How are you feeling about becoming a new partner at BCL and what are you hoping to bring to your new role?
Delighted, it's an exciting time, though the main point about being a business crime lawyer at a top firm like BCL is that the work is interesting and really matters and you get to work with talented and interesting people. You're always learning and trying to find better ways to solve age-old problems, including how to persuade people who will not see. It is challenging, rewarding, and very often fun. I don't expect that to change!
Reflecting on your own career so far, what advice would you give to those that are beginning a career in criminal law?
Work with and learn from smart people, but always think for yourself.
What trends have you seen developing in the criminal law sector over the last few years and where do you see the industry heading in the future?
For me the key trend is towards corporate criminal liability. It gives rise to all sorts or interesting questions of legal principle which are being given increasingly little attention, leading to the equally interesting (and more difficult) question of how to persuade law enforcement and ultimately the courts that it is not always reasonable to hold commercial organisations culpable for failing to prevent people from being people (a position which should be self-evident to law enforcement from their own failures to prevent their people from being people).
We all know balancing work vs life is at times difficult so how do you maintain a good balance of meaningful time away from work vs the commitments of a working week?
I work hard and on a regular basis do something that isn't work! It's alright working flat out for short periods, but that isn't the most effective way to work and in the longer term isn't sustainable.
How do you relax outside of work and what or where would be your ideal weekend away?
With a young family, and as much golf and reading as conditions allow. My ideal weekend would be out in the hills somewhere, finding a good pub for dinner.