Law firm Hill Dickinson has marked a strong start to 2024 as it expands its family law team into Manchester with the hire of highly experienced family law partner, Joanne Radcliff.
Joanne’s addition to the team gives Hill Dickinson a family law presence in both of its North West office locations and will see her establish a new subteam presence in Manchester to meet growing client demand.
Hers is the latest senior hire in the firm’s fast-growing Business Services Group, which has seen more than 12 lateral partner hires join in the past 12 months alone.
With over 15 years’ experience in family law, Joanne joins Hill Dickinson from Brabners where she was made partner in 2018 and subsequently headed up its family team.
Ranked in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 guides of the best family lawyers in the North West, Joanne will support Hill Dickinson in dealing with complex divorce cases which involve family trusts, businesses, foreign assets and other international dimensions. She acts for a variety of business owners, entrepreneurs and high net worth families.
At Hill Dickinson, Joanne will provide expertise for those seeking wealth protection via a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement.
As well as experience providing strategic advice and guidance through court-based litigation, Joanne is a trained collaborative practitioner. Her expertise in this area will further support the Manchester team while strengthening the firm’s Business Service Group offering. Joanne’s appointment follows a number of other recent Manchester hires including dispute resolution partner, Duncan Hope, and banking and real estate finance partner, Debra Cooper. They come as the firm looks ahead to further growth following its confirmation as an anchor tenant at the landmark £400 million St Michael’s development, which it expects to move into in 2025.
Craig Scott, CEO elect and head of Business Services Group, said: “Our Family Law team has seen rapid growth of its client base over the last 12 months and is an important part of our Business Services offering, serving high and ultra-high net worth individuals and also family business owners seeking advice on succession planning and protection of their wealth and assets.
“As a partner with a well-established reputation for her work in family law, Joanne’s appointment gives us much-needed additional capacity across the team as well as very specific expertise in nuptial agreements. Her arrival also gives us the opportunity to extend our family law services directly into Manchester and build a new team presence there to meet growing client demand.”
Joanne Raisbeck, partner and head of Family Law, said: “Family Law is an area that is continuing to grow in 2024 following an upward trajectory since the pandemic. Having previously worked together at the same firm some years ago, I’m delighted to welcome Jo as a colleague to Hill Dickinson as we look to extend the firm’s growing family law practice into Manchester.”
Joanne Radcliff, partner, said: “This is a very exciting time for me and for Hill Dickinson, and I’m delighted to be joining the firm at a time of such growth and opportunity. The demand seen for these services within Manchester in particular provides great opportunities, and I look forward to working with the wider Business Services Group and new clients to bring this offering to life.”
