It’s a story we hear quite often here at InCounsel – high-flying, city lawyers who’ve given up the hustle and bustle of our nation’s capitals to practice and live a more balanced life in coastal or rural towns.

It’s a transition that can bring enormous rewards, yet has its own challenges, which became very real during our sit down with competition and regulatory specialist, Cicely in late 2019.

Here’s how it when down:

1. Last time we caught up in Sydney, you were getting text messages showing photos of bush fires near your home, are you guys OK?!

We’re all ok thank you. The fire came within 150m of our home and we had water bombers overhead for days – they were so close we felt water droplets as they flew over. It is frightening how devastating these fires have been. So much wildlife habitat was destroyed near us, including an area the Port Macquarie Koala hospital used to re-home rescued koalas. To the extent there is any silver lining, we’ve since had more koalas than usual in our backyard!

2. That’s so full-on, fingers crossed things improve this summer 🤞🏻 On the work front, what are you best at i.e. your sweet spot?

I’ve practiced as a competition lawyer for most of my career which means I can delve into industries and get a firm handle on dynamics and the regulatory regime very quickly. 

I’ve branded my private practice Pivot Law because my sweet spot is competition law and regulation – both are important issues for a company considering a pivot.

I help organisations navigate regulatory frameworks, challenge regulation that is not fit for purpose, or help devise creative solutions to legal problems that lead with design and not process for the sake of process.

3. What’s the most interesting skillset or experience that you can offer a business, in-house team or law firm?

My most unusual skillset is my intimate knowledge of land lease communities – a.k.a. caravan parks, campsites and manufactured home estates (or “tiny homes” if you’re following what’s trending). These communities are sought after by holiday makers seeking the ‘back to nature’ experience and by permanent residents looking to retire (residents own the home on the site and pay a weekly fee). 

My husband and I threw ourselves into the deep end when we purchased two caravan parks in Dunbogan NSW nearly 4 years ago. It’s been a journey, that’s for sure, and was our ticket out of Sydney.

4. How have you found the transition to practising and living in a regional town, outside of the Sydney hustle and bustle?

It’s been gradual. I was still employed by a law firm when I relocated to Port Macquarie. I was commuting to Sydney each week. This was hard on the family, but it gave me the time to prepare and the mental space to make the jump.

Many of my clients don’t even know I live in Port Macquarie. I travel to Sydney as required but it’s not nearly as frequent as before.

5. You’re about three months or so into your first role as a part-time GC, how is it going?

Really well. It’s a fascinating and ambitious company. The company now has five divisions (marine, dredging, disposals, design and shipping) and has operations across Australia, in the US, Asia and Europe. 

No day is the same and the hours fly by. Google has been a good friend to me as I have needed to polish up my knowledge of all things vessels!

What I love above the company is that it is family friendly, full of bright and collaborative people, and motivated workers. The company’s moto is “Make it Happen” and this is embraced by all levels in the organisation.

6. In terms of your private practice, what kind of work are you doing and how do you fit that around your GC commitments?

In my private practice the bulk of my work involves competition and regulatory work. This is a mix of consulting to law firms and advising businesses. I manage the commitment by only taking on larger on-going pieces of work and try to avoid multiple smaller matters. This reduces the admin burden and keeps me focussed. I have also built up a good support network of paid help to keep things ticking when I am in a jam.

7. Can you name a favourite book, podcast, resource or community that has helped you on your new journey?

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari gave me unparalleled perspective. I listened to various podcasts for their practical guidance on the risks and demands of running a law firm, but inspiration came from Masters of Scale and How I Built This. 

Fabulous support for making the jump came out of some Facebook groups I joined: Lawyer Mums Australia, Her Lawyer and Newlaw Chambers.

I bought a premium subscription to LinkedIn and then reconnected with my extended network and carefully crafted connections with some target clients. This resulted in some surprisingly positive relationships.

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Cicely is available now for competition, regulatory and general commercial matters – feel free to get in touch with us .