The CEO of Hill Dickinson talks to NLJ about his early days as a law student/glass collector, his thoughts on regulation and his enduring love of sport
What was your route into the industry?
One of my lawyer friends sparked my interest, so I went to study law at the University of Oxford while working as a glass collector in a pub in Liverpool during the holidays. It was here where I met a partner at Hill Dickinson, who told me about an internship I could apply for while studying. I did just that, landing a job with the firm in 1983. Talk about fate!
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
There’s no easy road in any career, but I’ve found that my biggest challenge came when I had to navigate the sale of a big part of the business that no longer fitted in with Hill Dickinson’s long-term business strategy.
It was a difficult time, with difficult conversations over a 12-month period. We couldn’t have done it without the co-operation and understanding of colleagues in that team—or John Whittle, the then CEO of Keoghs, who was wonderful to work with.
I’m pleased that we managed to transfer all team members, 35,000 cases and 50 clients to a new home with no jobs lost.
Challenges are all about lessons, and if this situation taught me anything, it’s that you should always trust your gut instinct, be brave and put the people first.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you the most?
It’s got to be Lord Justice Peter Taylor, who led the Hillsborough public inquiry in 1989. I was at Hillsborough as a fan and appeared at the inquiry to represent the Football Supporters’ Association. What struck me as most impressive was his humanity, sense of fairness, and his determination not to be bullied or pressurised by the authorities. I was fortunate to meet him in the corridors of Sheffield Town Hall during the inquiry, and he was always courteous and amiable. A great man.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
An alternate career for me when I was young would definitely be batting for the England cricket team, although this would never happen because I am a dreadful player! Now, it’s using the scars on my back to help others to succeed. Without realising, I’ve accumulated a broad set of skills that are perfectly suited to coaching, inspiring, and having those difficult conversations that help people grow. I suppose my alternate career is exactly what I’ve ended up doing.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Those who know me will know I’m a huge fan of cult classic TV series. You don’t get much better fictional lawyers than The West Wing’s Sam Seaborn and Josh Lyman, who used their legal skills to seamlessly transition into politics at the highest level in the White House.
Both characters, and the show in general, resonate with me specifically because there is massive synergy between running high-level politics and a law firm. Whether you’re using your powers of persuasion and negotiation against difficult congressmen to support the president’s agenda or trying to win a big case for a client, the skill set remains unchanged.
You can see this in one of the early episodes entitled Five Votes Down, where the senate loses support for a vital vote on gun control, and they must use their negotiation skills to win the votes back and pass the Bill.
What change would you make to the profession?
The way in which lawyers are regulated. I get the impression our regulator is overwhelmed and doesn’t have the investment to be able to deal with matters in the way professionals would like them to. Lack of resource and funding is a real challenge.
How do you relax?
I’m an avid sports fan. I’m a member of my local cricket club and a proud season ticket holder at Liverpool Football Club. If you’re ever looking for me, I’ll be at either of those places. Aside from that, fitness plays a big part in my life and arguably, I’m not me if I haven’t done my three mile walk every morning. In my real downtime, I love to watch shows like The Sopranos, Billions and The West Wing. It’s all about balance.
