UK Legal Awards 2025/ 8 Residential Conveyancers of the Year 2025 – Northern Ireland & Client Service Excellence Award 2025 Based in Lisburn, a city in the stunning County Antrim, Skelton Callender Solicitors is a multi-award-winning law firm providing quality legal advice and assistance in a number of diverse areas. From residential conveyancing to personal injury, medical negligence, estate planning, wills, and family law, the team here cover all bases for their clients, in addition to delivering a range of business services, such as legal document drafting. We spoke with Dawn Callender, the founder of the firm, for more. A female-owned law firm disrupting the field of what is traditionally a male-dominated space, Skelton Callender Solicitors was established by Dawn Callender almost a decade ago. After a nearly 24-year career working across several different types of roles in private law firms, Dawn decided it was time for her to open a firm of her own. Guided both by her professionalism and her personable nature, Dawn quickly began securing clients, many of whom remain with the firm to this day. Since founding Skelton Callender Solicitors, Dawn has continued to develop professionally, seen through her not just obtaining a diploma in mediation, but passing with distinction. In essence, this means that her firm can offer both mediation and alternative dispute resolution services across a wide range of issues, from family and education disputes through to issues in the workplace. What this represents is Dawn’s desire for her firm to stand as a one-stop shop for clients, delivering uniform excellence across this sector. It would be fair to say that many of the new clients that Skelton Callender Solicitors handles have had a poor experience with the legal system in the UK, and it is the mission of the firm to change this. The focus on delivering a stress-free experience and making the entire process as easy as possible for clients is what drives Dawn to work tirelessly every day, with her untiring commitment to the cause seen in everything from the firm’s welcoming offices to the high standards it affords every client’s case. As the first of the two awards we have bestowed upon Skelton Callender Solicitors suggests, it is in the area of residential conveyancing that the firm has particularly caught our eye, with its comprehensive services in this sphere spanning house sales, property remortgaging, tenancy agreements, as well as equity transfer and release. Dawn knows from experience exactly how challenging it can be to manage house-related transactions, and that is why she strives to see every aspect flawlessly handled by herself and the team. The impeccable client service afforded by the firm goes beyond its residential conveyancing services, and is instead interwoven into the very fibre of Skelton Callender Solicitors’ being. Diving deeper into this, Dawn explained: “At our firm, client service is more than a promise – it’s a partnership. We bring empathy, strength, and precision to every client relationship. We listen deeply, communicate clearly, and advocate fiercely – because every client’s story is unique and deserving of our full attention.” Clearly then, the picture that Skelton Callender Solicitors paints is different from that of any other law firm, with this being attributed to its status as a woman-led operation. This leads to Dawn and co. embodying a different kind of strength than the one usually associated with the legal profession – one that is empathetic, precise, and equal. “We’ve created a space where collaboration is celebrated, diverse voices are amplified, and leadership is shared, not siloed”, Dawn told us. “Our team are all driven by excellence, but grounded in empathy, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to supporting one another’s growth.” The result is that the firm is not just nurturing a strong culture – it is nurturing the future of this space and unlocking a better way for legal professionals to operate. Reflecting on the work she has done and its impact, Dawn said in closing: “I believe that the law is more than statutes and strategies – it’s about people. It’s about using knowledge, skill and advocacy to create clarity, resolve conflict, and empower others to move forwards with their lives with confidence.” She continued: “Every win, every breakthrough, every thank you – that’s what makes it all worth it for me.” Celebrated in this programme with two well-deserved awards, Skelton Callender Solicitors is professional, approachable, collaborative, and the perfect choice for those in search of expert legal services throughout County Antrim and beyond. Contact: Dawn Callender Company: Skelton Callender Solicitors Web Address: https://skeltoncallender.com/ Skelton Callender Solicitors
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