Name: Natalie Dickson
Company: Hall Brown Family Law
Position: Partner and Head of Liverpool
What do you actually do day-to-day? I’m a family lawyer so I advise and represent people going
through divorce or dealing with other sorts of family law issues. That can include financial
settlements on divorce, arrangements and financial provision for children, nuptial and cohabitation
agreements and disputes arising from the breakdown of cohabiting relationships. My days are
either spent doing legal work (drafting documents or letters, negotiating etc), in client meetings or in
Court. As head of the Liverpool office I also look after my team, I am responsible for the strategy
and management of our office and nurturing our professional relationships so people know who
we are, what we do and how we can help them and their clients. I also do lots of “extra-curricular”
things which are great for balance and variety… I am a trustee of Sefton Park Palm House, I’m on
the board of Professional Liverpool and involved in the LeadHer Alliance, I’m on the board of the
Liverpool Sportswoman’s Lunch and I’m a fundraiser for Marie Curie as they looked after my mum
and dad.
Have you ever had a mentor? If so, who? Not one in particular. I’ve always been fortunate to
be surrounded by impressive, ambitious and supportive people – from my family to my friends to
my colleagues to my professional contacts and so I’ve had the benefit of learning from them.
Does money motivate you? Yes, but just in the sense that it gives you choices. I’m motivated by
lots of other things to… doing a good job for clients, having a happy and successful team,
contributing to the world around me in whatever small way I can.
What has been the most important event in your working life? There are lots! Qualifying is
one. I went round the houses to get there, qualifying as a Barrister first then working as a secretary
to get my foot in the door and then as a paralegal while I cross-qualified to become a solicitor so
actually getting over the line was a milestone. Setting up the Hall Brown Liverpool office is another.
I spent 16 years at Brabners and two years at Freeths before so I’d always been in the safety and
security of a large multi-service firm, joining a much smaller boutique family practice and setting up
the Liverpool office with my team was a massive leap… which has turned out brilliantly!
Who do you most admire? Anyone who goes above and beyond. I think it’s so easy to get
caught up in the grind of the day job and day to day life, it’s hard to step back from that and look at
the bigger picture. I’m a believer in charity work and giving back in whatever way you can,
particularly business as a force for good so anyone who actively does that and tries to leave the
world in a bit of a better place than they found it, is an inspiration to me.
What does leadership mean to you? Leadership to me is about creating a safe space for those
around me to thrive. It’s about genuinely knowing and understanding your team and allowing them
to play to their strengths. We spend so much of our lives at work it has to be a place of joy and I
see it as the role of a leader to create that and balance it with the needs of the organisation.
What’s your favourite TV programme? I’m more a movie person than a TV person but recently
I’ve been enjoying Lioness, Dutton Ranch and the guilty pleasure has been Disney’s Rivals!
How do you relax? I love cooking (mostly savoury but with some baking bread), I love reading
and I love being outside with my three Labradors. I have been turning my hand to growing veg…
with mixed results! Baths with candles and holidays too.
Fry up or healthy smoothie? Definitely fry up. Smoothies have got a weird texture.
Pub or club? Pub, always.
Gym or countryside walk? Countryside walk (with the dogs). Wouldn’t know my way around a
gym.
Favourite piece of music? I have dreadful / eclectic taste in music! Soul and Motown from my
mum, country from my dad, scouse house from my youth but it’s 80s every time for me.
Flannels or Florence & Fred? Don’t have anything from either… I had to google what Florence &
Fred was!
Birkdale or Birkenhead? Don’t spend a lot of time in either as I’m a South Liverpool girl but
Birkdale’s beautiful when I’ve been for the golf.