Keith Newman interviews Phil Williams and Abu Ali, Partners at FRP Corporate Finance.
How WilliamsAli became FRP’s Corporate Finance Powerhouse in Newcastle.
It’s a bright, crisp afternoon in Newcastle as I sit down in a stunning historical building nestled within the city wallsa place that now houses one of the North East’s most dynamic and respected corporate finance teams. I’m here with Phil Williams and Abu Ali, co-founders of WilliamsAli, and now Partners at FRP Corporate Finance, following FRP’s acquisition of their business in 2024.
We’re seated in their iconic city centre home, a modern workspace layered within a beautiful, centuries-old building-a fitting metaphor for their transition: rooted in experience, focused on the future.
A career built on transactions
Phil reflects on his career: “I qualified as a chartered accountant early, but corporate finance was where I found my passion-the pace, the complexity, the strategic thinking. Over the years, I’ve advised clients across various sectors and industries-mainly as an external professional adviser, but also as an in-house specialist.”
After two decades in the field, he joined forces with Abu to launch WilliamsAli in 2019, with a shared mission: to provide specialist, relationship-led advice to business owners navigating significant strategic financial events.
“Corporate finance is about those pivotal moments,” says Abu. “Raising capital, acquiring a business, preparing for a sale-those high-stakes decisions where experience and judgement matter most.”
Building a team, growing a brand
In just over six years, WilliamsAli grew from a two-person start-up into an awardwinning advisory team. In 2024, they joined FRP Advisory, bringing their expertise into a wider national platform.
“The move to FRP was a natural next step,” says Phil. “It enables us to maintain our personal approach while offering clients enhanced resources and a broader range of services, capabilities and deeper resources behind us.”
Today, their Newcastle-based team consists of nine corporate finance specialists, supported by a wider regional FRP team of 30-40 professionals across service lines such as restructuring, forensics, debt advisory, and financial due diligence. Nationally, the FRP business continues to grow and has a market-leading reputation for excellence, with over 30 offices and over 800 people.
“What makes our team special,” Abu adds, “is that everyone is here not just for their technical skills, but because they align with our values. We’re sincere, collaborative, and constantly learning. Those values drive better outcomes for our clients.”
What they do, and who they do it for
So, what exactly does FRP Corporate Finance do? Phil breaks it down: “Most of our work involves helping business owners-typically owner-managers-sell their companies. Sometimes that means a full exit to a trade buyer. Sometimes it’s a private equity investment, where the founders can take some cash out now and grow further with support.”
“But it’s not just about exits. We advise on acquisitions, fundraising, and strategic planning -whenever a business is ready for change or growth.” Abu explains. “If you’ve got a business and you’re ready for the next chapter-whether that’s expansion or succession-we’re the people you call.”
And now, from within the FRP framework, they can support even more. “We’re able to bring specialist, market-leading debt advisory, forensics, and other capabilities to the North East that previously you would struggle to find within the local marketplace,” says Phil. “That’s a real game-changer for larger businesses in this region.”
A personal connection
One of the most compelling things about the team is their personal experience. They haven’t just advised on deals- they’ve done a deal themselves.
“We’ve built and sold a business” says Abu.”We’ve sat on the other side of the table. That experience gives us a unique level of empathy and understanding.”
Phil agrees: “When clients talk about the emotional weight of a deal, we get it. That insight helps us guide them with confidence and care.”
What’s next?
With their integration into FRP complete, the Newcastle team is focused on expanding their presence in the region.
“We’re doing what we’ve always done-just with greater scale and reach,” says Abu.
“And we’re already seeing the benefits,” Phil adds. “The network, the expertise, the scale-it’s helping us deliver even more for our clients.”
When asked to summarise what they do, Phil puts it plainly: “We’re corporate finance advisers. We help business owners turn the value they’ve built into real, tangible outcomes-whether that’s through a sale, an investment, or strategic growth. At the end of the day, we help people make the most of their life’s work.”
And in doing so, they’re shaping the North East’s business landscape-one deal at a time.
FRP Corporate Finance
www.frpcorporatefinance.com