The Hot 100 career quiz: “I raided a nappy company with a mobile phone the size of a briefcase”

What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee?

Executing an Anton Pillar order (search and seizure order) in the North East against a disposable nappy company passing off their own products as a well-known brand. There were three sites and there was a large team of lawyers and agents spread across several vehicles parked up near the sites waiting to go in on a dawn raid. In those days mobile phones were embryonic in their development. We had three phones which had a handset attached to a briefcase like receiver across the three teams. Coordination was therefore a massive issue but we managed somehow to raid all sites simultaneously.

One of the longest exciting and interesting days as fledgling lawyer.

What is the thing in your professional career that has terrified you or taken you out of your comfort zone the most?

Having to appear before the Vice Chancellor Sir Richard Scott in open court in early 1990 in Manchester when the barrister I was supposed to be in court with failed to turn up because of a sudden illness. I had no rights of  audience was not robed and didn’t have a comprehensive knowledge of the application. I had very little advocacy experience at this stage  The VC not inclined to adjourn and anxious to dispose of his list granted me rights of  audience and  I very nervously took to my feet and gave it a shot.

Needless to say I didn’t succeed; however the VC kindly assured me that it was not because of my rudimentary advocacy but the merits of  the application itself! Yes he was being too kind I think. I never subsequently went into court unprepared!!

What is the wisest thing anyone ever said to you (and who said it)?

“Where does it say you can’t?” This was said to me when I was a junior lawyer in the insolvency department at DLA just as the recession of the early 90’s hit. It was said by the head of department at the time, Paul Rhodes. It epitomised the approach to insolvency at that time but became for me an approach to my career in general. You just have to keep pushing and challenging.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get to where you are/do the job you do?

You must make time to go out of your way to understand people as people not just as lawyers or a line on a spreadsheet. People make the business of law so you must know your ingredients inside out.

There is also no harm in being a little self-deprecating on occasions and crucially have a keen sense of humour. Lawyers can often take themselves far too seriously.

What’s your best friend from law school doing now?

Circuit Judge on the Northern Circuit in Leeds