Hill Dickinson is a British international commercial law firm headquartered in Liverpool, United Kingdom. With more than 175 partners and 840 staff, the firm operates from five UK offices and four overseas offices.
History
Hill Dickinson's origins can be traced back to 1810, with the establishment of a Liverpool legal practice by the firm’s founder, Edward Morrall. The firm’s identity as ‘Hill Dickinson’ began to emerge when John Edward Gray Hill joined the firm in 1865. John Dickinson became a partner in 1872, with the firm named 'Duncan, Hill & Dickinson'. The firm established itself as a leading maritime law firm, and went on to represent the White Star Line in connection with the sinking of the and Cunard Line in respect of the sinking of which was torpedoed by a German U-boat on 7 May 1915. In 1927 Miss Edith Berthen joined the firm as one of the first women in England and Wales to qualify as a solicitor. In 1931 one of the firm's solicitors, Hector Munro, represented William Herbert Wallace in connection with his trial and subsequent appeal against his conviction for the murder of his wife Julia in their home in Wolverton Street in Liverpool's Anfield district. His conviction was later overturned by the Court Of Criminal Appeal, the first instance in British legal history where an appeal had been allowed after re-examination of evidence. Partner William Goffey started his career in 1901 at Hill Dickinson's 10 Water Street office. He became senior partner in 1950 and continued to practice until shortly before his death in 1979 at the age of 94. As the son of a ship owning family who operated sailing barques from Liverpool under the name Goffey & Co, much of his practice was Admiralty and related work. Goffey acted for Cunard Steam Ship Co. Limited in relation to the 1942 collision between the ocean liner and, which resulted in the sinking of the latter with great loss of life. In the Black Solicitors Network’s Diversity League Table 2009 Hill Dickinson was ranked 30th within the top 100UK law firms. In January 2010,, the firm was ranked as the sixth most female friendly firm with 27 per cent of its partnership made up of women. Hill Dickinson celebrated 200 years in business in 2010, expanding their international offices in Hong Kong. Amidst widespread redundancies in 2013, the firm sold their Chester office to Knights. The same year, it became the first law firm to be accredited under the prestigious scheme for its commitment to supporting diversity in the workplace.
Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP - On 31 January 2016, Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP ceased to operate as a law firm. Partners and key staff have joined other firms including Hill Dickinson
Offices
Hill Dickinson operates from five UK offices and four overseas offices. The firm’s headquarters are in Liverpool at No. 1 St Paul's Square. Other UK locations are Manchester, a new Leeds office and two offices in London; The Broadgate Tower and on Jermyn Street. Overseas locations are Singapore, Greece, Monaco and Hong Kong.
