What was your route into the profession?
Very traditional I am afraid: university (law degree), LPC at Guildford, and training contract, without a break.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Baroness Hale—the first woman and youngest judge to become a law lord, she is currently the only female justice of the UK Supreme Court.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
One of my best friends is a helicopter engineer and genuinely spends his life stripping down and rebuilding helicopter engines. Once he has completed each one he has to then fly it to ensure he is happy with the work and that it flies. That is problem-solving with very real consequences if you get it wrong!
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Mickey Haller, The Lincoln Lawyer—having undertaken some duty solicitor work as a trainee, it is amazing how author Michael Connolly makes it sound so glamorous when in my experience it was very hard work.
What change would you make to the profession?
I would love to be able to give the profession a better public perception than it has generally. Our firm is investing heavily in a formal pro bono program to ensure that all of our lawyers aim to contribute to our society and help where we can, and I know many firms up and down the country of varying sizes will do similar things in their own ways—yet little of this good work gets publicised and most lawyers will be familiar with an air of negativity about our profession that still persists in places that I am not sure is deserved.
How do you relax?
I coach boys' football and am an FA level 1 accredited coach. I have coached my current team for six years. It is not always 'relaxing' but it is a great escape from pressures of work and is a healthy and rewarding past time that allows me to devote time to my children and their friends—it is rewarding to see them grow up together through sport.
Simon Ridpath is a restructuring and insolvency partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, and will take the reins as managing partner in May 2020.
