A day in the life of…a Corporate Partner

Holly Threlfall joined Franklins in 2013 and has since worked her way up to becoming a Corporate Partner in our Business Services Department. Here she explains what the work involves and what she enjoys about her role.                                                                   

Being a Partner in a law firm has its ups and downs like any other job. It can involve long hours, tight deadlines and stressful situations. However, it can also involve great clients, exciting deals and an extremely variable ‘day at the office’.

No two days are ever the same. I have been at Franklins for nearly 9 years and I can comfortably say that every day brings something new. My clients come from different backgrounds, from retail through to construction, manufacturing, professional services and even aerospace. This certainly keeps me on my toes, as every piece of work needs to be tailored to each of my clients and their industry needs. The nature of work that I undertake also varies from day to day. One day, I may be focused on drafting a Share Purchase Agreement which can involve several hours of technical drafting, the next I may be reviewing due diligence documents to advise on the risks of acquiring a business and then I may be into a completion meeting or conference with clients to talk through their business needs before working into the evening to finalise points discussed throughout the day. These long, and sometimes intense, hours however are all worth it for a happy client and can be alleviated by working with a great team.

One of the best parts of my job is the people that I work with. We have a team of Partners here at Franklins each with their own expertise to support our clients with their various needs. Then there are the other solicitors, trainees and support staff, all of whom play an essential role to look after our clients. I wouldn’t be able to do my job if I didn’t have the support of my assistants, the reception and compliance team, accounts team, marketing and other members of the firm all of whom work together to deliver our services. That is not to say that we are always perfect (although we do try!). We will always do our best to look after our clients and keep the firm moving forwards.

Of course, as a Partner one of the key parts of my role is supporting my team and training the next generation of lawyers. I work closely with newly qualified solicitors, trainees and paralegals to pass on the knowledge I have gained from my own experiences. From technical understanding and advice, through to transaction and case management and essential skills such as communication skills, much of my days can be spent working with the junior team to help them grow and develop into the next generation of solicitors.

But it’s not just the team at Franklins that I work closely with. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is working not only with some great clients, but also other professional advisors who are essential in ensuring our clients’ interests are best served. It’s not unusual to have several calls a day with the same clients and advisors over several weeks as a deal intensifies. You get to know everyone personally and these relationships only grow over time which makes it even more rewarding when a deal completes. There is no better feeling than a grateful client, happy with the outcome of their transaction and ready to move onto the next chapter of their journey, be that growing their business or retiring to enjoy the fruits of their labour!

Despite the many roles I fill, busy days and sometimes long hours required, life as a Partner does not mean that my work is my life! I have a great work-life balance, which is supported and made possible by my team and other partners. I can squeeze a run or swim in before work, play badminton on a regular basis and bake celebration cakes for my friends and family (or just because I want to!) when the need arises. Baking is a particular passion of mine and I do love to challenge myself to come up with new and creative cake flavours and designs – something which often surprises many people when they discover that I am a corporate lawyer!

Whilst corporate law can have a reputation of being ‘dry’, my experience as a solicitor and Partner at Franklins is anything but. My day is filled with a variety of challenges; my life enhanced by the variety of relationships and friendships that I have formed throughout my career.

To contact Holly or a member of the Business Services team, please call 01604 828282 or 01908 660966 or email info@franklins-sols.co.uk.