Meet The Team

What’s your area of specialism?

I support businesses with all aspects of their lifecycle. I work with start-up businesses, advising on their incorporations and governing documents. I help established businesses restructure or scale up with acquisition strategies, funding documents and employee share schemes. And I also act on retirement sales and management buy-outs – facilitating the right exit strategy for any business owner.

What is the most interesting part of your work?

The sheer variety of work – no two instructions are the same, not just because of the breadth of law that I cover but because of the diverse range of sectors I support, each with their own needs. I’ve acted for nurseries and care-homes that have more regulatory and compliance concerns, through to manufacturers and tech companies where there is a focus on intellectual property. I like to take the time to get to know each client and business so that I can advise them in context.

What is it that you enjoy about corporate & commercial law?

It surprises most people when I tell them this – but it’s very creative. You can get some unusual structures and agreements which require layers of bespoke drafting, and often there are several ways to structure a particular instruction or transaction. So I get to combine creative thinking with pragmatic problem solving, working with a team of advisors to effect the best solution for the client.

What would your clients say about you?

I deliver a platinum service but in an approachable manner. For me, it’s all about service and looking after people whilst providing them with technical expertise.
What Holly’s clients have said: “Holly is a focused professional with a balanced approach between opportunity and risk. Genuine care for the client’s welfare and a great communicator with both client and counterpart professionals. Highly recommended. ”

How do you keep a work-life balance?

I like to say that I’m a lawyer by day, but a baker by night. I frequently make and decorate novelty cakes, bakes and cupcakes – my chocolate brownies are particularly good. Of course, I have to balance the calories from the baking with exercise so I can also be regularly found on a badminton court.

Favourite thing about working at Wilson Browne.

I’m still relatively new to the team, but I’ve been made to feel welcome and a part of the family very quickly. There is a really strong support network, not just in technical expertise but genuine support for everyone’s wellbeing and welfare, which is important at every level.

Favourite cake

A baked cheesecake – but it has to be a proper NY-style baked cheesecake, not a frozen one.

What’s your area of specialism?

I work a lot on corporate transactions, dealing with the sale and purchase of businesses. Before I came to the law, I was an engineer designing for the aerospace industry and semi-conductors. Therefore, I have a unique insight into these worlds and can relate to my clients businesses easily and more commercial aspects of business. I guess it’s one of the reasons that I receive so many instructions both in relation to the sale and purchases of businesses, but also regarding commercial contracts and similar works.

What’s the most interesting part of your work?

I like working out and finding different solutions a problem. There can be many different ways to effect a particular transaction, but it’s about finding the most effective one for your client.

What is it that you enjoy about corporate & commercial law?

I really enjoy the technical aspects of the work. I get absorbed in complex drafting and can get very particular about it as it does have to be right. I also really enjoy working with my clients; the work we do and nature of transactions that I get involved in can be complicated. It’s rewarding helping guide people through that legal minefield and translating the legal jargon into a real-world understanding.

What would your clients say about you?

That I’m down to earth; I provide practical solutions rather than blinding people with technical language and science.

How do you keep a work-life balance?

I enjoy being outdoors; whether it’s playing golf or just going for a walk. It’s good to separate your focus between work and home and do something to ‘switch off’.

Favourite thing about working at Wilson Browne

It’s the diversity of the people that we have working here. We have a great atmosphere which makes it an enjoyable place to be.

Favourite cake

It’s got to be ginger cake. I just really like ginger!

What’s your area of specialism?

I am early in my career still, so I am still learning and getting to know the wide world of corporate and commercial law. That said, I have focused so far on mergers and acquisitions as well as charity work. I am however keen to learn and want to know more – I’m good at research and want to learn as much as I can!

What’s the most interesting part of your work?

I would say getting to the bottom of a problem. To know that there is an answer out there, to find it and apply the right mechanism is really satisfying. I enjoy analysing contracts and problems and looking to find the right solution.

What is it that you enjoy about corporate & commercial law?

It’s very systematic. There is a process in transactional work which needs to be followed and it’s a great feeling to get to completion knowing that we’ve completed the puzzle. Corporate is also a very unique area of law as the emotions may run high, but it’s positive emotions and looking to get a deal completed.

I also love that every matter is different and there is a real variety in my day to day work.

What would your clients say about you?

I would like to think they would say I am reliable and that I deal with their work in a timely manner. I don’t like to sit on a problem, I will always look to address it head on and get to the solution.

How do you keep a work-life balance?

I make sure that I keep my clients informed, so my time and their expectations is well managed. Wilson Browne are very supportive and encourage a genuine balance which helps.

When I’m not in the office, I do like to travel and explore new cities. When at home, I have taken up Volleyball and Badminton.

Favourite thing about working at Wilson Browne

Genuinely, although I know that everyone will have said this, it’s the team. Everyone is very supportive and works well together. There are real opportunities to learn here, as everyone is willing to help and share their knowledge. It’s a really positive environment.

Favourite cake

Birthday cake! Keep it simple with a vanilla cake, buttercream and sprinkles!

What’s your area of specialism?

I do have a lot of experience in both corporate transactions and commercial law. That said, I am partial to commercial contracts, intellectual property and supporting businesses with the legal aspects of their operations.

What’s the most interesting part of your work?

The range of businesses that I work with as well as the people that I get to know and support. I really enjoy building relationships with people and getting to know their industry, sector and seeing businesses grow.

What is it that you enjoy about corporate & commercial law?

The technical element. There is a really broad range of aspects of a business that you can get involved in at all stages of a business lifecycle, but everything we do is always very technical and needs to be carefully drafted and considered in the context of the business and their needs.

What would your clients say about you?

This is a difficult one! In all my endeavours with clients, I aim to deliver a professional service but remain approachable and transparent in my communications with them.

How do you keep a work-life balance?

It helps that I do really enjoy my job – but  I do spend time at the gym & going for walks – fitness is a priority for me.

Favourite thing about working at Wilson Browne

The team. We have a close-knit team with a wealth of experience which I can learn from. I’ve been here since my placement year in 2019 and the firm has really invested in my professional development. I’ve recently qualified and have been the first trainee to do the SQE route.

Favourite cake

It’s an easy answer – lemon.

What’s your area of specialism?

I love working with commercial contracts – making sure that business owners have the right agreements to govern how they operate with both customers and suppliers. This goes for businesses of all sizes at any point in their corporate lifecycle whether starting up or already established. I enjoy advising and helping businesses with their contracts and compliance matters – whether general compliance right through to UK GDPR and data protection.

I have a particular interest in supporting businesses in the technology sector, as there are various challenges faced not only in dealing with the commercial contracts but the compliance side and dealing with emerging technology such as AI.

What the most interesting part of your work?

The challenge of complex solutions. I really enjoy being able to problem solve and provide businesses with innovative solutions to various issues. As a commercial lawyer, you really do have to think beyond the initial problem and think tactically around the issue and other circumstances that may arise impacting the matter in hand. Whether it’s a technical legal issue or commercial impact the client may not have foreseen.

One area that is particularly interesting at the moment is Artificial Intelligence and how this impacts businesses. It’s still a relatively new area to many businesses and is posing various challenges. This includes if and how they use the technology, what the risks of using that technology are across their systems (some of which are not yet known) and education and proper implementation if it is appropriate to use. AI is not yet regulated in the UK albeit there are various international propositions to regulate it. As a developing area it does present an opportunity for businesses to become more efficient, scale and grow with support of AI; but this needs to be balanced with the risks with compliance, data protection and reliance on a new technology which is still being tested and developed.

What is it that you enjoy about corporate & commercial law?

I love to get involved in conversations and working with clients. I like to get to know what they need and want to achieve, and bringing tailored solutions forward for them. Getting to know their needs and requirements means working closely with them and I get genuine satisfaction from their successful outcome. A happy client is always the end goal, it’s great when they can successfully evolve and meet challenges head on and to have been a part of that.

What would your clients say about you?

I would like to think that clients love my enthusiastic and positive approach. They often face many problems and I am always upbeat and positive trying to find pragmatic solutions. Where necessary, I do go above and beyond and have a dedication to my clients needs. I endeavour to ensure that my advice is clear, easy to understand and relevant to the issues and business aims of the client.

How do you keep a work-life balance?

I work hard to make sure that I meet my clients’ needs – this is balanced with time with my family. I carefully manage my time and structure my weeks to ensure that both clients and my family are looked after. Crucially, I do love to dance any stress away, I also laugh a lot and go for walks outside to stay in touch with nature.

Favourite thing about working at Wilson Browne

I love the team. They are friendly, down to earth, open and supportive. I am an ambitious person and have a real passion for what I do and working at WB has really helped me to thrive and enabled my creativity. It’s not just the Corporate and Commercial Team, but everyone I meet is friendly and open. It’s a firm that really does put people first and invest in their teams. I can’t remember the last time (before WB) I felt so peaceful at work and allowed to just be myself.

Favourite cake

I don’t eat a lot of cake usually, I’m conscious of the sugar, but I am partial to a chocolate cake or banana cake using more natural sugars. Home made is definitely best!

What’s your area of specialism?

As a junior solicitor I am still developing my skills and knowledge in both Corporate and Commercial matters, which I would say is my broad area of specialism. I have a particular passion for the corporate side of work and enjoy looking after clients with their company structures and transactional matters.

What the most interesting part of your work?

A lot of what we do is finding creative solutions to challenges that clients face with their business and their operations. Whether this is a governance issue and how they set up and structure their business; grow and transition their business into a new model; or consider the impact of operations on their business and legal documents, the range of solutions is intriguing.  There is a wide variety of issues businesses in the SME market can face and it’s really interesting and challenging to work with other professionals to find solutions.

What is it that you enjoy about corporate & commercial law?

It may sound really boring, but I like drafting. The construction of sentences, use and definition of words and collating them to form legal documents is a really key part of being a Corporate and Commercial Lawyer as a small change can actually have a big impact. I enjoy applying a commercial context and what my client’s intentions and needs are to the legal documents at hand.

What would your clients say about you?

I would like to think that they consider me efficient and resourceful. I pride myself on my commitment to client care and addressing their concerns as a priority.

How do you keep a work-life balance?

I am quite disciplined with my time – I like to swim and keep fit and maintaining this balance with work requires focus. A healthy body is a healthy mind!

Favourite thing about working at Wilson Browne

The driver for me is the openness of the team. It may sound silly, but I have always been able to ask a question however small it may seem. The Partners and wider team at Wilson Browne are all accessible and here to help train and support me as a solicitor.

Favourite cake

Battenburg – I love marzipan. One day, I would love to go to Mexico where they make Calavera as they can be pure marzipan. It’s why I have such a sweet tooth now, my favourite used to be lemon drizzle but anything with marzipan these days is top of the list!