There’s a saying I like – ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it’. Many of you will recognise the film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but it reminds me that it’s important to look up every now and again, appreciate what you have and to not let things pass you by.
Recently, some of us slowed down and took in what we had achieved at an off-site in Ibiza. Not only was it great to share special times with colleagues, some who have been with us from the start, but to think about why we started London Law Collective, what drives us to deliver great work and what we plan to do next.
The story goes that in August 2020, Jo Farquharson and I went off-grid to the Isle of Mull and settled in for a few days of walking and thinking as we set up a new law firm. We’d always had the idea that we wanted to start something ourselves, a husband and wife team, but needed that time away to solidify what we wanted to achieve.
We knew that we wanted to set up a firm that was values-led – that was non-negotiable. We also knew that we could offer our clients strategic legal thinking providing solutions across a range of areas. To do that we wanted to work with colleagues who, like us, were thinkers, and could put their brilliant minds to providing excellent advice to clients who are making a positive difference to the world.
But we needed something to bind it together, and so the idea of a Collective was born; a law firm that is greater than the sum of its parts which delivers exceptional legal services and contributes positively to our world.
When we look up every now and again, we see a world that is fraught, chaotic and not always just. That is why we are committed to do what we can, in a small way to give back to those who need it most. We are proud that we are members of 1% for the Planet, are a Certified B Corp a Green Small Business and won Best Environmental, Social and Governance Initiative Award at this year’s People in Law Awards.
Coupled with that, we have been lucky to work with innovative clients who we aim to build trusting and long-term relationships with. Among those are wellness and TV production companies, tech innovators, serial entrepreneurs and even global popstars and Premier League footballers.
What’s next? We want to continue doing what we know we are good at – using our technical legal skills to give our clients a personal service that is complimented by advances in AI and tech – while continuing to give back to the world around us.
Thanks to everyone who has made the last five years possible, our clients, partners, supporters, brilliant consultants, former staff (many who still come to our parties and events), the charities we support, and our friends. We couldn’t have done it without you.
From the Isle of Mull in 2020 life sure has moved pretty fast. If I’ve learned one thing, it is to be more Ferris – stop and look around once in a while.