Expansion Of South West Office Continues

Irwin Mitchell is to continue the expansion of its new Bristol office by bringing in a highly regarded lawyer to head up a new family team in the South West.

Alison Hawes, recognised by industry guide the Legal 500 as ‘one of the most senior, able and respected solicitors on the circuit’, will join the national law firm’s growing team at its Castlepark office in December as it continues to progress its strategic plans for a network of leading family teams across the UK.

The move will see her switch to Irwin Mitchell, which opened its office in Bristol earlier this year, as a Partner from her current role as Head of Family Law at national firm TLT, where she has practised since 1994.

Described as a ‘leader in the field of Family Law’ by the legal guide Chambers, Alison will bring her expertise in financial and business matters in the field of divorce and family law along with further skills in the niche field of legal advice for unmarried couples.

Alison, who is a member of the national Resolution Standards Committee and is flagged by the Legal 500 as a ‘specialist in cohabitation law’, said she was looking forward to the move to Irwin Mitchell, adding: “This is an opportunity that was too good to miss. Irwin Mitchell has a national team of market-leading family lawyers and I see it as the perfect home for me to continue to provide an approachable, first-class client service.”
 
Martin Loxley, National Head of Family Law at Irwin Mitchell, added: “Part of our strategic plan is to have leaders in their local markets and fields in place in each of our regional offices and ensure we have first-rate family lawyers right across the country for our clients to call on when they need them.

“Alison certainly fits that bill and I look forward to welcoming her to Irwin Mitchell and working with her to build a leading family team in Bristol and the South West.”

TLT's Head of Private Business and Head of Family Law, David Woodward, says: "We wish Alison every success. Since joining TLT as a trainee 18 years ago, Alison has made a significant contribution to the firm, helping to build TLT's family law team into the market-leading practice that it is today."
 
Irwin Mitchell opened its Bristol office – its eighth in the UK – in April this year with expert teams in clinical negligence, personal injury and court of protection law joining Regional Managing Partner Jonathan Peacock at the site in Castlepark.