1. When did you join FW and where are you working now?
I joined the litigation team at Fox Williams in May 1991. In ’95 I became partner and in ‘99 I left for an inhouse position at Accenture (then known as Anderson Consulting), where I have been for 25 years. Initially I was hired to build and run the European litigation team. Today I am the global head of litigation. When I started at Accenture, I worked in London. I moved to Chicago for 3 years between 2006-09, before making a permanent move to Chicago in 2014
My team are all over world, in the US, South America, the Middle East, India, Asia and Australia. Accenture employs 750,000 people in 120 counties around the world.
2. What was your most memorable or favourite moment during your time at Fox Williams?
Fox Williams was a very important part of my life – I was there for almost a decade in the 90s, for most of my 30s.
When you look back, I think you remember how you felt in the main rather than individual, favourite moments. One thing I remember most, and with great fondness, is the people I worked with. I remember the relationships and the good times that we had. We laughed a lot – an awful lot! The people I worked with are still some of my really good friends.
We also worked hard. Given that FW was established in ’89 it was the earlier years of the firm. We were successful in a lot of things that we did, certainly in terms of building the business.
3. Of the people you met at Fox Williams, who had the most influence on you?
It’s a tough one but I think I’d have to say Lindsay Hill. Lindsay hired me into Fox Williams. He was my boss and head of the litigation department during my time at FW. I learned a huge amount from him particularly how to do the job and how to be a successful litigator, which I am still doing to this day. I have mentioned the memories of the good times, and Lindsay was the one who really set the tone for this in our team. Lindsay is still good friend of mine
4. What was the most valuable thing you learnt or took away from Fox Williams?
Two things stick out in my mind. The first is when it came to the work we did, everything was about the client – the importance of being completely client focused and client centric. Not every organisation is good at this, but we stood out for it at FW and I learned the importance of this.
I am now a buyer of legal services all over the world. I work with major law firms in the US and Europe and having spent my early career in a law firm, I have the opportunity to see how lawyers handle us as a big client. Some get it wrong – they make it too much about them rather than making the client the focus. I think in order to serve the clients best, everything should be about client responsiveness, and making the time to understand them.
The second most valuable takeaway was; whatever you do, find the fun or the joy in it, because it’s this that makes people want to come to work and enjoy what they do. If people are enjoying what they do, then they work a lot better.
5. What is the best advice you have received that has helped you with your career?
The best advice that I still use is that relationships are at the core of everything that you do as a lawyer. If you are a lawyer, you are expected to be good at being a lawyer, but it is equally important to be good at building and maintaining networks, relationships, and connections. And remembering to be yourself. Don’t pretend to be someone that you are not, it’s not sustainable and good relationships are built on authenticity.
6. What advice would you give to help someone in their career?
There are two pieces of advice that I give to people, especially to people in my team. First is that you’ve always got to try to be famous for something. And second, never trust the untrustworthy. If you have already decided someone is not to be trusted, don’t trust or rely on them!
