory services.
• Matt McErlane stated he is excited to join FTI Consulting and help establish the office, noting the “notable energy” across the firm and within the restructuring and insolvency team.

Leeds (The Leeds Times) June 12, 2026 – FTI Consulting has officially launched a new office in Leeds, establishing its fifth UK hub and significantly expanding its restructuring and debt advisory capabilities across the North of England. The strategic move, announced by the global consultancy firm, positions Leeds as a critical node in the company’s national network, supported by its established Manchester outpost and designed to serve mid-market businesses, lenders, and stakeholders throughout Yorkshire and the wider region.

The new office represents a tangible investment in the North’s business infrastructure. Matthew Callaghan, Head of UK Restructuring at FTI Consulting, disclosed the expansion in a post on LinkedIn, emphasizing the strategic importance of the move. As reported by Matthew Callaghan of FTI Consulting, he stated:

“Expanding our national footprint has been a strategic priority for some time, following the success of our Manchester office which opened just three years ago. Today, I’m delighted to announce we’re extending into Yorkshire, opening a new office in Leeds. This important investment means we’re better placed than ever to support businesses, lenders and stakeholders across the North with integrated restructuring and debt advisory services”.

How is FTI Consulting strengthening its Leeds team with senior relocating directors?

To ensure the Leeds office operates with immediate capability and expertise, FTI Consulting is relocating two senior Managing Directors to the new hub. Emma Lister, previously operating from the firm’s Manchester office, and Richard Hall, from the London office, will both move to Leeds to strengthen the local team.

This relocation strategy demonstrates the firm’s commitment to embedding experienced leadership within the Yorkshire market rather than building from scratch.

In addition to the relocating directors, the firm is actively recruiting, with more new hires expected to join the Leeds team in the near future.

The initial team will operate from offices situated on Boar Lane, a central location in Leeds known for its business presence.

Who is Matt McErlane and what role does he play in the Leeds expansion?

A cornerstone of the Leeds launch is the appointment of Matt McErlane as a Managing Director in FTI Consulting’s Corporate Finance segment.

McErlane joins specifically to help establish and lead the new office. He brings more than 10 years of experience in restructuring and turnaround advisory, having worked across a broad range of restructuring and special situations assignments prior to joining FTI.

McErlane’s role will focus on helping companies, as well as their lenders, sponsors, and other stakeholders, develop and execute strategies to address complex financial and operational challenges. As reported by Matt McErlane of FTI Consulting, he commented on his appointment:

“I’m excited to join FTI Consulting and help establish our office in Leeds. There is a notable energy across the firm and within the restructuring and insolvency team, and I’m looking forward to working with my new colleagues to deliver the first-rate advice that the firm is known for to clients facing stress or distress”.

McErlane will also be supported by the firm’s existing global network as the Leeds team gets established. His expertise in turnaround advisory positions him as a key figure for mid-market clients in Yorkshire navigating financial distress.

What scale and global reach does FTI Consulting bring to the Leeds market?

The launch of the Leeds office underscores FTI Consulting’s significant global footprint and industry standing.

The firm currently employs more than 8,100 employees across 33 countries worldwide. In the UK specifically, the firm now operates five offices: two in London, one in Glasgow, one in Manchester, and the newly opened Leeds hub.

FTI Consulting holds a diamond standard rating for corporate governance, forensic and litigation, and restructuring in ConsultancyUK’s 2026 consulting industry rankings, a testament to its operational quality and governance standards.

This ranking reinforces the firm’s credibility as it enters the Leeds market, offering clients assurance of high professional standards.

The Leeds office specifically strengthens the firm’s presence across the North of England, creating a more integrated service network alongside Manchester.

This Northern footprint allows the firm to offer localized support while maintaining access to global resources and expertise.

Why is the North of England a strategic focus for FTI Consulting’s restructuring services?

The decision to open in Leeds follows the successful establishment of the Manchester office just three years ago, indicating a deliberate strategy to expand Northern coverage. Matthew Callaghan highlighted that the Manchester office’s success prompted the decision to extend into Yorkshire.

The Leeds location provides integrated restructuring and debt advisory services tailored to the mid-market throughout the region, addressing a specific demand for expert support in business restructuring.

The firm’s ability to support businesses, lenders, and stakeholders across the North with integrated services suggests a recognition of the region’s growing mid-market sector and the complex financial challenges it may face. By establishing a dedicated hub in Leeds, FTI Consulting can respond more rapidly to local market needs than if clients had to rely solely on London or Manchester teams.

Background of the Development: FTI Consulting’s UK Expansion Strategy

The launch of the Leeds office is not an isolated event but part of a broader strategic expansion by FTI Consulting across the United Kingdom.

The firm’s UK presence has grown systematically, with the Manchester office opening approximately three years ago as a key step in establishing a Northern footprint. This Manchester hub served as a proof of concept for the firm’s Northern strategy, demonstrating that high-quality restructuring and debt advisory services could be successfully delivered outside London.

The success of the Manchester office, as noted by Matthew Callaghan, directly influenced the decision to expand further into Yorkshire.

The firm’s UK network now includes two London offices, one in Glasgow, one in Manchester, and the new Leeds location, totaling five UK hubs.

This distribution reflects a deliberate effort to balance service coverage between the traditional financial center (London) and key regional economic hubs (Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow).

FTI Consulting’s global operations provide the backbone for this expansion. With more than 8,100 employees across 33 countries, the firm possesses the resources and expertise to support regional offices with international capabilities.

The diamond standard rating in ConsultancyUK’s 2026 rankings for corporate governance, forensic and litigation, and restructuring further validates the firm’s operational standards as it expands.

The relocation of senior Managing Directors Emma Lister and Richard Hall to Leeds demonstrates the firm’s commitment to placing experienced leadership in the new office.

This strategy of relocating existing talent rather than hiring entirely new staff initially ensures continuity and maintains the firm’s service standards from day one.

The addition of Matt McErlane as a Managing Director specifically for Corporate Finance, bringing over 10 years of restructuring experience, further strengthens the office’s capabilities.

The choice of Boar Lane as the initial office location places FTI Consulting in a central Leeds business district, accessible to mid-market clients throughout the region. This location choice aligns with the firm’s strategy of providing integrated services to businesses, lenders, and stakeholders across the North.

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Prediction: How This Development Will affect Mid-Market Businesses and Professionals in Leeds and the North

The opening of FTI Consulting’s Leeds office will likely have several measurable impacts on mid-market businesses, lenders, and professionals across Leeds and the wider North of England region.

For mid-market businesses facing financial challenges: The new office provides localized access to integrated restructuring and debt advisory services that were previously only available through London or Manchester offices. Businesses in Yorkshire and South Yorkshire will benefit from reduced response times and more direct engagement with restructuring experts.

Matt McErlane’s specific expertise in turnaround advisory means companies facing “stress or distress” can access specialized guidance without traveling to major financial centers. This localization may encourage more mid-market firms to seek professional restructuring advice earlier in their financial challenges, potentially improving outcomes for businesses in distress.

For lenders and sponsors: The presence of a diamond-standard restructuring firm in Leeds offers lenders and sponsors in the region a nearby resource for managing distressed assets and restructuring deals. Richard Hall’s relocation from London brings experience with larger, more complex cases, while Emma Lister’s Manchester background provides regional continuity.

This combination allows lenders to access both local market knowledge and London-level expertise within the same office, potentially improving the efficiency of distressed debt management in the North.

For the local professional services sector: The arrival of FTI Consulting introduces additional competition for existing restructuring and advisory firms in Leeds. However, it also creates opportunities for collaboration and knowledge transfer.

The firm’s plan to hire more new hires in the near future suggests job creation for local professionals with restructuring, corporate finance, and advisory experience. This could elevate the overall skill level of the local professional services market through competition and increased demand for specialized expertise.

For the Leeds business ecosystem: The investment signals confidence in Leeds as a regional business hub. FTI Consulting’s decision to establish a fifth UK office in Leeds, following Manchester’s success, validates the city’s economic importance.

This may attract additional professional services firms to consider Leeds for regional expansions, contributing to the city’s growing reputation as a Northern business center.

For professionals seeking restructuring advisory services: The relocation of senior directors and the appointment of McErlane means clients in Leeds will have access to Managing Directors with extensive experience rather than junior staff.

This senior-level access from day one could improve the quality of advice received by clients facing complex financial challenges. McErlane’s statement about the “notable energy” across the restructuring and insolvency team suggests a motivated, active team that may deliver more responsive service.

Regional economic impact: By strengthening the firm’s presence across the North of England, the Leeds office contributes to the region’s financial services infrastructure. The integrated restructuring services offered may help stabilize mid-market businesses during economic downturns, potentially reducing the number of business failures in the region.