When construction lawyer Matt Maling decided to step out and start his own practice, he knew he didn’t want a typical legal brand. A long-time supporter of Brown Bread’s clients, Matt came to us for help creating something unapologetically fresh for the sector – a brand that would reflect not just his straight-talking, human approach, but also the small, growing team that shares his ethos. Our work began with a deep-dive workshop to uncover the essence of how Matt and his team operate – what they stood for, what set them apart, and how they wanted to show up in the world. From there we conducted a landscape analysis, mapping the (somewhat stale and stuffy!) terrain of legal branding, before moving into ideation. Alongside a distinct visual language, we also developed the name Maling and Co., capturing both Matt’s reputation and the collective strength of the team behind him.
 
At the heart of the identity sits a visual mark inspired by a builder’s level. While the scales of justice are the traditional emblem of legal balance, we found a more grounded metaphor in the construction industry itself. A spirit level doesn’t just symbolise fairness – it ensures it. That idea became a fitting anchor for a practice that brings clarity to complexity and a bit of fun to formality. Once the concept was landed, we rolled it out across every touchpoint – from a bespoke website and branded presentations to business cards and digital collateral – each designed to reflect the practice’s personal, confident, and refreshingly human style. With Brown Bread as his on-call agency, we’ve continued to evolve Maling and Co.’s digital presence, support media opportunities, and help position the practice as a trusted, go-to voice in the field.