From high performance to peak performance: How Hill Dickinson revolutionised legal wellbeing

Hill Dickinson law firm implementing Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP for legal professionals
Location
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Industry
Legal Services
Company Size
1,000+ employees

Case Study

Hill Dickinson, a leading international law firm, successfully implemented Leafyard's mental fitness platform to support their high-performing legal professionals with remarkable results.

About

Hill Dickinson is a leading international law firm with offices across the UK, Europe, and Asia. With over 850 legal professionals, they deliver advice and strategic guidance spanning the full legal spectrum, from non-contentious advisory and transactional work to all forms of commercial litigation.

As the legal sector navigated the post-pandemic landscape, Hill Dickinson sought innovative ways to support their professionals while maintaining their commitment to excellence and high performance.

Challenge

As the legal sector navigated the post-pandemic landscape, Hill Dickinson faced the complex challenge of supporting their professionals through a significant workplace transition whilst maintaining their high-performance culture.

The firm needed a solution that would address mental fitness in a way that resonated with legal professionals, provide practical tools for building resilience, support the transition back to office-based working, and maintain their commitment to excellence and high performance.

"We piloted Leafyard within our Corporate team to see if it was something that might go down well in the office. The feedback we got back was overwhelmingly positive! So the logical thing to do, therefore, was to open it up to the rest of the Liverpool office."
Matt Noon
Head of Liverpool Office @ Hill Dickinson

Solution

Under the leadership of Matt Noon, head of the Liverpool office, Hill Dickinson chose Leafyard for its scientific, evidence-based approach that focuses on mental fitness rather than traditional wellness. The platform's integration with high-performance culture and practical tools for building resilience were key factors in their decision.

The firm recognised that legal professionals needed a solution that was grounded in science, non-patronising, and aligned with their high-performance culture. Leafyard's approach to mental fitness as a skill that can be developed resonated strongly with their team.

Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP solution accessed on a laptop by Hill Dickinson employees

Implementation Strategy

The firm adopted a comprehensive implementation approach that integrated Leafyard into their existing culture and operations:


Leadership Integration

  • Regular team updates incorporating Leafyard "Context"
  • Strategic communication through newsletters and video content
  • Monthly webinars covering practical topics
  • Integration into business processes

First Responder Programme

Launched in October 2024, this initiative:

  • Trained 20+ staff as mental health first responders
  • Created dual impact across workplace and home life
  • Enhanced ability to identify stress signals in teams
  • Improved signposting to support resources
"I think Leafyard gives you a structure, almost like a gym for the brain."
Hill Dickinson Employee
Legal Professional

Partnership Milestone: Tower of London Showcase

In September 2024, Hill Dickinson and Leafyard celebrated their successful partnership at a landmark event at the Tower of London. This prestigious venue provided a fitting backdrop to showcase how traditional institutions can embrace innovative approaches to professional wellbeing.

During the event, Partner David Rintoul delivered a keynote speech that crystallised the strategic importance of resilience in modern legal practice, highlighting the value of practical, non-patronising approaches to mental fitness and the focus on supporting high-performing teams effectively.

Measurable Impact

The programme has delivered exceptional results compared to industry standards:


Engagement & Adoption Metrics

71%

Continued engagement rate

1,400+

Journal entries in recent quarter

8.5/10

User recommendation score

Mental Health Outcomes

12%

Improvement in stress management

35%

Improvement in sleep quality

31%

Increase in focus and productivity
"The journey felt smart, science based, loved that it doesn't patronise the way mental health support often does."
Hill Dickinson Employee
Legal Professional

Business Benefits & ROI

The implementation has delivered measurable returns on investment:


Cost Savings

27%

Reduction in mental health-related absences

£175k

Annual cost savings

4.2x

First year ROI

Administrative Efficiency

  • Implementation required only 4 hours of HR team time
  • Zero additional administrative overhead post-implementation
  • Fully automated reporting and analytics
  • Built-in GDPR compliance
  • Automated wellbeing surveys

Cultural Impact

  • Strengthened employer brand
  • Improved talent acquisition
  • Enhanced team resilience
  • Positive impact on client relationships through improved service delivery
  • Increased partner engagement in wellbeing initiatives
"The focus on high-performance encourages you to manage your thoughts in a way that helps you succeed."
David Rintoul
Partner @ Hill Dickinson

Trusted by the smartest teams

  • Police - Leafyard data-driven digital EAP customer
  • Royal Navy - trusted user of Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP solution
  • Boodles - workplace wellbeing with Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • New Scientist - evidence-based approach with Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • NHS - healthcare wellbeing with Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP solution
  • Citroen - corporate wellbeing with Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • Oxford University - educational institution using Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • DMGT - media organization partnering with Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • Metro - employee wellbeing support through Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • RAF - military personnel mental fitness with Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • Peugeot - automotive industry using Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • Hill Dickinson - legal firm implementing Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP
  • Lycetts Insurance - financial sector using Leafyard's data-driven digital EAP

Driving mental health ROI together

It isn't just about the technology. Organisations choose Leafyard because we're culture-oriented and partnership-driven. Get in touch to learn about our collaborative approach.