Sarah Reid - Managing Director, Richard Reed Solicitors
What were your career ambitions growing up?
I always wanted to be lawyer. I have always been fascinated by the rules that govern us, how they are applied and how they affect us. Being particularly interested in the social side to law, becoming a family lawyer seemed a natural step. I have a passion for helping people resolve their issues at one of the most difficult times of their lives.
Tell us about your current role and what do you most enjoy?
I had been a family lawyer for nearly 20 years before I took up the position of Managing Director. I have completely moved away from running family law cases and now solely concentrate on running our business. I have responsibility for all aspects of that, from our compliance and regulation to our strategy, culture and growth. I especially love working directly with our teams helping them grow and nurturing our new talent. I also enjoy networking and helping develop new opportunities for the firm.
What is your proudest business achievement?
Being given the opportunity to become an owner of the firm at age 31 and then becoming MD at age 39. I was very proud to be trusted with this role, I have the ultimate responsibility for the growth and stability of the firm and everyone in it.
How has your industry evolved in the last decade and what changes do you see in the next decade?
Being one of the oldest, more traditional professions, the legal sector took some time to catch up with more commercially minded industries. Many law firms now though have fully embraced change and the use of technology to better their services. We have done this too by improving systems to ensure we are now paper-light and also how we gain and do business.
Looking forward, we will continue to use developing technology to not only improve access to our services but to also make lives easier for our employees.
What are you currently working on?
Our strategy over the next three to five years and the future growth of our business, what that looks like operationally in terms of workforce changes, infrastructure developments and potentially a move to new premises, along with how that impacts on every stakeholder – employee, client and our colleagues within the business community.
Tell us about the team you work with?
We have grown a lot over the past few years and whilst this of course means we have some relatively new members of our team, we also have some amazing long-standing employees, with our longest serving being with us for 36 years!
We really are a family! We support one another and we value what each and every one of us brings to the table. I’m proud of the flexibility I see in our team, their commitment and loyalty and the way they care about each other and the firm.
What is the best piece of business advice you have been given?
You don’t know what you don’t know – so ask! A law degree and years of experience makes you an expert in your legal field, but you develop your ability and confidence to manage a business over time, so take every opportunity and challenge your comfort zones.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
Continuing my role as Managing Director of a successful and thriving law firm which is central to the local and business community in Sunderland and beyond.
Who would be your four ideal dinner guests, alive or dead ?
Princess Diana – as I child I was fascinated by her – the fairy tale and then the reality, I’d love to know more.
I’m in awe of people that go above and beyond for a cause they believe in – so someone like Odette Sansom who went to extraordinary selfless lengths during the War.
Sarah Millican – just to add a bit of comedy to the table!
Gordon Ramsay – maybe we could get him to cook the meal!
How do you unwind outside of work?
Exercise! It keeps me sane; I walk, run, swim, and do Pilates. Also spending time with my two girls aged 11 and 12, a real reality check!
Favourite Book and Boxset?
I’ve just finished reading Lucinda Riley’s series The Seven Sisters. Each book has a historical context based in a different part of the world to the last and the Seven Sisters’ stories are intertwined in all of the books. The last book, Atlas, brings it all to a satisfactory conclusion. I like a definitive ending!
Boxset – Breaking Bad; everything the lead character does is illegal, yet you couldn’t help wanting him to survive and actually succeed!
richardreed.co.uk