First call
Free
20 minutes by phone, video or in person to understand your situation and whether we’re the right fit.
- No obligation
- Conflict check before details
- Written next steps by email
Law firm for families & small businesses
Clear legal advice for the moments that matter at home and at work
Whitcombe Hale helps people write wills, separate fairly, buy property and set up businesses. We explain your options in plain language and tell you what it will cost before we start.
Our meeting room on Chancery Walk
Practice areas
What we can help with
010203040506
Family law
Separation, parenting arrangements, property settlements and prenuptial agreements.
Fixed fee optionsWills & estates
Wills, powers of attorney, guardianship and estate administration.
Wills from $450Property & conveyancing
Buying, selling, leases and first-home purchases.
Fixed feeBusiness formation
Company set-up, shareholder agreements, partnership deeds.
Packages from $1,200Employment
Contracts, workplace policies and advice for small employers and staff.
Hourly or fixedDisputes & mediation
Contract disputes, debt recovery and mediation before court.
Hourly, estimates in writingHow we work & fees
You’ll know the cost before we begin
Fixed fee
From $450
For defined work: wills, conveyancing, company set-up, uncontested separations. One price, agreed in writing.
- Scope listed line by line
- Pay in two instalments
- No charge for routine calls
Hourly
$290 / hour
For disputes and matters where the work can’t be predicted. Billed in 6-minute units with a written estimate.
- Monthly itemised invoices
- We tell you at 80% of estimate
- Junior rates where suitable
We can’t promise how a matter will end. We do promise to explain each step, answer emails within one working day, and never bill you for work you didn’t agree to.
Our lawyers
A small team you’ll actually speak to
Eleanor Whitcombe
Founding partner · Admitted 2004Daniel Hale
Partner · Admitted 2009Ana Sorensen
Senior associate · Admitted 2014Kwame Mensah
Associate · Admitted 2019Insights
Plain-English guides
Guide · Wills & estates
Your first will: a checklist before the appointment
Assets, guardians, executors and the questions people usually forget. Bring this list and your appointment takes half the time.
Wills & estates
6 min readWhat happens if you die without a will: a plain-English walk-through
Business
8 min readShareholder agreements for two-founder companies: the five clauses to discuss first
Family law
5 min readParenting plans versus court orders: how they differ
Employment
7 min readHiring your first employee: contracts, records and leave basics
Client notes
What working with us is like
Eleanor explained every option for our parenting plan without pushing us toward any of them. The fixed fee meant one less thing to worry about.
We set up our company and shareholder agreement in three weeks. Daniel’s notes on each clause were the clearest thing I read all year.
Book a consultation
Tell us briefly what’s happening
A lawyer reads every request and replies within one working day to arrange your free first call.
- Level 2, 18 Chancery WalkStep-free access, parking behind the building
- Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:30 PMEvening video calls by arrangement
- hello@whitcombehale.examplePlease don’t email documents yet
Please keep details brief until we’ve run a conflict check. We’ll ask for documents once we confirm we can act for you.