Our history

Hall Brown Family Law was established in April 2016 by Sam Hall and James Brown with the aim of delivering outstanding service and excellent family law advice to clients. Prior to establishing the firm, Sam and James had been recognised as being amongst the best family lawyers in the country by the independent legal directories, Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

In only 12 months the firm became one of the top family law teams, not only in the North, but in the country.

Our timeline

2016

Hall Brown starts trading.

2017

London office opens (now headed up by Izzy Walsh and Priya Palanivel) to service London and surrounds.

Listed in Band 1 of Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. An accolade which has continued every year since.

Awarded Firm of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards.

2018

Awarded Family Team of the Year at Manchester Legal Awards.

Listed in the prestigious annual list of Britain’s best family lawyers published by eprivateclient, a list they have remained in ever since.

2019

James Brown and Sam Hall recognised at the Law Society Excellence Awards for a campaign to save a pioneering court system helping prevent the children of parents addicted to drugs or alcohol from being taken into care.

Awarded Firm of The Year at Manchester Legal Awards

2020

Sheffield office opens headed up by Alison Fernandes to service South Yorkshire. This has always been a goal for Sam being Sheffield born and bred.

Named by The Times Newspaper as one of the top 200 law firms (across all disciplines) in the country, again, an accolade they have continued every year since.

Named Firm of the Year at the national Family Law Awards.

2021

Awarded Family Law Team of the Year in the Manchester Legal Awards

Sam Hall is named in a list as one of the 100 best private client lawyers around compiled by leading media specialist City Wealth.

Named as the North West’s Leading Professional Services Business Company in the North West Business Masters Awards.

2022

Leeds office opens headed up by Laura Guillon.

Awarded Best Small Company To Work for in the UK.

2023

Awarded Firm of the Year at the annual Manchester Legal Awards.

Awarded “Boutique Law Firm” title at the eprivateclient Excellence Awards in London.

“Employer of the Year “category at the North West Business of the Year Awards.

2024

Birmingham office was opened headed by Andrew Breakwell and Janine Hobday

Awarded “Niche Firm of the Year” in the Sheffield and District Law Society annual awards.

Listed by The Sunday Times in the Top 10 Medium Companies to Work for in the UK

Retained title as the UK’s top Boutique Family Law Firm in the eprivateclient Excellence Awards

Awarded medium-sized Law Firm of the Year in the Manchester Legal Awards for the second year in a row.

What our clients say

For family law, they are the premier law firm

Andrew is an absolutely exceptional lawyer with a wealth of knowledge and experience

James Brown is incredibly down to earth, has a good sense of humour and clients absolutely love that and warm to him. Equally, he has a very formidable side pushing his client’s case to success. He is very financially astute and very good at getting to the point very quickly. He’s good at getting end results

She is very savvy, approachable, pragmatic, and deals with matters constructively and effectively

View all Testimonials

Get in touch today

Our expert team is here to provide tailored legal advice and support for your family law needs. Get in touch with us today for a confidential consultation and let us help you find the best way forward.

Join our team

Be part of a dynamic and expert family law firm that values talent, innovation, and dedication. Explore our career opportunities and take the next step in your legal career with Hall Brown.

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