BACKGROUND

Sheffield natives Andrew Hartley, John Linfoot and Ron Whitlam (all of whom came from DLA) launched Hartley Linfoot & Whitlam (now hlw) in 1992 “to deliver big firm expertise in a small firm environment” to the business community of Yorkshire.

In March 2002 hlw became a founder member of The UK 200 Lawyers Group. In 2004 they won Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer Firm of the Year. In 2005 it merged with Sheffield's Russell & Creswick, and opened its office in Leeds. In 2007 hlw opened a £6m new landmark building which forms the Sheffield head office on Commercial Street in the city – the same year the Leeds office outgrew its premises and moved into new offices on Park Place.

In June 2008, hlw merged with niche Leeds commercial practice, McCombie & Co.

THE TEAM

The 100 strong team at hlw is headed by Ron Whitlam (senior partner) and Roger Dyson (managing partner) and includes a total of 17 partners, 9 associates and a growing line-up of specialist lawyers.

hlw has a very active recruitment policy, and every year bring in at least three new trainees into the firm. hlw also believes firmly in retaining all trainees, where possible, and in promoting from within.

SERVICES

hlw specialise in the following key areas of commercial law and have specific teams advising on each area: 

-  Aim Listed Companies

-  Banking and Corporate Finance 

-  Corporate 

- Dispute Resolution

-  Insolvency

-  Employment 

-  Property 

-  Intellectual Property 

-  Debt Control 

-  Private Client and IHT Planning 

-  Entertainment & Licensing

-  Healthcare 

-  Construction

-  Voluntary Organisations and Charities

-  Mediation

-  Sports

COMMUNITY

hlw is a keen supporter of the local community and supports a number of literary, charity and sports groups within Yorkshire.