Innovator and champion of diversity and inclusion
Started career as a children’s rights lawyer working in deprived area of London with most disempowered in society.
Founding partner, developed and grew to scale a family law firm which included one of the country’s first virtual law practices, enabling women lawyers to work flexibly with the back-office support of the business. Over 100 people (95% female) working with and for the firm.
Set up first alternative business structure within the Cooperative Group. Designed, developed and delivered a remote access, modular fixed fee family service which enabled mainly women to access reasonably priced family law support and advice. Also established largest family law legal aid contract in UK supporting mainly women facing domestic violence and child protection court proceedings.
Director of Policy at Cooperative Legal Services providing leadership for all public policy, external engagement and media work, horizon scanning and providing strategic direction to board.
Chief Operating Officer and then Director of Innovation at top 100 firm, Cripps LLP, managing strategic change within the business. Set up an Affinity Group to tackle issues around D and I within the firm establishing and implementing first remote and agile working policy.
Career long history of commitment to using my legal expertise to support women starting with being an advisor to Rights of Women in 1989, have sat on and chaired numerous committees and boards relating to family law and legal policy/ access to justice issues, Law Society council member representing Women Lawyers Division, President (only 5th woman out of 174!) of the Law Society of England and Wales, member of Judicial Diversity Forum, member of Family Justice Council, trustee of LawWorks (solicitors pro bono charity), chair of HM Government’s Lawtech Delivery Panel, chair of HMG Next Gen Services Advisory Board, member of Thompson Reuter’s Women in Leadership Advisory Board, member of Chartered Insurers Institute’s Insuring Women’s Futures Advisory Board, winner of Power of Women Award 2018, WinLaw, Women in Leadership Award 2017, winner of Lawyer of the Year, Modern Law Awards 2014, The Lawyers Hot 100 for management 2012.
Frequent international and domestic speaker, author and commentator.