Uche Akali’s journey from her early days in London to founding Hallmark Solicitors in Hull is a story of resilience, adaptability and a deep commitment to the legal profession, writes Sam Hawcroft.
Islington-born Uche’s childhood was marked by a significant move to Nigeria, where she completed her secondary education, earned her first degree in law and was first called to the bar as a barrister.
An early catalyst that sparked her interest in law as a career path was, in fact, a book – the 1980 novel by Sidney Sheldon, Rage of Angels. “It was about a young lawyer,” says Uche, “and that really influenced me. I think it was always on the cards for me, but that really pushed me down that road, in addition to being a little weak in physics. From the age of 13 or maybe 14, I knew I wanted to help people, so I decided that I was going to be a lawyer, and that was how I’d be able to do that.”
The move back from Nigeria was a gradual one, mainly influenced by a number of factors and her parents’ realisation that the country was not the one they’d known when they had first came to study in Britain.
Uche focused on establishing her legal career in the UK, which required additional qualifications. She successfully completed the Common Professional Exams and Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test and other necessary exams and was admitted to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales in 2001.
She first moved north, to Leeds, when her husband, a consultant plastic surgeon, took up a new role there. They settled in Normanton, and Uche worked at Walker Morris LLP for several years.
However, the completion of her master’s degree in law and her husband’s appointment as a consultant in 2007-2008 in Hull prompted another move and, by early 2009, they had permanently relocated to East Yorkshire.
Hull presented a unique opportunity for Uche. She says she was drawn to the city because of its vibrant port, which had significant implications for international law, an area she was particularly passionate about. The volume of roll-on and roll-off shipping made Hull an ideal location for her ambitions.
“One of the things I noticed when we would come to visit Hull,” says Uche, “was quite a strong community atmosphere. It really hits you as soon as you come in. Living in really big cities, you can feel like you are just a very small cog in a very big wheel, but it felt so much more communal moving to Hull. We knew we would be happy here.”
Thus, in 2009, Uche established Hallmark Solicitors, setting out to provide traditional legal services to small businesses in a modern, client-focused manner. A recent development dubbed the Tesco Law reforms – the Legal Services Act 2007 – came at an opportune time, says Uche.
“The act was all about modernising law firms. It was creating competition and changing the way the service of law was being delivered. I always felt that what was needed was delivery of traditional values, but from a modern perspective using modern tools. I didn’t feel that we should throw out the baby with the bathwater just because we want to have modern, shiny firms – but there was a niche there, to provide services to businesses of all sizes.”
Starting Hallmark Solicitors was not without its challenges. Uche had to adjust from working at a large established firm to starting her practice from scratch. She vividly recalls these humble beginnings, starting with just a table (“I didn’t even have a proper desk!”) and a laptop, managing everything herself, from making tea to answering phones and typing letters.
Growing the firm involved significant efforts in digital marketing and building relationships with local businesses. Uche’s approach to marketing was multi-faceted, using social media platforms such as LinkedIn to reach potential clients and forming strategic connections with local enterprises. Uche cites the University of Hull and fellow solicitors firm Andrew Jackson as being “very helpful and supportive” over the years.
Initially, Hallmark Solicitors focused on non-contentious commercial law, including commercial property, commercial agreements, shareholder agreements, company structures and financing. However, as the firm grew, clients began bringing their disputes to Uche. She says she found great satisfaction in finding resolutions, leveraging her expertise gained during her master’s degree at the University of Leeds in international and European business law.
“I was very much drawn to alternative dispute resolution,” says Uche, “helping parties get to ‘yes’, where there might be quite a big chasm in terms of their starting positions. It’s about negotiating and helping our clients to resolve the disputes they might be facing, and I think that’s why we’ve been successful in being able to pivot to that, and why clients were drawn to us because of that background in dispute resolution.”
One notable case was when Hallmark successfully challenged a decision by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Uche’s team not only won the case, but also protected her client’s business from potentially devastating consequences. “There are not many solicitors can say that they won at a tax tribunal.”
Recruitment has been one of the ongoing challenges for Hallmark Solicitors, as it is for firms across a wide variety of sectors – but Uche remains optimistic and proactive, and hugely keen to promote the buzz she gets from her work.
“Normally, I’m a bit media shy,” she admits. “But one of the reasons why I felt I should do this article is I think there’s a need for businesses to know a whole lot more about what we do, and how exciting and rewarding it is, when you assist your clients and you win for your clients.
“Sometimes we have to dash to London, to the Royal Courts of Justice, or to the Court of Appeal. Not many firms have the privilege of being able to take cases to the Court of Appeal, and when you are fighting one level after another and you’ve got clients that are sticking with you and you are able to help them, it’s so satisfying.
“It’s been tough and there’ve been great challenges, and there’s been a lot of learning along the way. But what keeps me going is the satisfaction of knowing that we’re doing what we set out to do – and that is to help people. Even if it’s a business, it’s people – people run businesses.”
Uche is also passionate about investing in the future of the legal profession by offering work experience opportunities to students.
Each summer, Hallmark Solicitors hosts students for a week, providing them with a behind-the-scenes look at the practical side of being a lawyer. This initiative is meticulously planned to ensure that students gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal profession, from administrative tasks to attending webinars and social events with the team. “They see the serious side of our work, but they also see how as we get together and have fun as well,” says Uche.
Looking ahead, Uche has ambitious plans for Hallmark Solicitors. The company aims to continue growing, improving its services and expanding the client base. She now has a team of 10 and, after starting on just one floor of the firm’s offices at Chandlers Court, High Street, has gradually expanded to take up all four.
Uche is particularly focused on helping businesses become licensed sponsors, enabling them to bring highly skilled individuals into the UK workforce, which can significantly benefit their growth and operations.
“Within the labour market in the UK there are many people that have got skills – they’re already living in the UK, but they can’t work here. So if businesses sponsor them, they can get some of these highly skilled people in to help drive their operations forward. Anything that relates to helping businesses – that’s what we’re interested in, that’s what we are here for. This really helps to grow and keep the economy buoyant for the benefit of all.”
As Hallmark Solicitors continues to grow and evolve, Uche remains focused on her mission to provide top-notch legal services while maintaining the core values that have defined her career. “It’s hard work, but the rewards are well worth it,” she says.
“A lot of things have fallen on my desk to do. I’ve had to burn the midnight candle many a time in order to get through and do everything that I needed to do – both on the compliance side and in terms of making sure that the clients were satisfied, and meeting deadlines. While it’s been challenging, it’s been filled with a lot of proud moments when we succeed for our clients – which is exactly what we set out to do, and that is to help people.”
