I am also the client and supervising partner for the work which the team/firm undertakes for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), investigating and undertaking disqualification proceedings against directors for which the public interest is all important.

Best brains in ...

Directors' duties, responsibilities and corporate governance; forensic investigations and misappropriations/fraud, including the undertaking of enforcement actions to preserve and recover assets; and resolution of general contractual disputes.

Highlight of your career so far?

Successfully completing an investigation into 12 directors across 30 companies where millions of pounds had been improperly obtained from the DfES through the Individual Learning Accounts Scheme which was launched by the government across the country. At the final hearing, the judge declared that the evidence in support of the case was truly staggering in volume and impressive in quality. The evidence constituted a 170 plus page affidavit, supported by 30 lever arch files of documents which a team of five of us had worked on pretty solidly for 12 months while up against a limitation problem - a great example of team work.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Acting for a shareholder of a well known men's retailer, Ciro Citterio Menswear Plc. This started as a shareholder dispute where we were successfully awarded judgment in the sum of £7 million plus. Subsequently the company and various individuals dissipated many millions of pounds of assets which necessitated us undertaking a substantial search and seizure investigation against both the company premises and individuals' homes. This in turn led to Section 423 fraudulent transaction applications being brought against the individuals. Specific different enforcement proceedings were also taken, including garnishees, charging orders, orders for sale against individual properties, as well as world wide freezing injunctions to protect the funds and assets of the company and the individuals in the meantime. As a result of the directors' actions, the company ended up in administration and further litigation ensued on numerous issues - five reported cases later shows it pays to be tenacious!

What about outside the UK?

Much of our work is of an international nature. This includes disputes which need resolving across multi-jurisdictions, whether through arbitration or otherwise, as well as foreign judgments being recognised here and equally us taking enforcement action world wide.

Dedication to Client Care? Prove It!

It would have to be the occasion when I travelled back from the south of France to meet with some clients to discuss what they were looking for from us as their lawyers and what our client service offered to them. Nothing unusual in itself save that I was not just away on holiday but also on maternity leave, leaving my husband alone to cope with our new born baby!

Best example of a creative legal solution?

Where we can avoid litigation we do and indeed this is generally very much in line with the court's approach as well. In one instance we had successfully settled a case at mediation but found ourselves in a peculiar situation where the Court of Appeal refused to approve the consent order that had been agreed between the parties. In order to make sure that the settlement was upheld, so that the litigation could come to an end rather than being progressed any further, we obtained an order from a lower court. The order confirmed that the settlement agreement itself could be enforced as a freestanding agreement, based on the argument that its legality was not conditional on the court sealing the consent order.

When have you ever given a client a real competitive edge?

By listening and asking lots of questions! First and foremost, I always try to gain an understanding of a client's business and market place (including a visit to their premises if appropriate) before I get into the detail of a dispute. By doing so, I am able to ensure that my approach to the dispute is always led by the client's strategy and objectives rather than vice versa!

What's your single greatest contribution to Wragge & Co's corporate responsibility?

Part of my time away from Wragge & Co is spent learning a little more about education in my role as an LEA Governor for Langley Primary School, which has a high proportion of special needs children. It is a shining example of 'walking the talk' on Every Child Matters.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

'Firm and cool headed' - Chambers UK

'Very proactive and professional' - Helen Clements, The Insolvency Service (Executive Agency of BIS)