The Howes Percival partner discusses the challenges involved in high profile work
Commercial litigation expert Alison Kirby has recently been appointed to the Law Society's Civil Litigation Committee.
What was your route into the profession?
I completed a Bachelor of Laws degree at Nottingham University after a year out following A Levels. I stayed in Nottingham to complete the Legal Practice Course.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
The pressure of leading the team contracted to work for HMRC. The cases are complex and have high values attached, usually several million, often tens of millions. Of course the advice and strategy has to be right every time, as with any client, but this work comes with the added challenge of being high profile and undertaking work at speed on short notice.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Lord Denning (deceased)—champion of the underdog
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
Some form of road construction engineer—it is sufficiently different to be interesting.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Ally McBeal—a bit odd but usually entertaining, although I still don’t understand the baby….
What change would you make to the profession?
I would make it harder to get into law school, so that there are not so many people with massive debts chasing the much lower number of training contracts
How do you relax?
Infrequently (I have a small child), but it tends to involve the garden and some wine.
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