DWF partner Paul Maddock shares his experiences and advice for the next generation of lawyers
“Everyone in our dispute resolution team in Liverpool was previously a trainee at DWF, which is quite an accolade,” says Paul Maddock, head of dispute resolution at the firm’s Liverpool office and its graduate recruitment partner. He knows that journey well, having joined DWF as a paralegal before completing his training contract and working his way up to partnership. For Maddock, much of the firm’s appeal comes down to its people and culture, which he describes as “relaxed, ambitious, and open, with no rigid hierarchy”.
When Maddock first joined DWF, the firm had yet to establish an international presence and was preparing to open an office in London. “The firm was dynamic and very ambitious,” he recalls, pointing to its expanding geographical reach and increasingly high-profile clients. But growth was only part of the attraction. “Everyone I met at DWF came across really well,” he says, adding that the firm has continued to live up to those early impressions throughout his career.
Before joining DWF, Maddock studied law at the University of Liverpool, drawn to its blend of academic study and practical application. Work experience at both a solicitors’ firm and barristers’ chambers helped him decide which route suited him best. “I liked the solicitor element of working directly with clients and as part of a team,” he recalls. He completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in 2008, just as the financial crisis hit and firms began withdrawing training contract offers and delaying start dates.
Maddock subsequently secured a training contract with DWF, spending around two years as a paralegal before beginning his training. Having previously worked in a shop from the age of 16 to 22, the role introduced him to an entirely different working environment. “That was invaluable experience,” he recalls, helping him understand “the firm, office dynamics, and basic administrative skills” such as email etiquette and diary management.
During his training contract, Maddock pursued his interest in contentious work, completing seats in commercial litigation and property litigation, alongside a secondment to a bank focusing on finance litigation. He was particularly drawn to the problem-solving aspect, helping clients navigate difficult situations through negotiation or the courts. Commercial litigation ultimately stood out for its variety of work and clients. “It allowed me to get under the bonnet of a client’s business, understand how it operated, and address disputes specific to their business structure,” he explains.
Maddock is now closely involved in helping the next generation of lawyers build their careers at DWF. “I look after all our pathways to qualification alongside our Early Careers team,” he explains, overseeing the recruitment of apprentices, trainees and vacation scheme students. The firm also supports and sponsors paralegals looking to qualify as solicitors. Having entered the profession during the financial crisis, Maddock remains conscious of the challenges facing aspiring lawyers today. “I have deep sympathy for how challenging the job market can be,” he says, recalling friends who had their training contract offers withdrawn as firms struggled financially.
That support continues well beyond qualification. “Qualification is not a homogeneous process; it is about working with people as their careers twist and turn to help them find new strings to their bow,” Maddock explains. In his Liverpool dispute resolution team, that means encouraging newly qualified solicitors to take ownership of new areas of law and initiatives, rather than simply continuing with the work they already know.
For those interested in commercial disputes, the work is far more varied than courtroom appearances might suggest. At DWF, Maddock’s team advises clients across a range of sectors on matters including contractual disputes, professional negligence and shareholder disagreements. Day to day, this involves everything from “advisory risk management” to “drafting letters of claim, issuing court proceedings, preparing witness statements, and managing disclosure processes”. With clients increasingly conscious of the time and cost of litigation, lawyers are often brought in before disagreements escalate. “Prospective candidates are often surprised by how much advisory work we do before disputes ever formally manifest, helping clients mitigate risk early,” Maddock explains.
That advisory role has become particularly important as businesses navigate an increasingly uncertain commercial landscape. Maddock points to geopolitical instability and energy security concerns as major challenges, explaining how these “drive up operational costs and inflation”. Such pressures can disrupt supply chains and make contractual obligations increasingly difficult to fulfil, with businesses seeking to renegotiate or terminate agreements, creating what he describes as a “hotbed for litigation”. Alongside these pressures, Maddock highlights artificial intelligence (AI) and the transition to a greener economy as key developments shaping the work of disputes lawyers.
AI is also presenting fresh challenges for disputes lawyers. Maddock has seen an increase in unrepresented individuals using AI tools to bring claims against consumer-facing businesses and public bodies. “While AI can assist with access to justice, it also generates spurious claims and high volumes of correspondence because AI is not a regulated lawyer,” he explains. This can create additional costs and administrative burdens for clients, particularly when individuals are mistakenly convinced they have strong claims. Maddock also highlights the rise of increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled corporate fraud, requiring businesses to exercise greater vigilance around financial transactions.
Sustainability is another priority for DWF, with Maddock highlighting the firm’s commitment to the Green Litigation Pledge. “We focus on making the dispute resolution process as carbon-neutral as possible,” he explains. This includes conducting remote hearings, maintaining paperless processes and avoiding unnecessary travel, rather than printing large trial bundles or travelling to take witness statements in person.
Beyond understanding the wider commercial landscape, Maddock stresses the importance of recognising what clients actually want to achieve. “While financial outcomes are central, wider commercial priorities often take precedence,” he explains. For major retailers and financial institutions, protecting their reputation and maintaining customer relationships can sometimes outweigh the benefits of winning a case. Other considerations, including preserving long-term commercial relationships, avoiding the risk of opening the “floodgates” to similar claims and, for public sector clients, fulfilling wider public duties, can also shape the approach to litigation.
For aspiring lawyers hoping to join DWF, Maddock’s advice is straightforward: “First and foremost, be yourself.” Drawing on his experience as graduate recruitment partner, he stresses that “recruitment is a two-way street”, encouraging candidates to use interviews and assessment centres not just to impress recruiters, but to assess whether the firm’s culture aligns with their own values and career ambitions.
When it comes to the qualities that make a trainee stand out at DWF, Maddock places particular emphasis on enthusiasm and curiosity. “Someone who remains enthusiastic, naturally curious about the facts and the law, and engaged in their work lifts the whole team,” he explains. That willingness to ask questions, he adds, helps junior lawyers develop a deeper understanding of clients’ problems and deliver better work.
For those considering DWF, Maddock recommends speaking directly to the people who know the firm best. “The best people to speak with to understand life as a trainee at DWF are the trainees themselves,” he advises, encouraging students to make use of virtual law fairs and firm events. That accessibility reflects what he values about the firm’s culture. “Everyone is approachable and willing to have a conversation to explain their practice area or help solve a problem,” he says.
Paul Maddock will speaking at ‘The Big Commercial Awareness Themes of 2026-27 — with DWF and other leading law firms’, a virtual student event taking place Friday 6 November. Secure your place now.
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