Law, Leadership & Breaking the Mould

My interest in law was sparked at school during a mock trial led by a local firm. I was doing my A-Levels and not entirely sure about what I wanted to do next. The mock trial combined everything I enjoyed—research, analytical thinking, persuasive writing and a touch of performance. Following that, a perceptive teacher encouraged me to consider pursuing law, arranging for me to shadow local lawyers one afternoon a week during a free period. Seeing the profession in action helped me to decide on law as a career path.

I enjoyed Nottingham so much and have life long friends from my time there.  When it came to the law course, I was captivated by case law - stories with real-world consequences and moral dimensions. I also found observing court proceedings incredibly engaging. Nottingham, at the time, was going through a difficult period with a notable rise in gang-related crime, which meant I was exposed to a wider and more intense range of cases than I ever would have seen back home in Jersey. The biggest challenge (the same for a lot of students) was balancing studies with the independence and distractions of life away from home for the first time!

My time at the Law Officers’ was pivotal in shaping my legal career. I started out as the Assistant Legal Adviser to the Jersey Attorney General and Solicitor General. My role was varied.  Everything from drafting legal advice for Government Ministers and Departments, instructing on changes to proceeds of crime legislation and representing Jersey at international conferences,  including at the United Nations. The exposure and responsibility at that stage in my career were extraordinary and shaped much of what followed. After qualifying as an Advocate, I represented Ministers in Court in judicial reviews and administrative appeals. I also acted in sensitive cases where decisions were being made to safeguard children. Each of these experiences deepened my understanding of the law’s impact on public life and sharpened my ability to navigate complex, high-stakes matters with care and precision.

In the year before I moved, I had been the lead legal advisor for Jersey on an international assessment of the Island’s money laundering and terrorist financing   defences. I was involved in the financial crime and sanctions framework for the Island at a high level and as a consequence, it felt like a logical transition. 

I worked across the policy and enforcement teams at the Commission.  I was good at constructing consultation and internal papers, having spent years drafting advice. Drawing on my expertise and knowledge of sanctions, I wrote the first version of the Commission’s sanctions guidance and developed the related content for its website. My cross-examination skills also occasionally came in useful in an enforcement interview!

Co-founding Ardent at 32 years of age was a defining move and has taught me a lot about the business side of running a legal practice. Our vision was to offer clients direct access to top legal talent, free from traditional law firm hierarchies. Ardent was the first chambers-style set-up in Jersey, where lawyers were self-employed under an umbrella brand. For lawyers joining Ardent, they had greater flexibility to choose their clients, set their own hours and work in a way that suited them.

When I started out as a lawyer, the law firm where I did work experience had one female partner. After she moved to another jurisdiction, there were none.  While I’m pleased to see progress since then, I believe there’s still more to be done to support women in reaching senior positions within the legal profession.

AI is now reshaping how legal services are delivered and balancing innovation with accuracy is critical.

In litigation, I often see the aftermath of poor governance. The distress and struggles when matters go wrong. I believe strong governance and effective risk management are cornerstones to a resilient business or organisation. Volunteering in this space allowed me to contribute further in supporting the IoD locally with its own governance.

I had wanted to study for the Chartered Director qualification for some time but hadn’t done so due to time and travel constraints in attending the course off Island. When the Certificate and Diploma became available locally, I didn’t hesitate to join the first cohort. Having supported boards through significant issues in my legal career, I wanted formal training to complement that experience, particularly as I began taking on Non-Executive roles. I also saw the qualification as a way to help counter assumptions about my readiness, given I was joining Boards earlier than many, not as a post-retirement step. Being able to point to a credential held by only around 2,000 of the world’s leading directors and executives provided both reassurance and credibility.

I naturally oscillate between big-picture strategy and detail orientation—especially when a problem arises. Good governance demands both. Legal obligations and strategic direction aren’t in conflict; they’re interdependent. Where many boards and businesses struggle is in calibrating risk - spotting what truly matters versus what’s a manageable concern.

Happy Heroes became part of our family’s life following our son’s autism diagnosis at a young age. It gave us a safe, understanding space to play and a community.

Understanding the importance of community for SEND families, led me to personally get involved with the Parent Carer Forum locally. The Parent Carer Forum aims to improve inclusivity for children with disabilities or additional needs by providing feedback on services, information and peer support for parents.  The Parent Carer Forum has a direct link into Government so we are proactively co-authoring new services, working together on improvements or ensuring parents have access to the correct information.

Law offers a wide horizon. Early on, I thought – I am going to go to law school and then appear in court. That was it! In reality, law equips you for many roles - advisory, governance, general counsel, consulting, even entrepreneurship. My advice? Explore. Try different environments, from large firms to niche practices and don’t be afraid to pivot. Your legal training is a powerful and versatile foundation.