Beyond Law Group’s specialist family and children law practice, McAlister Family Law, was triumphant at the 2022 Manchester Young Talent Awards as its specialist children team won “Team of the Year” in recognition for their work in representing society’s most vulnerable children.

McAlister Family Law has won almost every accolade in 2022, from being listed in the prestigious Times 200 Top Law Firms to being named Team of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards.

This, however, is the first time that McAlister Family Law’s specialist Children Team has been recognised for its unwavering dedication in representing and protecting society’s most vulnerable children and leading on some of the most landmark reported cases in the UK.

The Children Law team represents children, parents and other family members on a full range of issues including child neglect, cases of complex medical matters as well as applications involving allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

This year’s Manchester Young Talent judging panel commented “the team’s commitment to excellence and serving the community is to be commended, particularly during the lockdowns. This is reflected in their client testimonials as well as their significant growth these past few years to be one of the Children Law teams in the UK.”

Part of the Group’s vision for its specialist family and children practice was to create the largest children team outside of London, giving representation not only to parents, grandparents and stepparents but also children themselves. The vision was supported by Beyond Law Group’s Chief Executive, Matt Fleetwood, and McAlister Family Law’s Managing Partner, Amanda McAlister. Both hold a passion for children welfare and protection which is reflected in the Group’s community and charity initiatives to support underprivileged and often vulnerable children.

At the time it was established in 2017, McAlister Family Law’s Children team comprised of a small team of two Partners and only made up 20% of McAlister Family Law’s total revenue.

Five years on, McAlister Family Law is home to one of the leading Children Law teams in the UK and boasts some of the country’s leading experts, holding the most child law accreditations outside of London. It has a specialist team of 22 legal professionals, 80% of whom are under the age of 35, and this year the team generated £2.2m which is 50% of McAlister Family Law’s total revenue.

Amanda McAlister, Manager Partner of McAlister Family Law commented: “This team never ceases to amaze us. Over the last five years we have built one of the largest Children law teams in the UK, and this is credit to the incredible hard work and dedication of our young, talented Children team. The judges’ comments sum up the team’s efforts and I am so pleased that they have the recognition they all deserve.”

Ruth Hetherington, Head of the Private Child team at McAlister Family Law said: “This is incredible recognition for the most hard-working team I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Each and every person in the team works tirelessly, day in and day out, to ensure that the most vulnerable children in society are protected and that their voices are heard. For the team to be recognised and awarded across the region for the incredible work that they do means more than anyone could imagine.”

Matt Fleetwood, Founder and Chief Executive of Beyond Law Group adds: “Whilst each of our practices, particularly McAlister Family Law, has won many prestigious awards, for the Children team specifically to be recognised for the incredibly important and often harrowing work that they undertake to protect children and let their voices be heard is an unbelievable achievement. We are incredibly proud of the team’s hard work and dedication; they are all incredible people to work with.”

McAlister Family Law is Beyond Law Group’s specialist, independent Family and Children Law practice. Beyond Law Group’s concept brings corporate and consumer legal services together, a concept which has rarely been successful in the UK but which Beyond Law Group has achieved. The Group currently has a portfolio of three specialist practices: McAlister Family Law, Beyond Corporate and Beyond Conveyancing.