Discover Hill Dickinson, the UK law firm behind Everton’s stadium, its rich history, global reach, and Liverpool roots.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard the name Hill Dickinson. I wasn’t in a courtroom or a boardroom. I was watching a Premier League game when the commentator casually said, “Welcome to Hill Dickinson Stadium,” as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world. In the world of Business Law, that name caught my attention immediately.
I stopped mid-sip of my coffee and thought: wait, a law firm has its name on a football stadium?
That question sent me down a rabbit hole, and what I discovered was far more interesting than I expected.
If you have arrived here after hearing the name through a football broadcast, a legal referral, or a random Google search, you’re in the right place. This guide explains what Hill Dickinson is, where it came from, what areas of law it handles, and why its name now appears on Everton’s new stadium in Liverpool.
What Is Hill Dickinson?
Hill Dickinson is an international commercial law firm headquartered in Liverpool, England. Its origins date back to 1810, giving the firm more than two centuries of legal history.
Rather than being a new firm that happened to gain attention through a major sponsorship deal, Hill Dickinson has developed a long-standing reputation across a range of commercial legal services.
Its history is particularly closely connected to Liverpool’s maritime industry. Over the years, the firm has expanded beyond its traditional shipping roots into areas including corporate law, healthcare, dispute resolution, real estate, finance, employment, and other commercial services.
Hill Dickinson at a Glance
- Founded: 1810
- Headquarters: Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Firm type: Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
- CEO: Craig Scott
- Core areas: Commercial law, maritime and shipping, healthcare, corporate transactions, dispute resolution, finance, real estate, employment, and other legal services
Craig Scott became CEO in 2024 and is responsible for the firm’s strategy, growth, culture, and business operations.
A Law Firm Older Than the Steam Engine (Almost)
Imagine Liverpool in 1810.
The city was already one of the world’s major ports, and its docks were at the centre of a rapidly expanding international trading network. It was in this environment that the partnerships that would eventually become Hill Dickinson began taking shape.
That maritime connection became an important part of the firm’s identity.
Shipping companies faced complicated legal issues involving vessels, cargo, insurance, financing, disputes, and international trade. A law firm operating in Liverpool was naturally positioned to develop expertise in these areas.
Hill Dickinson’s own history notes that the firm acted for the White Star Line and Cunard Line in connection with the Titanic and Lusitania disasters.
Think about that for a moment: the firm’s history reaches back more than a century before the Titanic disaster.
That kind of longevity helps explain why maritime and shipping law remain strongly associated with Hill Dickinson today.
From Regional Firm to International Player
Hill Dickinson may have started in Liverpool, but its reach is no longer limited to the city.
The firm has expanded across the UK and internationally, building offices and relationships that allow it to work with businesses operating across different markets and jurisdictions.
Its UK presence includes major commercial centres such as:
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Leeds
- Newcastle
- Birmingham
Internationally, the firm has developed a presence in locations including Piraeus, Singapore, Monaco, and Hong Kong. Its international footprint is closely connected to the firm’s work with shipping, trade, energy, commercial disputes, and cross-border transactions.
That international expansion makes sense when you consider the firm’s origins.
Shipping and international commerce rarely stop at national borders. A legal issue involving a vessel, cargo, finance arrangement, or commercial dispute can involve companies and laws from several different countries.
Hill Dickinson’s international network allows it to work on precisely those kinds of matters.
What Does Hill Dickinson Do?
So, what does Hill Dickinson actually do?
The simple answer is that it is a full-service commercial law firm.
Its work extends well beyond maritime law. The firm provides legal advice to businesses, public-sector organisations, healthcare organisations, financial institutions, investors, and other clients.
Maritime and Shipping Law
Maritime law remains one of Hill Dickinson’s most recognisable areas of expertise.
The firm’s work in this field can involve issues such as shipping disputes, marine insurance, ship finance, cargo claims, international trade, and other matters affecting the maritime industry.
Its Liverpool roots give this practice area a particularly strong historical connection.
Corporate and Commercial Law
Businesses regularly face major legal decisions when they acquire another company, sell part of their business, raise investment, restructure their operations, or enter significant commercial agreements.
Hill Dickinson’s corporate team advises clients on transactions ranging from work involving entrepreneurs and smaller businesses to complex corporate and private-equity transactions. The firm’s corporate team operates across offices including London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, and Newcastle.
Healthcare Law
Healthcare is another significant area of the firm’s practice.
Hill Dickinson works with organisations across the public and private healthcare sectors, including clients connected with the NHS.
Healthcare organisations can face complicated legal and regulatory issues, from commercial arrangements and governance to disputes and regulatory matters.
Dispute Resolution and Litigation
Not every business relationship ends smoothly.
When disagreements become serious, legal advice may be required to resolve the dispute through negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration, or litigation.
Hill Dickinson provides advice in commercial disputes and litigation, including matters involving businesses operating across different sectors and jurisdictions.
Banking and Finance
Financial transactions can involve complicated legal structures, regulatory requirements, security arrangements, and contractual obligations.
Hill Dickinson also advises clients on banking and finance matters as part of its wider commercial practice.
Employment and Pensions
Businesses also need legal advice when dealing with employees, workplace arrangements, pensions, and related regulatory responsibilities.
These areas form part of the broader range of services offered by the firm.
Real Estate and Construction
Property transactions and construction projects can involve significant financial and legal risks.
Hill Dickinson works on real estate and construction matters, supporting businesses, investors, developers, and other organisations with the legal aspects of property and development projects.
Why Does Hill Dickinson Have Its Name on Everton’s Stadium?
This is probably the question that brought most people to this article.
The short answer is: Hill Dickinson is the naming-rights partner for Everton’s new stadium. It does not own the stadium.
In May 2025, Everton Football Club announced Hill Dickinson as the official naming-rights partner for its new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool. The agreement resulted in the venue being named Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The partnership is particularly interesting because both organisations have deep Liverpool roots.
Everton was founded in Liverpool in 1878, while Hill Dickinson traces its origins to Liverpool in 1810. The stadium therefore connects two long-established Liverpool institutions in a very visible way.
The stadium has a capacity of 52,888 and opened as Everton’s new home in 2025.
For Hill Dickinson, the naming-rights agreement also provides something that a traditional law-firm advertising campaign could never quite replicate: global visibility.
Every televised Everton match, major event, news report, and reference to the stadium potentially puts the firm’s name in front of an audience far beyond the legal industry.
That makes the deal unusual.
Law firms are not typically the first businesses people associate with football stadium naming rights. Financial institutions, airlines, technology companies, and consumer brands are much more common sponsors.
For Hill Dickinson, however, the Liverpool connection makes the partnership particularly meaningful.
A Shared Liverpool History
The relationship between Hill Dickinson and Everton is more than a branding exercise.
Both organisations have grown from Liverpool institutions into internationally recognised names.
Hill Dickinson describes its Liverpool roots as central to its identity, while Everton has represented the city for generations.
The new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock provides a physical link between the city’s history and its future.
For a law firm with origins dating back to 1810, putting its name on a major new Liverpool landmark is a significant statement.
Does Hill Dickinson Work With US Businesses?
If you are reading this from the United States, you might reasonably wonder whether Hill Dickinson has any relevance outside the UK.
The answer is yes.
Hill Dickinson’s international work means it can be involved in matters that cross borders, particularly where English law, international shipping, commercial transactions, or European business interests are involved.
For example, an international business may need legal advice involving:
- Shipping and maritime disputes
- International commercial transactions
- Cross-border corporate work
- Mergers and acquisitions
- International arbitration
- Finance and investment matters
- UK or European counterparties
However, Hill Dickinson should not be confused with a traditional US-based law firm with a large network of standalone American offices. Its international structure is centred on its UK, European, and Asian operations.
Why Hill Dickinson Stands Out
There are thousands of law firms around the world, so why does Hill Dickinson attract so much attention?
One reason is its history.
A firm that traces its origins to 1810 has survived enormous changes in the legal profession, economy, technology, and global trade.
Another reason is its sector expertise.
The firm has maintained a strong connection to maritime and shipping law while expanding into healthcare, corporate transactions, dispute resolution, finance, real estate, employment, and other commercial areas.
Its international reach is another important factor.
Finally, there is the Everton connection.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium has turned the name of a centuries-old law firm into something millions of football fans can encounter without ever having searched for legal services.
That is an unusual form of brand recognition for a professional-services firm.
FAQs:
Q. Who owns Hill Dickinson?
Hill Dickinson is structured as a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) and is run on a partnership basis.
Craig Scott is the firm’s Chief Executive Officer.
Q. When was Hill Dickinson founded?
Hill Dickinson traces its origins to 1810, when the partnerships that would eventually become the firm began taking shape in Liverpool.
Q. Is Hill Dickinson only a maritime law firm?
No.
Although maritime and shipping law remain important parts of its practice, Hill Dickinson is a full-service commercial law firm with expertise across areas including corporate law, healthcare, dispute resolution, finance, real estate, and employment.
Q. Why is Everton’s stadium called Hill Dickinson Stadium?
Everton entered into a long-term naming-rights agreement with Hill Dickinson in 2025. Under the agreement, the club’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock was named Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Q. Does Hill Dickinson own Everton’s stadium?
No.
Hill Dickinson is the stadium’s naming-rights partner. The naming-rights agreement gives the firm its name on the venue; it does not mean that Hill Dickinson owns Everton Football Club or the stadium.
Q. Is Hill Dickinson a UK law firm?
Hill Dickinson is headquartered in Liverpool and has a substantial UK presence, but it also operates internationally through offices and its wider network across Europe and Asia.
The Key Taking:
- What started for me as a simple question during a football match turned into a fascinating look at one of the UK’s long-established commercial law firms.
- Hill Dickinson is much more than the name above Everton’s new stadium.
- Its story begins in Liverpool in 1810 and is closely connected to the city’s maritime history.
- Over more than two centuries, the firm has developed from its historic shipping roots into an international commercial law practice covering areas such as corporate transactions, healthcare, dispute resolution, finance, real estate, and employment.
- The Everton partnership has simply given that long history a very visible new chapter.
- For football fans, Hill Dickinson may now be the name of Everton’s stadium.
- For businesses and legal professionals, it remains a law firm with more than two centuries of history, a strong Liverpool identity, and an increasingly international reach.
Additional Resources:
- Hill Dickinson Official Website: direct, up-to-date information on practice areas, offices, and current news.
- Chambers and Partners – Hill Dickinson Profile: independent, authoritative rankings and reviews of the firm’s practice areas.
- Legal 500 – Hill Dickinson Profile: another respected legal directory with detailed firm and client information.