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.

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

Sam Hall

Senior Partner

Sam is a founding partner of Hall Brown and is listed as one of the top 10 family lawyers in the country.

Meet Sam

Andrew Newbury

Partner

Andrew brings over 25 years of experience to this family law practice and is recognised for his 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

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

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

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

Laura Guillon

Senior Associate Solicitor

Laura is half French and bilingual and specialises in all areas of family law with emphasis on financial proceedings and international relocation of children.

Meet Laura

Abigail Lowther

Senior Associate Solicitor

Abigail deals with all aspects of family law with a particular interest in resolving financial disputes on divorce for high net worth individuals.

Meet Abigail

Katie Welton-Dillon

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, representing clients in court.

Meet Katie

Alice Rogers

Associate Solicitor

Alice works on a variety of family law issues comprises complex high value financial settlements including international and variation cases and private children law proceedings

Meet Alice

Ellen Walker

Associate Solicitor

Ellen has a wealth of experience assisting on high value financial settlements, complex family trust structures and cases with an international element and gives all her clients a first class service.

Meet Ellen

Sarah Hewitt

Associate Solicitor

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

Meet Sarah

Emma Dewhurst

Associate Solicitor

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

Meet Emma

Naomi Rainey

Senior Solicitor

Naomi has been a specialist Family solicitor for over 10 years and advises on all family related issues. She gives clear, practical advice and works tirelessly to get the best results for her client.

Meet Naomi

Melanie Kalina

Senior Solicitor

Melanie is an experienced advocate, specialising in children law including Special Guardianship orders, adoption and child welfare issues and is a member of the Law Society Children Panel.

Meet Melanie

Judith Klyne

Solicitor

Judith has experience dealing with a wide variety of matters, including complex financial cases, the drafting of pre-nuptial/post-nuptial agreements and has obtained invaluable exposure to tax planning and wills.

Meet Judith

Hannah Baddeley

Solicitor

Hannah represents clients on all aspects of divorce/dissolution, financial settlements, child arrangements, cohabitation disputes and prides herself on her communication skills and approachable manner.

Meet Hannah

Rachael Brownlee

Solicitor

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

Meet Rachael

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

Jodi Ford

Trainee 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

Trainee Solicitor

Matthew graduated from the University of Cardiff in 2015 with a first class honours degree in Law and completed his LPC in July 2019

Meet Matthew

Sky Langwieser

Paralegal

Sky obtained distinctions in her Family Law modules, strives to provide the best client care and support whilst ensuring clients are happy and at ease at all times

Meet Sky

Rebekah Theistone

Paralegal

Rebekah completed her degree at Surrey University and achieved a distinction in her LPC at Manchester University of Law and joined the firm in January 2019.

Meet Rebekah

Nicola Noort

Paralegal

Nicola practiced law in New Zealand for two and a half years before moving to London in 2016 and is studying to qualify as a solicitor of England and Wales.

Meet Nicola

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

Emma Whitehead

Paralegal

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

Meet Emma

Jo Wilson

Office Manager / Legal Secretary

Jo is a highly experienced multi-award winning office manager/PA/legal secretary of over 30 years who has specialised in family law for the last 24 years.

Meet Jo

Eve Fitzpatrick

PA and Legal Secretary

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 Burgess

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 and 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