Boutique firm Hall Brown Family Law in Manchester is praised by clients as the ‘best in its class‘. The group is particularly sought after by high-net-worth individuals, such as sports personalities, celebrities, and business owners for financial remedy proceedings. These often involve international elements and include divorces and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. The team is also experienced in a broad range of children law matters. The practice is co-headed by James Brown and Sam Hall, who both specialise in all areas of family law with an emphasis on divorce and financial remedy proceedings. The group also includes financial remedy proceedings expert Andrew Newbury and Beth Wilkins, who is particularly experienced in high-net-worth work, pre-nuptial agreements, and Schedule 1 Children Act cases. Madelaine Hailey, who is ‘an up-and-coming star‘, is another key contact.
‘Hall Brown are, simply put, at the top of their game and deservedly highly prominent in the field of matrimonial finance law. They excel at every level, having some of the most eminent and capable practitioners in the country.’
‘The team has become one of the largest and most sought after in the market. The work it attracts is of the highest quality and it is a firm of real ambition and drive.’
‘Hall Brown is best in its class. They are extremely intelligent, thorough and the leading firm for divorce and financial remedy.’
‘Sam Hall is an incredible work winner with an excellent network.’
‘James Brown is technically brilliant and a strong advocate for his clients.’
‘Madelaine Hailey is an up-and-coming star. She is pragmatic and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘Claire Reid brings really good judgement and offers excellent tactical advice.’
‘Andrew Newbury is without a doubt at the very top of his game, deservedly with a high profile at a national level. Calm, measured and streetwise, he is a force to be reckoned with.’
‘A powerhouse for all things family law’, Hall Brown Family Law‘s Sheffield offering fields a team of experts in the area with experience spanning both financial and private children cases, particularly acting for high-net-worth clients. Team head Alison Fernandes handles ‘complex and difficult situations‘, particularly in financial remedy cases involving non-matrimonial assets. Wealth protection work, including pre- and post-nuptial agreements, are an area of specialism for Melanie Hadwin, while Emma Hubbard is the go-to for private law children work. Martin Loxley and Zoe Round continue to work with the team as consultants, bolstering its strength in both complex financial and children matters.
‘Hall Brown really punches above its weight as a relatively new firm on the family law legal scene. Despite the rapidly increasing size of the firm there is a very strong familial feel to the staff team, with all members of the staff team being highly valued. They have a hard hitting style of representation, particularly in financial remedy cases which is highly effective.’
‘Hayley Jetson is a star and brilliant with clients – very clever and perceptive.’
‘Melanie Hadwin is an excellent all-round solicitor. She is brilliant with clients, who absolutely adore her. She is also an excellent lawyer, up to date with the latest development, and will always spot key points in a case.’
‘This company is nothing but professional. They provide clear and concise information and make you feel like they have your best interests at heart. They genuinely look after you through what can be a very difficult time.’
‘The firm has become a powerhouse for all things family law since coming into the Sheffield market. For high-net-worth individuals, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Hall Brown Family law. They’ve built rapidly and deservedly so.’
‘Hayley Jetson’s expertise, passion and professional judgement is second to none and we benefited from the depth and breadth of her experience which made her advice invaluable. In our view there is no way anyone can possibly offer a better service.’
‘I was assisted by Emma Hubbard with a family related matter. I am impressed with her knowledge and understanding. She has consistently given excellent and accurate advice. It is clear she is passionate about her work. ’
‘Alison Fernandes is a breath of fresh air. Accessible and responsive, Alison is great at communicating and identifying practical solutions to complex and difficult situations.’
Hall Brown Family Law fields an ‘excellent team at every level’, headed up by Izzy Walsh, who is ‘a tour de force’ whose practice involves international cases with complex corporate and trust structures, as well as nuptial agreements. Catherine Bell, ‘an empathetic and pragmatic lawyer’, has notable experience in domestic and international surrogacy issues alongside high-net-worth financial remedy cases.
‘Izzy Walsh is extremely capable. She makes full use of her commercial background when formulating her case strategy and is a very effective fighter.’
‘Izzy Walsh, the managing partner, is truly excellent. She knows the law as well as most barristers and leaves no stone unturned in her cases – a tour de force.’
‘Excellent team at every level. Hardworking associates who know their cases inside out, and partners who know when to be fully involved or when it is best to have a light touch. Genuinely clever individuals.’
‘Izzy Walsh is super bright, strategic and no-nonsense.’
‘Great example of a boutique firm that has grown, whilst maintained the feeling of a small firm.’
‘Catherine Bell is an empathetic and pragmatic lawyer who is loved by her clients and by barristers.’
‘Hall Brown have a great small team who are highly effective at delivering good value and pragmatic advice in the full range of family law matters from high-net-worth cases to more straightforward matters.’
‘Izzy Walsh is a fantastic lawyer. She is responsive and willing to go the extra mile for clients and instructing lawyers. She provides very good value advice and is somebody that I and my colleagues are very happy to refer matters to.’
Work highlights
Advised a client in respect of the prospects of appeal of the first instance decision of his Part III claim.
Successfully applied for and was granted a legal services order for a client in respect of his legal costs of the appeal.
Hall Brown Family Law is a boutique family law firm with offices in Manchester, London, Sheffield, Leeds and Birmingham. The firm started trading in April 2016 and in only two years was ranked in the Top Tier of The Legal 500 where it has remained since. Highlights include:
Some of the best known and most highly regarded matrimonial lawyers in the UK – James Brown, Sam Hall, Andrew Newbury, Beth Wilkins, Andrew Breakwell, Martin Loxley, Catherine Bell and Michael Devlin.
Izzy Walsh heads up Hall Brown’s London office.
Alison Fernandes heads up the Sheffield office.
Laura Guillon heads up the Leeds office.
Janine Hobday heads up the Birmingham office.
Melanie Kalina heads up the specialist Children Law Department.
Every single lawyer in the entire firm has been recruited from or worked at a family law department that has been recognised as the best in the country by Chambers and Partners.
Sam Hall and James Brown are now the “solicitors of choice” to present to Premier League and Championship clubs for “wealth protection” from a co-habiting or marital sense.
Three quarters of the department’s workload consists of cases worth in excess of £5m.
Nearly all of the firm’s work comes from personal referrals to each of the partners. Work is referred in by former clients and other professionals.
The firm has already established itself as one of the country’s leading boutique family law firms.
Specialisms:
High net worth cases. Current cases range from £10m to in excess of £550m.
High profile cases. Current cases include over a dozen of the most famous sports stars in the world as well as high profile celebrities and business people, politicians and members of the judiciary.
Complex financial cases including trusts, complicated business structures and injunctions.
Assets across multiple jurisdictions.
Complex and unusual pension arrangements.
Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.
Divorce
Dissolution of civil partnerships.
Schedule 1 Children Act cases, including paternity claims brought against well-known individuals.
Co-habitation cases.
Private children law (including leave to remove, child abduction, surrogacy and adoption).
