Liverpool law firms Hill Dickinson and Broudie Jackson Canter take on new expertise in construction and engineering and discrimination 

Liverpool law firms Hill Dickinson and Broudie Jackson Canter (BJC) have both announced the recruitment of new specialists to their teams.

Hill Dickinson has appointed Joanna Maddocks and Sam Beer as associates in its construction and engineering team and BJC has hired has discrimination lawyer Yara Ali-Adib.

Joanna and Sam will add added expertise to Hill Dickinson’s construction and engineering team in areas such as public sector, transport, renewable energy and professional indemnity. Joanna offers particular experience in the delivery of transport projects including light rail extensions, guided bus lanes and the construction of transport exchange facilities.

Sam focuses on contentious construction, with a background in professional negligence disputes arising in all sectors of the construction industry. His experience includes advising on disputes relating to waste to energy plants, water treatment systems and cladding. 

Team head Alan Pugh said: “The addition of both Joanna and Sam at senior associate level is a reflection of the growing reputation in our team on a national and increasingly on an international stage. ”

Yara will join BJC’s Actions Against Public Authorities department, headed by esteemed human rights lawyer and current president of Liverpool Law Society, Chris Topping. She brings with her experience of working on a number of high-profile discrimination cases.

BJC, renowned for its work on major cases including representing 20 families in the Hillsborough Inquests, has recently been awarded a Legal Aid contract to act in cases of discrimination.The contract will enable the firm to support those who have suffered discrimination and to continue providing Legal Aid-funded advice, ensuring that justice is accessible to all.

Yara is a civil liberties activist who strongly believes in ensuring that the Equality Act is upheld and that those who have been subjected to discrimination are able to gain justice. Her wide-ranging experience includes working on high-profile cases involving sex and disability discrimination.

She said: “Without financial access to justice, the law is simply sentiment. For this reason, I am delighted that we have been awarded Legal Aid Agency funding which can help break down financial barriers and allow us to assist all people who have been discriminated against.

“The impact of discrimination is highly detrimental to my clients and to society at large. Having Legal Aid funding for these cases is a welcome progress in the fight for equality.”