Hill Dickinson LLP

Family

Partner

Joanne trained with Pannone LLP and qualified in 2008. In 2015 she joined Brabners LLP and was made a Partner there in 2018. She joined Hill Dickinson in 2024 to lead the family team in the Manchester office.

Joanne has practised in family law for the last 17 years and specialises in the following work:-

Divorce and finances - particularly cases involving complex business and trust assets, as well as international elements. This work includes both contested court proceedings and negotiating out of court. Nuptial Agreements – Joanne has become a leading lawyer when it comes to advising on pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and can assist clients wanting to use these agreements for wealth protection. International aspects – where there are assets or parties based abroad within a divorce ‘One Couple One Lawyer’ cases where she advises both spouses in a separation and assists them in coming to an agreement about their finances. Collaborative law – Joanne is a trained collaborative practitioner, allowing her to represent clients through a collaborative process which includes representing them in roundtable meetings with their spouse and their spouse’s lawyer Schedule 1 applications – financial claims made by a parent on behalf of their child Financial claims following a separation for unmarried or engaged couples Injunctions to prevent a party to a divorce from disposing of or dealing with certain assets

Joanne’s clients are confidential in nature. They are generally high-net-worth individuals, such as wealthy families with inherited and dynastic wealth, entrepreneurs, business owners and sports and media personalities.

Joanne is member of Resolution and is the Chair of the Greater Manchester Resolution regional committee (Resolution being the largest organisation of family justice professionals in the country). She formerly spent three years on Resolution’s National Committee after being elected by fellow members. She sits on the Financial Remedy Court Users Group. She is a member of the Law Society.

University of Sheffield: 2001 – 2004: LLB Law

Nottingham Law School: 2004 – 2005: Legal Practice Course

Alongside working with clients, Joanne has also co-hosted a number of episodes of the popular 3am Conversations podcast. Joanne regularly works with social mobility charities (a topic close to her heart) and on LGBT causes.

Joanne was shortlisted for the Regional Champion Award at the national Resolution Awards in 2024 (the only lawyer from the Northwest to be nominated in that category).

In the last year Joanne has lectured to financial planners at CISI’s national conference about working with clients going through divorce and has spoken on the topic of divorce and trusts to other lawyers and professionals. She has produced a webinar for MBL Seminars on Nuptial Agreements, as an expert in the area.

She is a mum and enjoys spending time with her family. When time allows, she explores her love of great food and restaurants.