Law firm launches in Sheffield vowing to poach top fee earners from rivals

A law firm has opened in Sheffield vowing to poach senior lawyers from top tier rivals.
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Hall Brown Family Law has opened with six people in The Balance on Leopold Street in the city centre.

It is led by Alison Fernandes whose move from Irwin Mitchell was a “major coup.”

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Hall Brown says she is also the only family lawyer from the area to appear in the top tier in the UK’s two leading legal rankings: Chambers and Partners and Legal 500.

From left: managing partner James Brown, Sheffield office lead Alison Fernandes and senior partner Sam Hall.From left: managing partner James Brown, Sheffield office lead Alison Fernandes and senior partner Sam Hall.
From left: managing partner James Brown, Sheffield office lead Alison Fernandes and senior partner Sam Hall.

The 40-strong, £3.5m turnover firm was set up in Manchester in 2016 by Sheffield-born Sam Hall and James Brown.

It opened a second office in London before launching in Sheffield.

Mr Hall said it had always been a goal to open in his home city and they planned to continue to hire senior lawyers from “top tier rivals.”

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Coronavirus had changed working practices but it would not affect operations in the city, he added.

“We have been quite able to adapt to these exceptional circumstances. That is something which has arguably become even more important because although many people's routines have been transformed, family life goes on and has arguably become more intense due to everyone having to spend more time at home.

"Furthermore, we are confident that our office in Sheffield will be able to cope just as well as those in Manchester and London during the current situation and once the restrictions are lifted.

"We have seen our launches in Manchester and London thoroughly vindicated by a dramatic rise in caseload, so it made perfect sense to us to open an office in yet another area which has generated an increasing amount of work.

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“We’re delighted that Alison has agreed to lead our efforts in Yorkshire, given that she is so experienced and so very highly thought of by clients and peers alike.

“It underlines our commitment to ensure the highest quality of support possible. We’re looking to announce a series of further appointments in the near future.

“This is an exciting departure for us and we are extremely confident in our ability to deliver results.”

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