Yulia Barnes is the managing partner of Barnes Law, a commercial law firm based in the heart of Mayfair. She shares a day in her life with The Brief.

I first qualified in my native Russia, before qualifying in England and Wales, and I’ve worked in a range of settings including: in-house; for a large international law firm; and as a partner at a regional law firm, leading the dispute resolution department.

Back in 2018 I decided to set up my own boutique practice, Barnes Law, to provide exclusive services to privately-owned businesses. We now support a range of commercial and corporate clients, with my areas of expertise including commercial litigation, contentious trusts and M&A deals.

Beginning the day

I like to start my day early to ensure I have time to balance various personal and professional commitments. I always begin with some quality family time before looking through my emails and corresponding with clients.

My clients start their day early so I usually already have enquiries, queries and instructions by 8.00am each morning.

I like to brief the team with clear instructions before 9.00am, so they can start their workday with a clear focus and support the client with their issue as promptly as possible.

Unless I have an early meeting that day, I will head to the office between 9.00am and 10.00am. My priority after looking through my emails is always to take the time to structure my day, prepare a to-do list and prioritise my tasks before I begin working.

I find this helps me make the most of my time, and ensure that any high-priority tasks are completed efficiently. A typical day will include two or three meetings with potential clients or industry professionals, alongside numerous client calls.

Strong relationships

No matter what my schedule looks like on any given day, my most important consideration is always ensuring clients’ needs are met effectively and pro-actively. My team and I are dedicated to promptly addressing queries and providing strategic guidance on complex matters, because our core aim is to maintain strong client relationships.

Whether it’s advising on complex topics or introducing clients to other specialists within the firm, I try to always offer insightful support – and that’s why we have many strong partnerships with clients who rely on us time after time to support them with all their legal needs.

As managing partner of the business, I’m also focused on ensuring that my team have strong relationships with their clients.

I review every email, document and piece of correspondence between staff and clients, not only to ensure we’re always delivering a first-class service but also because the highest quality and accuracy in all legal matters is essential. Our name and our business’s reputation depend on this.

I meet with each team member at least once a month for a one-to-one where we will discuss their performance, address any concerns and I try my best to provide mentorship and help them develop their career, knowledge and skills. I want to get the best out of my team, and ensure morale is high, so I am committed to nurturing talent, regularly offering feedback and fostering a culture of continuous professional growth within Barnes Law.

To that end, I make myself available to the team 24/7 for any guidance, support and direction they need.

Developing the business

As well as nurturing the clients we already work successfully alongside, I also spend a significant part of my day developing new business initiatives. I take part in many events to expand the firm’s professional network, and am often asked to speak at events to share industry insights, which is a privilege and a fantastic way to connect with peers.

An important part of my role is continuously refining the Barnes Law business plan to align with evolving market needs.

I’m lucky enough to be able to travel often as part of my role, meeting professionals abroad, fostering strong global connections, and growing our international client base.

While travelling, I’m still always on hand to manage the team, and I work remotely between meetings to ensure seamless operations.

Self-development

Lifelong learning is an important principle for me – especially in an area such as law, which is always evolving. I regularly study to deepen my expertise in specialised areas of law.

Much of the studying I undertake is focused on business management, because I want to continually enhance my leadership skills, optimise team management strategies and ensure I am putting into practice innovative ways to manage Barnes Law.

I’ll often work late into the evening, whether attending networking events, responding to urgent matters, fine tuning strategic initiatives for the firm, or corresponding with my team.

It’s important to me that all clients and staff receive unparalleled support and guidance, no matter when they need it.

When I do have time to myself, I like to indulge my passions of sailing, hiking, and the theatre.

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Barnes Law

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