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❖ How did you feel on winning the inaugural award of Partner of the Year this year?
I feel really honoured to be recognised as Partner of the Year by the Nottinghamshire Law Society. This is not just a personal achievement but reflects the commitment and hard work of my dedicated team, and the unwavering support of my leadership team.
❖ What has your legal career path been to becoming a Partner?
I completed a history degree at York University before doing the Graduate Diploma in Law followed by the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in York. I then joined a small high street firm in Leicestershire where I completed my training contract and qualified as a Private Client lawyer. I stayed with this firm for 10 years before joining a large regional firm in Derby for 7 years, during which time I was promoted to associate and then senior associate.
I joined Rothera Bray in Nottingham as a senior associate in 2021, becoming a partner in 2022 and Head of Department in 2023. Therefore, across my career I have worked throughout the East Midlands in Leicestershire, Derby and Nottingham.
❖ Do you think there are barriers to entry in the profession?
The cost of qualification is still an issue and involves a significant investment both in terms of time and money, which can disadvantage those from lower income families. Whilst some firms are now assisting with funding, competition for training contracts and paralegal roles is now fierce and may favour those that can afford to undertake unpaid work experience.
Solicitor apprenticeships have offered valuable opportunities to work (and thereby gain experience and be paid) whilst studying, with the government covering the substantial legal education costs. However, from 1st January 2026, funding for Level 7 (Master’s level) apprenticeships will no longer be available, which is likely to cause an issue for the future of graduate solicitor apprenticeships and for those wishing to complete an undergraduate degree before beginning an apprenticeship.
❖ Since joining Rothera Bray in 2021, you've led and scaled the Private Client department. What do you think has been the key to scaling the team so successfully in such a short time?
The firm has been through a number of strategic mergers over the last few years, and the department has had to adapt quickly to new relationships, methods of working and new markets. The key has been to identify strengths within the team and to use these to our advantage. We have developed management skills within the team to help support our expansion and created specialist knowledge teams to enable additional work to be dealt with effectively and efficiently.
In addition, we have invested heavily in technology to support our operations, and we invest a significant amount of time in supporting, training and mentoring within the team.
❖ Mentoring and community engagement are important to you, what drives your commitment to developing future legal talent and giving back to the community?
Developing future legal talent both internally and externally is hugely important to me, as in addition to developing skills and knowledge which benefit both the individual and the firm, new people entering the profession often have new ideas and can offer insights on connecting with different client bases. The mutual benefit which can be gained by strong mentoring creates a positive culture and loyalty which everyone gains from.
I am also strongly committed to participating in activities in the community to enable us to connect with our local community and to understand local needs and challenges and to develop trust. Many of my team feel tremendous job-satisfaction in being able to help people who need it in varying ways.
❖ If you could give some useful tips to the junior lawyers out there, what would they be?
Coming from the Private Client world, I would say, never forget the human element to the work. Whilst the ‘issue/ problem’ may be routine to us, the client is likely to be going through a particularly difficult and stressful period in their life and being able to empathise with their situation can help us to understand where some of their heightened emotion may come from.
Understanding people and effectively managing those client relationships in a professional but compassionate manner is a hugely important skill as a lawyer.
❖ What else do you enjoy outside of the law and helps you achieve a work/life balance?
Outside work I have a second job as a taxi driver for my two girls!
My eldest is involved in performing arts, and my youngest is a county swimmer. I am therefore usually rushing between a drama/music class and a swimming pool.
I do try and find time to swim once a week, and I also sing with a local choir once a fortnight. My ‘happy place’ is in the theatre watching a musical!
❖ What is the funniest thing you have seen working in law?
I was at the property of a deceased client with the family and a house clearance company. The property was on a hill, and the clearance company van was parked on the road on a slope. As one of the armchairs was brought out of the property to load onto the van, it suddenly shot off down the hill in the middle of the road (think Mr Bean) and we had to chase after it!
No one had realised that it was on wheels! Fortunately, the family saw the funny side and no accidents were caused!
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This award was kindly sponsored by Browne Jacobson.
