Kate Granville Smith’s career in pensions law spans a period of rapid and sometimes dramatic change for her specialist field. She tells The Brief about a high-stakes practice area with a collaborative ethos.
Emma Reid is group head of legal at Fraser Group. She tells The Brief about the excitement and challenges of working in-house at one of the UK’s biggest retail businesses.
Emma Lilley is head of legal, UK and Ireland, at the Payroll, HR and workforce management solutions provider SD Worx, and one of a growing band of “lawfluencers”, with a loyal following in Instagram. She talks to the Brief about her career to-date and why she always found in-house more appealing than private practice.
Philippa Dempster joined Freeths more than 30 years ago, since when it has grown from a well-respected Nottingham practice to a top-50 national firm with 12 offices and more on the way. She tells The Brief about a journey that has seen her become national senior partner and London managing partner, and the firm’s vision for the future.
Mary Nowell, managing director at BCL Legal, talks to The Brief about her career to-date and why she made the move from paralegal to legal recruiter back in June 2005.
Joy Wilkinson is legal and compliance director at IPL International Procurement, part of the Asda family. She tells The Brief what she loves about her role, and what it takes to succeed as an in-house lawyer at one of the largest food processing businesses in the UK.
Google’s former head of legal for emerging markets, Karima Noren went on to co-found the data protection platform Privacy Compliance Hub. She tells the Brief about a career that has included working for the world’s most exciting company at its most exciting time, and why she now believes in the paramount importance of privacy.
Emily Ashton and Catherine Harris work in the legal team at the homewares and furnishings retailer Dunelm. They tell The Brief about what inspired them to pursue careers in the law, the key characteristics of successful in-house lawyers and what they enjoy about working for a growing FTSE 250 retail phenomenon.
Andrew Nugent Smith is the managing director of the multi-claimant litigation specialist Keller Postman UK. He tells The Brief about his firm’s strategy, the market for class actions in the UK and the role collective redress plays in providing access to justice.
Jersey-based Jason Romer is group managing partner at a leading offshore law firm. He tells The Brief about accessing high quality work, the possibility of working for an offshore firm while living onshore, being a “political hot potato” and creating “an environment where brilliant people are proud to work.”
David Ward was appointed a partner in the employment team at Blacks Solicitors in 2019, aged just 31. He talks to the Brief about developing niche practice areas, winning at the Employment Appeals Tribunal and his career path at one of Yorkshire’s biggest independent firms.
Where have all the lawyers gone? BCL Legal In-house Director, Alison McKee discusses... "The lawyers we speak to are looking for flexibility, high work quality, a great culture and competitive packages."
