Tanfield Chambers is a leading set of barristers, widely respected for its specialist property work. However, an in-depth marketing audit revealed that its digital presence was no longer reflective of its market position, ambitions, or internal culture.
Tanfield approached us to lead a full redesign and rebrand of its website and visual identity. The goal was not just aesthetic; it was strategic.
Project goals
The project had three core objectives:
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Establish Tanfield as the premier property set.
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Deliver a cleaner, more modern, and international-facing user experience.
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Introduce a new visual language with extended colour palettes and bespoke illustrations.
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Integrate with their Lex CRM system, video and content publishing workflows.
Solutions
Working closely with CEO Walter Womersley, consultant Sally Wollaston (Dynamic Legal Consulting), and a member-led Website Advisory Committee, we led a collaborative discovery process rooted in insight from:
- A detailed marketing audit outlining strategic gaps and digital potential.
- Lex CRM and Google Analytics data.
- Stakeholder interviews and industry benchmarking.
We then restructured the site to prioritise Tanfield’s core messages: property expertise, approachability, and professional excellence.
Design & branding
We created a brand new logo with a fresher, lighter colour palette. Alternative monochrome options were delivered to ensure maximum flexibility across all digital and print applications.
- Typography: A move away from Raleway in favour of stronger, more legible fonts.
- Illustration: Inspired by the architecture and materials of legal London, we commissioned a set of custom illustrations to inject personality and warmth. These provide a distinctive visual cue in a crowded market.
- Photography: While new headshots had already been commissioned, the site was designed to elevate these visuals rather than rely solely on them.
We also created a suite of brand assets including PowerPoint templates, social media banners, letterheads, and digital ad formats, all documented in a newly issued brand guidelines pack.
Technology & functionality
Behind the elegant new design is a robust technical foundation; built to support content publishing, client engagement, and future integrations without compromising usability or accessibility. This comprises:
- WordPress: Retaining WordPress as CMS gave us flexibility and ensured continuity for Tanfield’s internal editors.
- Lex CRM integration: Though technically limited, we explored every feasible path to integrate forms (especially newsletter signup and events) with Lex.
- Video & events: Designed to support webinar content, embedded YouTube playlists, and future event registration workflows.
- Accessibility: Structural improvements and WCAG-informed design made the site easier to navigate and more inclusive.
- Responsive & mobile-first: Fully adaptive layouts across all screen sizes, devices and orientations.
Information architecture
We restructured the site to make key information easier to find and more meaningful to users. Clear navigation, smart filtering, and a property-first content strategy ensure the site speaks directly to Tanfield’s audiences; whether they’re seeking expertise, people, resources or careers. More specifically:
- People profiles: Rebuilt with filters by seniority, area of practice, and bespoke tabs for awards, publications, pro bono, notable cases and more.
- Expertise pages: Condensed and restructured under a refined “property-first” strategy, while still allowing space for individual specialisms and cross-sector positioning.
- Resources hub: A dynamic library of articles, videos and newsletters—tagged by author, expertise, and content type.
- Recruitment pages: Humanised and expanded to better reflect Tanfield’s commitment to CSR, EDI, and wellbeing.
Smart cross-referencing connects people to practice areas, events to news, and barristers to their publications. Sidebar tabs on profile pages let users explore related content seamlessly—without disrupting their browsing flow.
The results
Tanfield’s new website is bold yet elegant—anchored in strategic clarity, supported by modern technology, and built to serve both clients and members.
It articulates what sets Tanfield apart: its unwavering property focus, its collaborative culture, and its ambition to be recognised among the best in its field.
The platform now supports ongoing content creation and client engagement, integrates better with internal systems, and aligns fully with chambers’ marketing and business goals. It’s a digital presence built to scale—and to last.