Our People

Every member of Hall Brown Family Law has been handpicked from a top family law team with the aim of offering clients fantastic service, a no-nonsense approach and the best possible outcome. Each of our lawyers is a member of Resolution, an organisation committed to non-confrontational solutions to divorce, separation and other family law issues.

Sam Hall

Senior Partner

Sam is a founding partner of Hall Brown, an independently ranked leading expert and is listed as one of the top 10 family lawyers in the country.

Meet Sam

James Brown

Managing Partner

James is a founding partner of Hall Brown and is one of only a handful of family lawyers to represent a client in the Supreme Court.

Meet James

Andrew Newbury

Partner

Andrew is a Leading Expert who brings over 25 years of experience and has won multiple awards which recognise his skills and technical expertise.

Meet Andrew

Izzy Walsh

Partner/Head of London

Izzy is the head of Hall Brown’s London office, a member of the British Russian Law Association, British Ukrainian Law Association and the International Bar Association.

Meet Izzy

Martin Loxley

Consultant

Martin is recognised as being a Leading Expert in Family Law and is well known for his empathy, accessibility and commitment to helping clients.

Meet Martin

Alison Fernandes

Partner/Head of Sheffield

Alison is the head of Hall Brown’s Sheffield office, has over 20 years’ experience and is ranked as Band 1 in Chambers & Partners and Tier 1 in Legal 500

Meet Alison

Beth Wilkins

Partner

Beth Wilkins has been a family lawyer for over 30 years, working for a large cross section of clients and is described as the “doyenne of family law”.

Meet Beth

Mike Devlin

Partner

Mike has specialised in the law relating to children for over 35 years and is ranked in the Legal 500’s top tier, having a reputation for finding positive solutions.

Meet Mike

Catherine Bell

Consultant

Catherine advises on all aspects of family law, specialising in the financial complexities of divorce and acting for high net worth individuals

Meet Catherine

Claire Reid

Partner

Claire is an expert in her field and has significant experience in dealing with complex financial settlements including companies, offshore assets and trusts.

Meet Claire

Laura Guillon

Partner/Head of Leeds

Laura specialises in financial remedy proceedings and gives concise, straightforward advice and seeks to ‘cut through the detail’. She speaks French fluently.

Meet Laura

Katie Welton-Dillon

Partner/Head of Children Family Law Team

Katie is known for her clear and structured approach, her meticulous preparation, her exceptional level of client care and is a well respected advocate.

Meet Katie

Suzanne Smales

Partner

Suzanne is an experienced family lawyer who since 1990 practised as a barrister amassing particular expertise in children’s law matters

Meet Suzanne

Abigail Lowther

Senior Associate Solicitor

Abigail eases clients through complex legal problems and deals with all aspects of family law, specialising in resolving high net worth financial disputes on divorce.

Meet Abigail

Alice Rogers

Senior Associate Solicitor

Alice specialises in complex high value financial settlements, international and variation cases and private children law proceedings

Meet Alice

Ellen Fell (Nee Walker)

Senior Associate Solicitor

Ellen has a wealth of experience dealing with high value financial settlements, complex family trust structures and cases with an international element

Meet Ellen

Naomi Rainey

Senior Solicitor

Naomi has been a specialist family solicitor for over 10 years and gives clear, practical advice and works tirelessly to get the best results for her clients.

Meet Naomi

Michelle Ashworth

Senior Solicitor

Michelle’s approach is constructive, pragmatic and proactive; she prides herself on delivering a bespoke service for all clients, focusing on their individual needs

Meet Michelle

Melanie Kalina

Senior Solicitor

Mel specialises in children law including Special Guardianship orders, adoption and child welfare issues and is a member of the Law Society Children Panel.

Meet Melanie

Sarah Hewitt

Associate Solicitor

Sarah advises on all aspects of divorce and dissolution, high value complex financial settlements, child arrangement and cohabitation disputes.

Meet Sarah

Emma Dewhurst

Associate Solicitor

Emma forms part of the children team in Manchester and London is committed to adopting an amicable and non-confrontational approach for her clients.

Meet Emma

Judith Klyne

Associate Solicitor and Mediator

Judith has experience dealing with cases including complex financial cases, pre/post-nups and has obtained invaluable exposure to tax planning and wills

Meet Judith

Rachael Brownlee

Associate Solicitor

Rachael advises and represents clients on all aspects of divorce and dissolution, financial settlements, child arrangement matters and cohabitation disputes.

Meet Rachael

Louise Butcher

Associate Solicitor

Louise has a particular interest in private children cases with a specific skill in surrogacy law and experience in cases involving substance and alcohol misuse

Meet Louise

Holly Cook

Associate Solicitor

Holly has a wide range of experience in all aspects of family law including cases with assets and income of high value and complex children cases

Meet Holly

Hannah Baddeley

Solicitor

Hannah deals with all aspects of divorce and separation, financial settlements and child arrangements and strives to provide a first class service to all clients

Meet Hannah

Hannah Currie

Solicitor

Hannah considers her approachability and communication skills to be her key qualities and understands that building a level of trust is essential

Meet Hannah

Rebekah King

Solicitor

Rebekah qualified as a solicitor in August 2020 having secured an upper second class with honours in her LLB excelling in the Family Law module.

Meet Rebekah

Mollie Van Geest

Solicitor

Mollie is committed to resolving family disputes in a constructive and cost-effective manner outside of the court setting where appropriate and possible

Meet Mollie

Jodi Ford

Solicitor

Jodi joined the team in July 2018 having completed her law degree at BPP whilst simultaneously working full time. She also sits on the Fostering Panel.

Meet Jodi

Matthew Hodgson

Solicitor

Matthew completed his LPC and Masters in Legal Studies at the University of Law in Bristol in July 2019, achieving a distinction in both

Meet Matthew

Emma Whitehead

Trainee Solicitor

Emma joined Hall Brown in September 2020 after recently graduating with a first class honours degree in Law from Durham University.

Meet Emma

Sky Langwieser

Paralegal

Sky provides the best client care and support whilst ensuring clients are happy and at ease and is currently also simultaneously studying at the University of Law

Meet Sky

Rachel Cocker

Paralegal

Rachel graduated with a first class honours degree in Law from the University of Manchester prior to joining Hall Brown in February 2020

Meet Rachel

Edward Davison

Paralegal

Edward endeavours to provide the best advice and support for his clients, whilst ensuring they are comfortable with the legal process.

Meet Edward

Heidi Molloy

Paralegal

Heidi graduated with a 2.1 in Politics from the University of Leeds and is currently studying the GDL at the University of Law

Meet Heidi

Savannah Davies

Paralegal

Savannah achieved a first class in her undergraduate at the University of Manchester in Theology, Philosophy and Ethics before joining Hall Brown in October 2021

Meet Savannah

Jacob Quested Khan

Paralegal

Jacob graduated with a degree in French and achieved an MA in Law, including a Distinction in a family law dissertation before joining Hall Brown in October 2021

Meet Jacob

Hayley Jetson

Paralegal

Hayley advises on fraud litigation in the family context, surrogacy, Hague applications and securing equal parental rights for same sex partners.

Meet Hayley

Jo Wilson

Senior Office Manager

Jo is a highly experienced award winning office manager/PA with over 30 years’ experience and who has specialised in family law for over 25 years

Meet Jo

Eve Fitzpatrick

Legal Secretary/Assistant Office Manager (Manchester)

Eve has spent her career as a legal secretary and has specialised in family law for 21 years meaning she is familiar with all stages of the legal process.

Meet Eve

Hayley Flaherty

Legal Secretary

Hayley has worked for a number of family solicitors at varying levels for 13 years and has also successfully achieved her CILEX qualification.

Meet Hayley

Cathy Matthews

Legal Secretary

Catherine’s knowledge and expertise of family law legal process allows her to provide support with both confidence and with the highest quality.

Meet Cathy

Lisa Le Boutillier

Legal Secretary

Lisa is a highly experienced legal secretary, having spent her whole career in law and specialising in family law for the last 15 years.

Meet Lisa

Jessie Watkins

Legal Secretary/Office Manager (London)

Jessie joined Hall Brown in February 2019 and has over five year’s family law experience and is highly efficient to help clients to the best of her ability

Meet Jessie

Gillian Sadler

Legal Secretary

Gill has worked in the legal sector since 1989, working for a family law solicitors and then within a court of protection firm before joining Hall Brown in April 2019.

Meet Gillian

Zoe Barker

Legal Secretary/Office Manager (Sheffield)

Zoe began her family law career back in 1990 and her experience and knowledge of the legal process enables her to perform at the highest level.

Meet Zoe

Sidney Hagan

Legal Secretary/Office Manager (Leeds)

Sidney is a highly experienced legal secretary having spent her entire working life of 30 years in law and has developed a strong passion for Family Law

Meet Sidney