What was your route into the profession?
I was inspired by visiting the Old Bailey during sixth form when a rape trial was on, and decided to study law at university. I did my law degree at Durham, where Professor Bill Rees gave me a love for labour law and as part of the ‘milk round’ was offered a training contract (articles!) at Beachcrofts.
I was privileged there to get involved in some amazing IP litigation, going to the Supreme Court on the interlocutory application and the full High Court trial in what became known as the JIF Lemon case, but always kept my eye on the goal of becoming an employment lawyer. I was head of employment at Memery Crystal LLP for many years and am absolutely delighted to have become a partner from 1 May 2019 at CM Murray LLP, I am passionate about the work we do, to help partners, directors and employees protect their reputations and careers and assisting employers with avoiding legal risk and being good employers.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
For me the greatest challenges come from being able to balance the key priorities in professional life; to really listen both to colleagues and clients in a way that they have no doubt that you totally identify with their needs, aspirations and goals and will deliver for them, while also making time to innovate and expand your network and not miss the best moments of the lives of your loved ones, especially your children.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Last year at the HTB Leadership Conference I had the privilege of hearing Bryan Stevenson speak and went on to read his book, Just Mercy, which has been recognised as a Book of the Year by the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Esquire and Time. Giving up the route of a lucrative career in corporate law and setting up a practice to serve prisoners held on death row, Bryan shows that having compassion is not inconsistent with the pursuit of justice, and reminded me of part of the reason why I wanted to become a lawyer in the first place.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
That is a tough one, as I love being a lawyer! Travel journalism has obvious attractions, but one of my enduring interests is in wellbeing, so maybe running a personal trainer/nutrition business!
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Ever since we read To Kill a Mockingbird at school, it has to be Atticus Finch and some of ‘his’ great quotes, one of my favourites being: ‘the one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.’ However, my daughter would say it should be Elle Woods from Legally Blonde!
What change would you make to the profession?
Many young people are interested in law but want to study a different subject at university; this is beneficial to the profession as such graduates bring a wider experience to their firms. However, given that these graduates then have to do professional exams and an apprenticeship (the training contract, or period of recognised training), it is still far too expensive and difficult to become a lawyer and much still needs to be done if we are to achieve a more diverse profession in the near future. I welcome the Solicitors Regulation Authority initiatives, including the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, but I think the reforms could have been more radical (such as abolition of the training contract) and I would like to see more firms playing their part and making jobs available at the entry level.
How do you relax?
I love going to the gym, walking the dog, watching the superbikes at Brands Hatch and cooking for friends and family at weekends, but I also love a challenge! My next one is a skydive for an amazing charity—The Hollie Foundation—in July this year.
Senior executive and employer specialist Merrill April recently joined CM Murray as a partner.
