Our People - Manchester 

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 has been rated as a Leading Expert in the top tier of the two leading legal directories for over 25 years, recognising his 30 years of experience in family law

Meet Andrew

  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 recognised for her technical knowledge and meticulous attention to detail and provides excellent client care, is calm, empathetic and focused

Meet Claire

  Ellen Fell  

Senior Associate Solicitor

Ellen’s expertise encompasses cases involving businesses, property portfolios, private equity interests and shares, inherited wealth and family trust structures

Meet Ellen

  Madelaine Hailey  

Senior Associate Solicitor

Maddy is a Resolution accredited expert in complex higher income financial remedies and cohabitation & TOLATA and advises on all aspects of private family law

Meet Madelaine

  Michelle Ashworth  

Senior Solicitor and Professional Support Lawyer

Michelle’s brings her significant and valuable experience to the training and career development of junior team members

Meet Michelle

  Melanie Kalina  

Senior Solicitor and Head of Children Law Department

Mel specialises in arrangements for children after separation, Special Guardianship orders, adoption and child welfare issues involving social services

Meet Melanie

  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

  Rachel Darrell  

Associate Solicitor

Rachel advises and represents clients on all aspects of divorce and dissolution, financial settlements, pre and post nuptial agreements and cohabitation disputes

Meet Rachel

  Michael Swanick  

Associate Solicitor

Michael brings his wide-ranging depth of experience including complex children cases where mental health and parental alienation issues are a factor

Meet Michael

  Jodi Ford  

Associate Solicitor

Jodi specialises in cases involving children including relocation, abduction and domestic abuse. She also sits on the Fostering Panel.

Meet Jodi

  Hannah Currie  

Associate 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

  Hannah Pilling  

Associate Solicitor

Hannah also has a particular interest in company assets and helping clients achieve a financial settlement with their business interests in mind

Meet Hannah

  Emma Whitehead  

Solicitor

Emma advises on complex financial disputes, private law child arrangements and pre/post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements

Meet Emma

  Sky Langwieser  

Solicitor

Sky has a wide range of experience in family law including divorce, financial remedy and private children matters

Meet Sky

  Rachel Cocker  

Solicitor

Rachel qualified as a solicitor in November 2024 after graduating with a first class honours degree in Law prior to joining Hall Brown in February 2020

Meet Rachel

  Rebekah Fender  

Trainee Solicitor

Rebekah is currently undertaking her training contract and is developing expertise across all areas of family law, including divorce, finances and children matters

Meet Rebekah

  Kirsty McKenzie  

Trainee Legal Executive

Kirsty assists senior fee earners across all the firms’ offices in all aspects of divorce, financial remedy and children matters

Meet Kirsty

  Eleanor Scott  

Trainee Solicitor

Eleanor joined the firm in June 2022, having graduated with a Law degree from Oxford University and was an ambassador for Oxford Women in Law,

Meet Eleanor

  Anna Davies  

Paralegal

Anna joined the firm in May 2023 and brings her knowledge working as a paralegal specialising in the law relating to children

Meet Anna

  Phoebe Gergely  

Paralegal

Phoebe joined Hall Brown in March 2024 and brings with her an empathetic and pragmatic approach as a result of working on mental health cases in serious injury law

Meet Phoebe

  Cara Duffy  

Paralegal

Cara graduated from The University of Liverpool with a first-class honours degree in Law and completed her LPC at BPP university with a distinction

Meet Cara

  Will Taylor  

Chief Financial and Operations Officer

Will has 15 years’ experience in finance leadership roles in consumer-facing businesses and brings a personal and inclusive approach to financial management

Meet Will

  Jo Wilson  

Operations and Senior Office Manager

Jo is a highly experienced multi-award winning Operations and Office Manager with over 35 years’ experience, specialising in family law for over 30 years

Meet Jo

  Eve Fitzpatrick  

Secretarial Manager and Legal PA

Eve has spent her career as a legal secretary and has specialised in family law for 27 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 over 15 years and has also successfully achieved her CILEX qualification.

Meet Hayley

  Cathy Matthews  

Legal Secretary

Catherine’s 15 year 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 24 years.

Meet Lisa

  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

  Annelise Stephenson  

Accounts Manager

Annelise has worked in the legal sector since 2008 and is a highly efficient, experienced and enthusiastic member of the team.

Meet Annelise

  Catherine Lees  

Accounts Executive

Catherine joined Hall Brown in July 2024 and is a highly experienced accounts executive, having worked in the legal sector since 2012

Meet Catherine

  Georgia King  

Accounts Executive

Georgia is a conscientious, hardworking, positive and driven individual who thrives in a busy office environment

Meet Georgia

  Victoria Beever  

Archiving and Office Administrator

Victoria has a very keen eye for detail, thrives in an office environment and prides herself on her efficiency and proactiveness.

Meet Victoria

 Accreditations