HALL BROWN MOTORS ON WITH TRIPLE ‘NORTHERN POWERHOUSE’ AWARD LISTING 

Published on 10 February, 2025 | Melanie Hadwin

Hall Brown Family Law has hailed its latest awards’ recognition as justification of the strength of its nationwide operations.

The firm has been shortlisted in two categories – Private Client Firm of the Year and Boutique Firm of the Year – at the Northern Powerhouse Awards, organised by the individuals behind the Legal 500 legal rankings.

In addition, Sheffield-based Senior Associate Melanie Hadwin is the only family lawyer in South Yorkshire in contention for the Private Client Leading Associate of the Year title at the same event.

Partner Alison Fernandes, who is also head of Hall Brown’s office in Sheffield, described how the nominations illustrated the firm’s ability to maintain the very highest standards.

“It is a source of immense satisfaction to be named among so many other leading practitioners.

“That is particularly because these nominations are based on Legal 500’s annual rankings, which are themselves shaped by the opinions of our clients and peers.

“What they demonstrate is that we have not wavered in our determination to give the best possible service to people who count on us to help them deal with some of the most delicate and difficult issues which they may face in their private lives.

“We have invested heavily in recruiting and developing what we believe to be the best lawyers and support staff to be found anywhere in domestic legal profession.

“Melanie’s nomination is not only proof of how capable Hall Brown is in South Yorkshire or the north but a sign of how much established and emerging talent we have in all of our offices across the country as a whole.”

Ms Hadwin is one of eight lawyers in the running for the Private Client Leading Associate of the Year category, one of 49 honours which will be decided in a prize-giving ceremony at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on March the 13th.

The latest edition of Legal 500, one of the world’s leading reviews of the legal industry, saw Hall Brown retain its place in the ranking’s top tier and celebrated for being “at the top of their game”.

Hall Brown’s Sheffield office was singled out as a “powerhouse for all things family law” in claiming a berth among Legal 500’s top family practitioners in Yorkshire, with Ms Hadwin praised as “an excellent all-round solicitor”.

The firm’s overall standing meant that it was the only specialist family practice based in the North West to earn a place in the top tier of the Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, eprivateclient and Times Best 250 Law firms classifications.

The latest recognition for Hall Brown’s Sheffield site comes less than a year after it claimed the Niche Firm of the Year in the Sheffield and District Law Society annual awards, intended to recognise the “best and brightest” among the Sheffield and District Law Society’s members.

Over the course of the last year, the firm has reported an increase in workload across all five of its offices – Birmingham, Manchester, London, Sheffield and Leeds – which has been complemented by a string of senior appointments and promotions within its legal and support teams.

Hall Brown now employs a total of 69 people, 51 of whom are fee earners.