Graham Small: Lewis Hymanson Small
Maybe Tom Hanks. He seems like a regular guy with a good sense of humour, and I wouldn’t mind having his bank account too.
What was your first-ever job?
It was a Christmas job in a post office, sorting the mail.
What was your worst experience as a trainee?
Appearing before a district judge at a hearing where I launched straight into the case, only to be told that I was in the wrong room.
Where’s the best place to go if you want to find out what’s really going on in the office?
It’s got to be the kitchen. Everyone gossips there while they’re making the tea.
What time do you usually leave the office?
It varies, but usually around 6.30pm. I get into the office at 7.30am.
What do you do at weekends?
I’m a big Everton fan, so I watch football at the weekend. I also watch my son play rugby.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
San Carlo in Manchester the food and service are fantastic and I always bump into someone I know.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you have been?
The only thing I wanted to do when I was growing up was play for Everton. The law found me, I didn’t find the law.
Who’s your hero and why?
When I was a teenager my hero was the footballer Alan Ball. I followed his career closely and loved watching him play. Now I’m older and wiser, my hero is my father.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The job is both demanding and rewarding. On a daily basis it challenges my intelligence, commercial awareness and ability to solve problems.
What’s the toughest thing about your job?
The fact that it’s relentless. There’s never a quiet moment at the office.
What’s your biggest work/career mistake and what did you learn from it?
As a younger lawyer it was failing to recognise the difference between confidence and arrogance. This means I made enemies of people who should have been friends.
What car do you drive?
A 7 Series BMW.
What book are you currently reading?
Head On, Ian Botham’s autobiography.
What’s on your iPod at the moment?
My 16-year-old daughter Sophie recently downloaded all her songs onto my iPod. Most of the time I don’t know what I’m listening to, but I particularly like The
Script at the moment.
What’s your favourite children’s book?
Animal Farm by George Orwell. I’ve read it about four times and never tire
of it.
What’s the most exciting deal/case you’ve worked on and why?
I was involved in the dispute concerning the management of Take That when the band was at its biggest. This involved dealing with lots of movers and shakers who were associated with the band at the time.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what two luxury items would you take?
Sky TV for the sports channels and a complete set of Timeform annuals.
What’s the worst partner conference location you’ve attended and why?
Years ago we went to a hotel which was only half-built. We had to sit through one meeting wearing hard hats.
What’s the longest you’ve worked without sleep?
Well, I’ve been on rugby tours where I haven’t slept for a week, but in work terms it’s probably around 40 hours.
If a movie was being made of your life, which actor would play you and why?
Maybe Tom Hanks. He seems like a regular guy with a good sense of humour, and I wouldn’t mind having his bank account too.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?
This actually happened a few years back. I was stuck in a lift with the front row of my rugby team for two hours. We were in Romania, it was 90°F and we were crammed
in. They thought it was hilarious to jump up and down. I still have nightmares about it.
CV
Name: Graham Small
Firm: Lewis Hymanson Small
Title: Founding partner
Lives: The Wirral
Education:
1981-84: Law, Liverpool John Moores University
Work history:1987-97: Partner, DWF
1997-2000: Partner, Rowe Cohen
2007-present: Founding partner, Lewis Hymanson Small
