Best brains in...

Structuring property rights in the energy sector, including  revenue sharing arrangements for landlords and maximising returns for developers. 

What about outside the UK?

I have worked on a number of transactions involving land in Ireland and Scotland - often I negotiate the "commercial" elements of a transaction for clients and then liaise with local solicitors in Ireland or Scotland as required.

What's your definition of going the extra mile... And when have you done it?

I once swapped my suit for an apron, serving burgers alongside the client's lead counsel in my local McDonald's. Being at the coalface of their operations meant I had a greater understanding of their objectives and ultimately what they needed from their legal advisers. 

Best example of a creative legal solution?

Acting for a windfarm developer on a series of transactions which led to the client significantly increasing its presence in the market and substantially growing its business. The negotiations were challenging, the timescales tight and we used a novel approach to structuring the documentation that neither party had previously used. The outcome was hugely successful and the client was thrilled.  

How do you get under the skin of a client's business?

To fully understand a client's business you need to really put yourself in their shoes. I've twice been on secondment. As a trainee I spent six months in the legal section of a client's insurance claims handling team. Following qualification I spent six weeks with a large retail client acting as the sole property contact for its entire in-house legal team.  

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

As part of the Compact Tutoring scheme I tutored students at Castle Vale school on future career development. I have subsequently been a mentor and supervisor at the Birmingham College of Law legal advice clinic, providing pro bono legal advice to those in the community who otherwise couldn't afford help. I continue to mentor law students from Birmingham City University.

I am actively involved in the firm's school governor programme, having been a school governor for the past three years at a school catering for children with physical disabilities and those with  behavioural difficulties.