As a Solicitor at Frazer-Nash, my role entailed providing legal advice and risk management across the business. In terms of legal advice, this meant providing high quality contractual support within tight timescales. My core work consisted of drafting, amending and negotiating contractual documentation (standard and non-standard) from prime contracts, supplier agreements and collateral warranties to intellectual property licences, property leases and contracts for equipment hire. I also supported project teams on contractual issues such as extensions of time, applications for additional fees and what to do on receipt of a notice of suspension or termination. There was a strong emphasis on building and maintaining client and supply chain relationships whilst protecting company interests. In terms of risk management, this meant ensuring ‘legal’ risks were identified and communicated then working through mitigation and practical solutions with the business. A key component of effective risk management is upskilling. Whilst at Frazer-Nash I rolled out a series of presentations ranging from bite size talks on specific issues to an hour Commercial Induction for new starters to a six-hour workshop on Commercial Risk Management aimed at director / leadership level.

As the Construction Partner at Carbon Law Partners, I was the out of house in-house solution for a dozen or so companies who did not yet require a full-time construction solicitor on their books. For the most part my work consisted of drafting, negotiating and concluding all the contractual documentation required on a project for developer clients but I also reviewed such documentation for consultants, contractors and their supply chain. I worked closely with the Finance partners obtaining funding on construction projects and the Property partners acquiring sites for development. The subject matter was tangible: I could point at a structure and say I helped make that happen. It also gave me a great sense of community: there’s always something extra special about changing the skyline as viewed from your home.I was fortunate enough to:► be appointed by truly impressive clients;► work with some of the brightest, funniest and most talented solicitors in the legal profession;► enjoy a combination of working from clients’ offices, site, Carbon’s offices and home.

Until 1 June 2017 I worked as a Solicitor at Arcadis (previously EC Harris LLP) as part of the in-house legal team managing an even mix of contentious and non-contentious work of both a domestic and international nature. In later years my work was predominantly domestic non-contentious with my duties including:► Legal Business Partner for the Water, Energy & Utilities (WEU) portfolio across the UK region providing legal subject matter expertise;► drafting, reviewing and amending joint ventures, frameworks, appointments, bonds, guarantees, warranties, novations and confidentiality agreements, together with drafting sub-consultancy appointments and supplier agreements;► leading legal negotiations for new and existing contracts with clients and/or their solicitors; ► delivering seminars and training including lessons learnt and dispute prevention.I previously:► managed the Infrastructure, Industry & Utilities portfolio across the UK region (and prior to that the Environment Strategy and Risk Management portfolio);► dealt with claims (in excess of £10M), liaising with brokers and insurers;► engaged external counsel where appropriate and participating in a variety of dispute resolution forums;► worked with various construction professionals across a variety of offices, from Edinburgh and Manchester to Dubai and Hong Kong;► held the position of Region Legal Lead for Asia (and prior to that the Middle East and prior to that North America).Key achievements 2016/7:► negotiating a 15 year framework with Thames Water;► generating precedents for our complex Nuclear Decommissioning Authority legacy frameworks and supply chain;► creating a half day presentation for the new to role WEU Commercial Operations Director which I received excellent feedback on and was asked to roll out across the entire WEU leadership team.

As a Claims Manager at Tube Lines I was responsible for:► analysing contractual entitlement, assessing schedule impacts, pricing and drafting the text of claims;► writing the entire claim, having a sound understanding of the same, bringing the programmes, technical specifications and costing spreadsheets to life;► project managing the multi-disciplinary team to ensure all works relevant to claims were completed within time.Contractual entitlement claims (in excess of £100M) up the chain arose pursuant to Tube Lines Ltd’s PPP agreement with London Underground Ltd, whilst claims down the contractual chain arose pursuant to NEC subcontracts.

I undertook a mix of contentious and non-contentious work at this niche Construction and Engineering practice. My last seven months at SLS were spent seconded to Metronet; I spent the first five months on the Core Claims Team and the final two months on the Extraordinary Review Team. During my time at SLS Solicitors I was accountable for: ► advising a contractor client on a NEC2 contract where over 1,200 compensation events had been notified; a sub-contractor on an adjudication concerning the construction of a multi-million-pound major sports stadium in greater London; a contractor in relation to a major railway improvement works contract, and; a contractor in relation to a building dispute concerning the re-development of a prison site;► preparation and advice on bonds, guarantees, collateral warranties, novation agreements and tailoring standard forms (FIDIC, ICE, JCT and NEC in particular);► reviewing tender documentation for one of the UK’s top five contractors and a world-renowned specialist cladding sub-contractor;► editing the company’s monthly Legal Update, a publication providing an overview of recent case law and legislation on construction-related issues;► writing presentations, composing handouts and preparing slides;► supplying answers to questions etc. as the sole organiser of our client seminars and giving half day seminars to our trainee quantity surveyors.

As a Legal Assistant at Philip Ross Solicitors my work predominantly revolved around the sale and acquisition of freehold and leasehold properties and thus was best described as non-contentious commercial property. I was responsible for drafting and negotiating joint venture agreements, parent company guarantees, leases, freeholds and restrictive covenants.

As an Assistant Caseworker at British Medical Association I provided support to the London Region Manager, Employment Advisers and Advocacy Unit. I dealt primarily with employment law conversing regularly with County Courts, Employment Tribunals, Trusts, barristers, solicitors, the press and committees. I participated in several disputes which were generally resolved through mediation. I also orchestrating seminars, conferences and Fresher’s Fairs.