Alison is Head of our Sheffield office and has been a specialist family lawyer for over 25 years and is recognised concurrently as a Band 1 family lawyer in Chambers & Partners and a Leading Individual, Tier 1 Family lawyer in Legal 500 directories which is testament to the high-quality advice and service she provides to her clients. Under Alison’s direction, the Sheffield office of Hall Brown has grown in strength and depth and is now also ranked Tier 1 in both legal directories.
Alison has a no-nonsense, proactive approach and clients say “Alison is very personable and also extremely knowledgeable” ”She is professional, gives clear, good advice, has compassion and not only listens, but hears” (Legal 500 2022) and “she is second to none and really goes the extra mile, paying attention to all the details” “ she is fantastic, prompt, approachable, and she really explains things and breaks them down in a way I can understand”. (Chambers and Partners 2022).
Alison worked with a number of prestigious law firms in Nottingham, Cambridge and Sheffield. Alison was a partner and joint head of the Sheffield Family department at Irwin Mitchell before joining Hall Brown in April 2020 to head their new South Yorkshire team.
Alison is experienced in all aspects of family law and is a Resolution Accredited specialist in financial cases and children law. She has a particular interest in complex financial cases involving pre-marital assets/non-matrimonial assets including inherited assets and compensation awarded for serious personal injury. Alison also has extensive experience of cases involving public sector professionals and military personnel where significant pension is often accrued prior to marriage. However, Alison’s clients have ranged from property developers, manufacturers and farmers to sports and other professionals. The type of assets involved have also been varied, including international property and off shore trusts. Alison is frequently sought out by clients to advise in relation to asset protection through pre and post nuptial/partnership agreements and cohabitation agreements.
In addition, Alison is often instructed in complex private children cases. She has extensive experience of cases involving parental alienation and also where one or more parents have suffered substance and/or alcohol addiction. Alison’s sensitive and constructive approach to those cases has been praised by clients and other professionals involved.
Alison is a confident and tough litigator. She is often recommended on the basis of her “straight talking, pragmatic and commercial approach” to helping clients reach their desired outcome. However, Alison is also one of the most experienced Collaborative Lawyers in the region. This enables Alison to offer Collaborative law as a method of dispute resolution for clients who prefer an alternative to Court.
Recognised as an expert in family law, Alison frequently lectures to other professionals on family law in relation to their services, including Accountants, Bankers, Financial Planners/IFA’s and Medical professionals. Alison has also given television and radio interviews and comment to national and local press on developments in family law.
