It’s refreshing (and all too rare) to see young lawyers branch out on their own before hitting the senior ranks.
They’re not only brave, but have the confidence to back themselves knowing that their smarts and training have given them more than enough know-how to deliver excellent value to clients, unbound by the modus operandi of the traditional law firm model.
Anne is a unicorn among her peers. Smart, capable and building a solid practice that balances work and life in a way that most lawyers have never experienced.
Here’s her story:
1. What are you best at i.e. your sweet spot?
I’d say my sweet spot is commercial negotiations, contract drafting and review, whether on a smaller local scale or a larger global scale. The client feedback I persistently receive is their appreciation for my practical and commercial approach which allows them to meet tough deadlines whilst achieving a solid outcome for the business.
2. What’s the most interesting skillset or experience that you can offer a legal team as a consultant/contractor?
I’ve got a broad range of experience from competition and consumer law, intellectual property, privacy and data protection, disputes and general commercial. However, I believe my most interesting skillset is the ability to go into a role and pick up the necessary aspects to complete the work on demand. I have stepped in to perform the work for an entire legal team on a few occasions to ensure business continues as usual, for example where the legal team had off-site events overseas.
3. What have been your favourite projects/engagements/roles/clients?
This is a tough question because there have been so many. If I had to pick a top three, I would say eBay, because it was my first contracting role and I loved the energetic team members, the bold and innovative approach to developing exciting, new ideas and rolling them out on a global scale. LexisNexis, not only because of its relevance to almost every Australian lawyer having used their services at some point in their career but also the very fresh, practical and commercially oriented approach taken by the Head of Legal. Finally, Philips because of the lovely all-female team and interesting work which involved vital life-saving equipment such as MRIs, defibrillators and sleep-apnoea devices.
4. Any tips for a GC/Partner who’s never used a contractor in their team?
Start now. Contractors are there to make your life easier, as well as the rest of the team and the business. Don’t hesitate to throw a contractor in the deep end because in my experience, we are up for the challenge and have a skillset that allows us to pick up things quickly, on demand and under pressure. I’ve seen the impact under-resourcing can have on various teams and know that it’s unfortunately an inevitable part of business. Fortunately, however, I have seen how easily contractors can offer a quick, speedy solution which benefits everyone and can improve team morale, increase in staff retention rates and the meeting of KPIs during these difficult times.
“Don’t hesitate to throw a contractor in the deep end because in my experience, we are up for the challenge and have a skillset that allows us to pick up things quickly, on demand and under pressure.”
5. You’re one of the few younger lawyers to branch out on your own – can we expect to see more lawyers in your generation take this leap earlier in their careers?
Definitely. Particularly with the increase in the use of technology and a push for innovation and creative ideas. I think there is a lot of potential for younger lawyers to work collaboratively with more senior lawyers and to bounce off each other, bringing fresh ideas and balancing the different skillsets and experience. I’ve built very strong relationships with senior lawyers and other stakeholders and would encourage lawyers of all levels to take the leap if they are comfortable and have the necessary skillset.
6. Since we’ve known you, you seem to be able to mix in a healthy dose of hard work with time-out for travel (to some amazing places!), is that part of your plan?
Absolutely. Contracting roles are generally very intense where you have to get in and hit the ground running. From learning everything about the team, the business, processes, stakeholders, risk factors and (sometimes) new areas of law, there’s a huge expectation that you will make everything run smoothly without any fuss. That’s where the value-add comes in. Not to mention, you are still running your business and spend any spare time you have to ensure you are meeting your obligations and keeping any other clients happy as well as constantly forward-thinking and planning next steps. It’s absolutely vital to give yourself some time out and have enjoyment outside of work to ensure a long, healthy career and to keep your clients happy.
7. You’ve also dabbled in technology – what’s the latest with that?
I am currently studying a Cert IV in programming out of interest. I have seen how the use of technology in law firms and in-house roles can be both extremely beneficial (when done right) but also very detrimental (for example, with outdated software or transitioning the business to new technology). Having seen this impact on numerous businesses, I’ve started to offer a solution-based service to clients which focuses on reviewing their current processes and finding solutions to inefficient or old practices, as well as holding workshops with and training internal staff and business stakeholders. The feedback to-date has been overwhelmingly positive as it assists in improving work performance and internal relationships on an ongoing basis, which continues long after I have completed the necessary work.
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Anne is available now for general commercial matters, contracts and litigation on an ad-hoc or placement basis – feel free to get in touch with us .