University: University of Liverpool
Degree: Law and French
Year made partner: 2021
Position: Partner and head of medical rehabilitation management
Department: Insurance – catastrophic personal injury
Pronouns: She/her

What attracted you to a career in law?

I studied law and French at the University of Liverpool and loved the French component – I spent a year in Paris, where I studied, worked in a secondary school teaching English and, of course, socialised. However, the law component of the degree was incredibly challenging, which I think sparked my interest. Apart from pushing my boundaries intellectually, studying law reshaped how I think, analyse ideas and present them. Practically, the degree also taught me a lot – for example, how to stay on top of an increasing workload and course content while meeting deadlines. I became more self-aware and appreciated the strength of my resilience and determination. By the end of my degree, I was much more confident and had grown quite a lot. So, by the time I started my Legal Practice Course (LPC), I had more clarity as to who I was, my strengths and what I wanted out of a career.

What did the path to partner look like for you?

I graduated from university and completed my LPC before joining DWF Group Limited in the firm’s admin team, which involved opening files for fee-earners within the business. A few years later, I applied for a training contract (which was a competitive process!) and secured a place. My first seat as a trainee was in catastrophic personal injuries (CAT PI) and I loved it. If I’d applied for a training contract having not gained experience in the admin role at the firm, I’d have been a very weak candidate. However, being in the business for a couple of years, at ground level meant I saw first-hand what the firm was about and what I wanted to be like as a lawyer, never mind as a partner.

Not everyone makes (or wants to be) partner, what are the other opportunities or roles available?

DWF employs around 4,500 people globally – we’re a massive firm with 31 offices. It’s so much more than the typical legal channel of trainee, solicitor, partner. There’s an apprentice in my team who’s hopefully qualifying via the solicitor apprenticeship route. I also manage DWF’s in-house medical team, which includes an in-house physiotherapist, a physician associate who works in a GP practice for half the week in London and a paediatric nurse. We also have an in-house accident reconstruction expert and accountants on site. When you have a business that’s as far reaching as DWF, it’s not about the traditional linear path to law – there’s so much you can get involved with. We have a significant IT and central services infrastructure with a well-structured career path, so there's plenty on offer at the firm.

Please can you outline your area of expertise?

My expertise is in catastrophic insurance. I’m instructed by premium insurance companies – each case is different. For example, I may be asked to investigate the accident circumstances where there’s been a catastrophic injury – ‘catastrophic injury’ refers not just to the injury itself, but the long-term impact the injury has on the individual including the family. For example, a motorcyclist who’s been in a nasty accident and has suffered a below-knee amputation will likely face huge changes to their lifestyle – they may need a portfolio of prosthetics, have a need for ground-level accommodation alongside psychological support to adjust to that lifestyle. So, my role involves investigating the accident circumstances and advising the insurer as to the liability. From there, the focus is on supporting the injured person via rehabilitation. It's not necessarily about compensation at that point – instead, we’re looking at the rehabilitation path, which is why the in-house medical team at DWF can be so important. They support the lawyers in considering how we can support the injured person to become more independent.

Once the rehabilitation journey is completed, which I think is probably one of the most rewarding parts of the job, the parties then collate evidence before having a joint settlement meeting – 90% of the cases will settle at those meetings, as opposed to it happening in a courtroom.

These claims don’t settle overnight. I have claims where the injured person is a child, so we’ll wait until they’re at least 18 to allow them to go through their formative years, and deal and adjust with the injuries they’ve had. As a result, you can grow up with the injured parties and follow their life through to settlement.

How did you come to be practising in this area of law?

Before they retired, my dad was a consultant paediatrician in Warrington and deputy coroner for Cheshire and my mum was a cardiac nurse at Alder Hey in Liverpool. My sister is a pharmacist. I debated studying medicine at university as I’ve always had an inherent medical interest having grown up in that world. My first seat was in the catastrophic injury team – I was suddenly surrounded by a world that was slightly familiar and I loved it. At that point, I knew that this was the area I was supposed to work in; it’s the perfect balance of the medical and legal worlds.

What do you most enjoy about your career and why?

I most enjoy that I’m learning every day. I’ve been working in this area for 15 years and I’m still learning – in the past month or so, I've looked at blueprints for the latest below-knee prosthetic on the market; looked at an impact analysis of Brexit on the care costs in CAT claims; worked my way through the minefield of statutory funding when a patient has emerged from a coma; and so on. I have a particular interest in the purported impact that brain injuries have on accelerating dementia. I was involved in some podcasts last year, including one with David Heaton KC – we considered the latest medical literature from Sweden on the implications of suffering a brain injury and the risks of developing dementia; the many other causes of dementia; and how that looks within the context of meeting the evidential threshold within a medico-legal claim. To be part of that discussion was fascinating.

Everyone in the firm is looking for new business, what does this look like? How does it develop over time?

We have a really strong insurance team at DWF and growth is a huge strategy – in the past 10 months, we’ve had 24% revenue growth.

I think this growth comes from the firm investing in the right people.

My long-suffering line manager Dave Young, (DWF partner) took me under his wing many years ago – he was fully invested in my development. He honed in on my strengths, and challenged and encouraged me every step of the way. Some of his advice was the simple stuff – get the basics right (eg, no typographical errors), which has resonated with me throughout my career. If you can’t get the basics right, how will your clients trust the legal advice that you offer? In the end, Dave gave me the confidence to showcase my ability and potential. As a result, we’ve built an incredibly talented team who are recognised by clients, experts and barristers for their skill set. It’s that energy that facilitates growth.

What makes your firm stand out?

There are several elements that make DWF stand out. One is its culture – I joined the firm as a fresh-faced law graduate and remember instantaneously being encouraged to be me, rather than fit a mould. That message hasn’t changed in the 15 years I’ve been with the firm and I think the fact that I’ve progressed from the admin team to partnership is testament to that.

The other element I love about DWF is its attitude to innovation. We all know that the world we work in is incredibly tech heavy and the firm has hugely invested in its technology – for example, we’ve just deployed Microsoft Copilot as part of our digital transformation programme.  It's astonishing how fast tech is changing the way we work.

There’s also a lot of excitement in the firm because there’s so much growth potential – not just nationally, but globally. There have been acquisitions within the insurance sector in our Australian and Canadian offices, and we’ve also recruited a pro bono lawyer in Australia. To be part of a business that has that much reach, is pretty special.

What advice do you have for aspiring partners?

I sit on the panel for training contract and apprentice applicants.

My advice is:

• to always be yourself (I say this from personal experience) – the firm is looking for someone who’ll make a difference, who’s motivated and keen and who cares about what they do;
• to not underestimate the experience you attain outside of the legal sector – for example, if you’re working part time in a coffee shop, the skill set that you’ll acquire will be useful in your legal career; and
• “don’t give up”, which is something my dad has always said – if you want it, go for it as there’ll always be obstacles and adversity but if you’re determined, you’ll succeed.

What’s been the highlight of your time as partner?

One of my forever highlights was telling my parents and husband I had made partner.

On a day-to-day basis, I get such a kick from seeing people progress. Dave Young invested in me so to be able to return that across the business is important to me.

What’s your advice for those applying to DWF?

Do your research – there’s so much information out there so take the time to read about the firm. For example, we’ve just announced that Kirsty Rogers has been appointed as our chief sustainability officer now, which reflects the firm's commitment to sustainability. As part of that research exercise, think about whether our values align with yours – no one is expecting you to know how to run, say, a CAT claim but it’s nice to see when a candidate has conducted good research, can tell us why the firm works for them and asks questions.

What’s your signature dish?

Prawn linguini with loads of parsley and some Kashmiri chilli – in the garden with a glass of wine!