Mission Possible: Leading, Managing and Delivering

In this episode, Sarah Williamson, Partner and Head of Commercial & Technology at Boyes Turner, sits down with Sharon Evans, former Chief Legal Officer at TotallyMoney, to explore how in-house lawyers can expand their influence and demonstrate value within their organisations.

Sharon shares how meeting teams where they are joining stand-ups, using Slack instead of rigid forms, and speaking their language can help legal feel like part of the business, not apart from it. She also touches on how guiding colleagues through a crisis can build trust faster than anything else.

When it comes to senior stakeholders, Sharon explains how tailoring communication to the audience whether it’s the CEO, investors, or the board makes all the difference. Her advice on proving value? Don’t obsess over KPIs unless they truly fit your business. Sometimes, success is measured in the absence of friction and in spotting opportunities before anyone else, like getting ahead of GDPR or using AI responsibly.

A smart, practical conversation about influence, trust, and making legal a strategic partner at the table.

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Mission Possible: Leading, Managing and Delivering

In this episode, Andy Whiteaker, Partner and Head of Employment at Boyes Turner, is joined by Christian Waida from OpenText and Ben Martin from Wordsmith to talk about what it really takes to balance being both a lawyer and a manager.

They dive into how to build a positive team culture where people feel supported, trusted, and motivated to do their best work. Ben shares why empowering juniors to take the lead and making space for fun and connection keeps teams engaged, while Christian talks about creating an environment where people actually enjoy what they do because when they do, everyone wins.

The panel also tackles trust, transparency, and the importance of following through on your promises as a leader. Plus, they explore how to hire the right people, focusing on attitude and willingness to learn over technical skills.

A thoughtful conversation on leadership, culture, and building teams that thrive inside and outside the legal world.

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In this transparent and inspiring conversation with Rowan Turrall, Partner in our Dispute Resolution team, Emma Lilley shares her remarkable journey from entering law through clearing (after missing the grades for her preferred music degree) to becoming Head of Legal at SDWorks. Her path challenges every conventional assumption about what makes a successful lawyer, demonstrating how determination and authenticity can triumph over traditional expectations.

Emma's discovery of in-house legal practice during a gap year in Australia became the foundation for her career path. Rather than following the prescribed route through private practice, she forged her own way, ultimately qualifying and building a legal function from scratch. Her practical advice on succeeding as a sole counsel – prioritising relationships before implementing changes – offers valuable insights for anyone establishing legal operations in a business setting.

Perhaps most valuable is Emma's detailed explanation of how the SQE qualification route has made in-house training more accessible than ever before. For aspiring lawyers and legal leaders alike, she demystifies the process and makes a compelling case for why businesses should offer these opportunities.

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At the beginning of October we held our annual conference of Heads of Legal and GCs with the theme "Embedding the in-house legal team at the heart of the business" which included expert panels sharing their views.

In our next panel session, we spoke about how embedding legal teams into the core of business operations can champion Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in a transformative way. Andrew Whiteaker lead this panel session featuring Robin Carvell-Spedding from Protium and Polly Tassell from CarWow. We promise you'll gain fresh insights into the role of legal teams in fostering a truly inclusive workplace. From tackling challenges in traditionally male-dominated industries to embracing diverse perspectives in EDI initiatives, this conversation is packed with valuable lessons and real-world experiences.

The episode also explores the topic of paternity leave as a driver of gender equality. By encouraging fathers to take paternity leave, businesses can support gender equality both in the workplace and at home. This approach not only empowers women to pursue their careers but also challenges traditional gender roles, leading to a more balanced and equitable society.

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In early October we held our annual conference of Heads of Legal and GCs with the theme "Embedding the in-house legal team at the heart of the business" which included expert panels sharing their views.

Our next panel session discussed aligning your legal team with your business's core. Join Rowan Turrall, alongside Maria Passemard from Johnson Matthey and Jamie Fraser, Group General Counsel at Gordon Murray Group, as they teach you how to identify genuine business needs before diving into the world of legal tech.

Conducting a thorough technology audit can save you from unnecessary expenditures and ensure that your tech investments address challenges impacting the entire organization.

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At the beginning of October we held our annual conference of Heads of Legal and GCs with the theme "Embedding the in-house legal team at the heart of the business" which included expert panels sharing their views.

Our first panel session showed how in-house legal teams are becoming pivotal in steering businesses towards sustainability and managing potential risks. Featuring insights from experts like Nick Carter, Anna Stanley, Francine Godrich, and Michael Astle, this discussion promises a comprehensive look at why ESG policies are no longer optional but essential. Get an insider's perspective on how B Corp certifications are reshaping industries globally, and hear from Francine Godrich about an innovative office move that slashed carbon emissions for her company.

Our panel, led by Nick, wraps up a thought-provoking conversation that spans across industries, from music tech to science, spotlighting the young voices demanding environmental accountability. We explore the diverse motivations behind ESG adoption and how these strategies are shaping today's business landscape.

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In this episode, we dive into everything you need to know about data protection with expert Ben Martin, Director of Privacy at Trustpilot and author of 'GDPR for Startups and Scale-ups' and Host, Sarah Williamson, Partner and Head of Commercial Technology at Boyes Turner.

Ben Martin shares his unique journey from environmental to data protection law, emphasizing the convergence of regulation, technology, and application. As businesses grow and technologies like AI become more integrated into our daily operations, the challenges that in-house counsel face in terms of data protection become more complex.

Throughout the episode, the overarching message is clear: data protection should not be viewed as a mere compliance hurdle but as an essential element of trust and privacy. In essence, this episode provides valuable insights for any business or legal professional aiming to navigate the future of legal tech with confidence.

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On 12 October we held our inaugural conference for Heads of Legal and GCs with the theme “Building Growth and Efficiency for in-house legal teams” which included expert panels sharing their views.

For our last panel, Sarah Williamson, Head of Commercial and Technology at Boyes Turner was joined by Andrew Cooke, General Counsel of Travelperk, Harry Borovick, General Counsel of Luminance and Joanna Goodman, journalist and Law Society Gazette columnist.

In this session Andy and Harry discuss how they use AI within their day to day roles. Andy explains how his team have introduced an AI powered chatbot to answer repeated queries that are asked of the in-house legal team. Harry discusses how he uses the company’s own AI products to support the in-house team.

Joanna talks about how it is not too late to start looking at AI and discusses accessible ways to find out what it can do.

Andy advocates finding out what the pain is that you are seeking to resolve rather than rushing into an AI solution that may not be what is needed but being open to the benefits of AI. Joanna also elaborates on finding a use case for AI.

Joanna also discusses the interaction between AI and ESG from a governance perspective but also on the environmental front, particularly bearing in mind the energy and water used in operating and cooling data centres used in running generative AI.

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