CAN YOU SHARE A HIGHLIGHT FROM YOUR FIRST MONTH WITH US?

A highlight for me has been the ability, due to its size, to meet and speak with every member of Hawkins Hatton within my first week.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS HH’s USP?

There is a Jamaican saying that I feel sums up Hawkins Hatton in a nutshell ‘likkle but tallawah’ which means ‘small but mighty’. We do not let our size constrain us from what we can do in terms of our clients, our work and the size of the transactions we deal with. It is a ‘yes we can’ attitude.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS WORKING HERE MET OR EXCEEDED YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

I have been pleasantly surprised by the calibre of our junior team. They are an enthusiastic group who are undertaking work that I would have delegated to far more senior lawyers in my previous practice.

Not having to time record has also been a joy.

WHAT ARE SOME GOALS YOU’RE HOPING TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT YEAR WITH HH?

In the next year at HH, we’re continuing to grow our capacity and further enrich our workplace culture.

Firstly, we are expanding our team. Building on the success we have to date, additional resources will enable us to handle a greater volume of work while ensuring that each team member maintains work-life balance. When staff have the time and space they need to recharge, productivity and job satisfaction increases naturally.

Additionally, I am keen on supporting all junior lawyers post-qualification. Through clear progression strategies and exposure to more complex work, all parties will benefit from continued professional development.

HH already competes well with larger firms in terms of the quality of work and client base. One of my key objectives is to elevate our employee experience and ways of working to match or exceed what city-based practices offer. This involves investing in technology and systems that streamline operations and improve efficiency, making Hawkins Hatton an even more attractive place for top talent than it already is.

I firmly believe that attention to the ‘little things’ — those day-to-day interactions and conveniences that make working life smoother, plays a significant role in building a loyal, contented, and dedicated team. By focusing on these aspects, we aim to create an environment where exceptional professionals are eager to flourish.

HOW DO YOU THINK hh BEING PART OF THE WIDER BAMBOO ECOSYSTEM WILL HELP IN ACHIEVING THESE GOALS?

We’re a niche practice and we’re great at what we do. Clients are now generally more entrepreneurial and as a result may sometimes have a need for advice that is outside of our areas of specialism. The ability to plug into other specialisms within the wider bamboo ecosystem is key to maintaining strong client relationships as we do not need to send our clients elsewhere for advice. Client service is always our first focus and providing a wider range of support is a way to deliver that level of commitment.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING A MOVE TO HAWKINS HATTON?

My advice would be another of my favourite sayings ‘just do it!!’ We have fantastic work, the firm and our wider ecosystem is very different to traditional law firms and the work and experience that you will be exposed to will be the same if not more challenging and thus rewarding.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

We recognise that the legal sector is evolving and as a firm, we need to change with and possibly ahead of that curve in order to continue to attract and retain talent and clients. My experience so far is that we’re open to that change and embrace the challenge.