NEW FIRM STICKING TO ITS GUNS

THERE'S a new family law firm on the block, and its partners are planning to stick closely to their guns in the pursuit of success.

The Brisbane-based duo of Trent Waller (pictured left) and Daniel Hallam launched Waller Hallam Family Lawyers earlier this month, already steering the company toward becoming one of the most focused boutique offerings on the market.

"I have been a principal and a partner in the past, doing family law in firms that have been multi-disciplinary," says Waller.

"But I always thought in the back of my mind that, if the time and opportunity arose, I would like to open my own boutique family law practice."

According to Waller, limiting the scope of the firm's offerings comes with its own set of advantages in terms of referral rates and networking.

"To do only family law is very exciting for us," says Waller.

"We can build up referral opportunities with other law firms and lawyers, while focusing on the work within our sole industry.

"The other areas - commercial, tax, wills and estates are also great opportunities for us to either maintain or build other networks for work to be done to the benefit of our clients."

Both partners are seasoned family law professionals with decades of combined industry experience.

Waller earned his family law accreditation from the Queensland Law Society in 2002 while Hallam has practised family law exclusively since 2011, specialising in asset protection strategies both nationally and overseas.

Both partners have congratulated their entire team on a mammoth effort during Waller Hallam's formative stages and opening weeks, noting the staff's exceptional ability to support one another.

"While currently we have a small number of employees in the firm, I have been overwhelmed by the extraordinarily focused hard work they have been doing," says Waller.

"Each of the team members has played to each other's strengths and covered each other's weaknesses, and because of that we've managed to put excellent systems in place."

Waller believes that being a good family lawyer means going beyond the black and white.

He says the job requires managing expectations and a range of deep emotions that a client goes through during the course of a matter; a mantra which he now imparts to his new team as they move forward.

In the next 12 months, Waller Hallam plans to employ more solicitors and consolidate its passion for family law within the market.