O List Brochure - Master

The O List 2024

O Shaped

O Shaped is a client-led organisation which was founded in 2019 as a movement with a mission to improve the legal profession for those who are in it, those who use it and those who are entering it. Our vision is to create “a world where ‘people first’ really matters”.

Those interviews led to the publication of a report in February 2020 that has placed O Shaped at the forefront of change across the legal sector, placing people at the heart of our vision for change.

O Shaped is based on the 5 O Mindset of Openness, Originality, Opportunity, Ownership and Optimism together with the 12 O Shaped Attributes that were distilled down from a series of interviews with leading General Counsel in 2019.

It is against that backdrop that the O List was born. We wanted to help the wider legal community appreciate what it means to be O Shaped and understand the positive impact that the O Shaped Mindset and Attributes can have on individuals, teams, organisations and the wider legal industry.

The O Shaped Mindset

The O Shaped Attributes

The O List Introduction

In May 2023 we launched the first ever O List.

We received a staggering 172 nominations from people from all corners of the legal industry.

We asked the legal community to nominate people who they felt went above and beyond their day job to put ‘people first’ and in doing so demonstrated the O Shaped Mindset and Attributes.

As a cross-industry movement working with law schools, law firms, apprenticeship providers, private practice and in-house as well as and others connected with the legal industry, it was essential that the O List was open to talent across the profession.

The breadth of entries and quality of stories blew us away, highlighting the excellence of people from all corners of the legal profession and all levels of seniority across the industry.

The final 25 O Listers were selected by a panel of general counsel, blind to names, roles, organisations or seniority and they have become our inaugural group of O Listers.

We are immensely proud to be able to showcase the incredible achievements of the O Listers in this publication and hear more about why they were selected to become the inaugural O Listers.

O List Party

On the 21st February 2024 we held a party to celebrate everyone who made it on to the O List.

The O List Introduction

• Anna Kettle, Atkins

• Archanna Ramu, EQT Group

• Bal Atwal, WestMidlandsPolice

• Ben Furlong, Estatesearch

• Carly Thorpe, WalkerMorrisLLP

• Charlotte Hall, Onfido

• Christine Baer, JonesLangLaSalle

• Effie Dower, M42Health

• Emma Haywood, Bloomsworks Legal

• Emma Levin, Onebright

• George Grammer-Taylor, Clyde&CoLLP

• Jeanette Burgess, Walker Morris LLP

• Joanna Hughes, Joanna Hughes

Solicitor Apprentices

• Karen Watton, qLegal

• Katie White, Browne Jacobson

• Kenny Robertson, Natwest

• Laura West, Springfield IP Limited

• Leila El Gharbi, Beautiful People

• Lucie Allen, Barbri Global

• Paula McMullan, Career Coach for Lawyers

• Sarah Clark, The Legal Director

• Scott Brown, Heriot Brown

• Tom Lyas, Browne Jacobson

• Xavier Langlois, Beamery

Anna Kettle

The O of Optimism sits well with me - I am naturally a glass half full person

”

What Anna’s nominations said…….

Anna welcomes people into the fold and looks out for junior members to make sure they are supported on a professional and emotional level.

Anna creates an environment where you cannot help wanting to be the best you can be.

What Anna said…….

I hope that being an O Lister will inspire others who might not have a linear career path to join the legal profession. I want my selection to highlight how much the profession can benefit by encouraging as many diverse backgrounds and perspectives to become part of it.

I think that being open and showing vulnerability at work changes the dynamic in the team and enables others to do the same.

I am also motivated by empowering more junior members of the team and doing my best to ensure that they can realise their full potential.

What Archanna’s nominations said…….

Her infectious enthusiasm serves as a catalyst, igniting motivation and inspiring others to work with vigour.

Her exceptional team spirit, positive attitude, joyous energy, personable nature, commitment to championing minorities, collaborative mindset, and vocal advocacy make her an outstanding candidate for this prestigious accolade.

What Archanna said…….

As my career has progressed and I note the increased responsibility of being a role model to others, I believe these very human, natural, behaviours are how I want to succeed both personally and professionally.

It’s about aligning personal and professional goals and when you do that, great things happen! I see it in myself, my team and those I work with – it sparks individual and collective success!

I see so many programs / workshops on the topic of ‘lawyers being human’ – what other profession does that? Perception needs to change – it has to be the norm.

It’s

wonderful to be recognised for the day-to-day contributions and for what matters to me the most personally and professionally – ‘people first’.

“ ”

Making a conscious effort to incorporate more of the O behaviours has allowed me to reflect on what I do well and what I could do better.

What Bal’s nominations said…….

Creating a very open and positive community for junior lawyers with the Birmingham Solicitors Group and seeking to change the profession through his role as Council Member on the law society representing juniors. More voices and greater representation will lead to a more inclusive profession.

From delivering high quality legal advice to clients across the force to supporting initiatives around recruitment, diversity and inclusion and more – Bal is hoping to showcase the positives and the real social impact of having a role within the public sector.

What Bal said…….

Being on the O List allows the organisations and groups I represent, such as lawyers working in the public sector or the emergency services, to have a larger platform. We all want different things, it’s just about learning what is right for you.

Several of the aspects of O Shaped align with my leadership values including: emotional intelligence, problem solving and continuous learning.

Focussing on specific areas has allowed me to improve. For example, emotional intelligence has enabled me to understand those around me beyond the surface level. Problem solving and continuous learning has gone hand in hand helped me see things as opportunities to learn as opposed to barriers to progress.

Ben Furlong

What Ben’s nominations said…….

An inspiring leader, Ben’s door is always open and he has a knack of being able to be completely honest in a constructive, helpful and empathetic manner.

We refer to Ben as “The Guru” as not only does he seem to be the source of all knowledge, if he doesn’t immediately know an answer, he will go the extra mile to find out. Ben encourages people to use their initiative and be proactive.

He takes the time to set goals and milestones for every employee and ensures when they reach these, they are celebrated.

What Ben said…….

Exhibiting O Shaped attributes will help to perpetuate the behaviours, so it should be a snowball effect.

Simplifying things helps a range of people come together to look at a problem and devise the easiest solution which then often naturally leads to new opportunities which may not have been immediately apparent. I’ve found Ownership increasingly aligns with current values and incorporating this has helped me place daily focus on supporting my team to take increasing responsibility for wider aspects of the business which makes them more invested.

I think simply maintaining a focus on treating others how you want to be treated breeds behaviours and traits that engender the O Shaped approach. “ ”

“ ”

I remember being a junior lawyer and being really intimidated by the female partners I worked with. I don’t want people to be scared of me. You can be vulnerable and still be a great lawyer.

What Carly’s nominations said…….

Rather than changing to fit in with the traditional stereotype of what a lawyer should look and sound like, Carly has embraced her differences which she sees as allowing her to approach problems from a unique perspective for her clients in an innovative, original way.

Carly's passionate about ensuring those from disadvantaged backgrounds finding their way don't assume that they aren't the right fit for a law firm, or that they will never make it.

What Carly said…….

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. It’s ok to admit you don't know something or recognise that you need to improve at something. Of course we want to get it right first time, but we all make mistakes - we are all human.

As a mixed-race, working-class female navigating a career in law, I felt like an outsider from the outset. I looked and sounded different to other lawyers and I questioned myself constantly and was really uncertain about my ability to succeed. Despite experiencing mental health struggles, racism, discrimination, harassment and being doubted by others, I have overcome the obstacles and want to support others to do the same.

I spent lots of time sharing my journey into the legal professional and my own background with juniors and prospective lawyers and with local schools sharing how success is no longer about being from a certain background or needing to look a certain way to become a successful lawyer.

What Charlotte’s nominations said…….

Charlotte's advocacy and attentive ear make her a trusted sounding board for all who work with her.

I am amazed by Charlotte's ability to balance her workload, pursue an MBA, and maintain a packed social life! Despite her demanding schedule, she never complains and always arrives at work with a smile.

Charlotte's exceptional lawyering skills are surpassed only by her positive and joyful presence in the office, cherished by all who work alongside her.

What Charlotte said…….

Validation that a people-centric approach is valued and impactful, and that being authentic at work can reap rewards.

As lawyers underscore huge assets of the business, don’t leverage as much as we should. When we pause, reflect and listen, we can have a huge impact and value add.

Formalizing and giving structure to the “soft skills” that are central to everything we do at work.

O Shaped gives concrete structure around people and human skills and are critical to helping legal functions drive their organisations forward.

I am very aligned with the O for Open, especially with my direct reports who know just how much I care about them. “

Christine Baer

A

lack of confidence is often the one thing stopping people from achieving their goals.

I’ve

not taken the most traditional careerpath, so if I can inspire a few people to believe in themselves and take that leap, that’s the real achievement for me.

What Christine’s nominations said…….

Christine’s success in combining (without any backfill) her personal commitments, as single parent with a young family, with both a heavy workload and the demanding coursework for an academic qualification, together with her authentic personality and excellent interpersonal skills, have unsurprisingly established her as a wellrespected role model and supportive mentor for others, particularly high-aspiring early-career females in the sector and in the various network groups in which Christine operates.

Named ‘Apprentice of the Year’ at the University’s Apprenticeship Awards 2022 and also ‘Outstanding Support Staff Member of the Year’ in the Cambridgeshire Law Society 2022 Legal Excellence Awards

What Christine said…….

The O Shaped approach and the O List in particular is an unfortunately all-too-rare recognition of the vital and continuous, day-to-day personal effort that underpins team success.

I love the O for optimism. Positivity is infectious, and when you’re open, others are too.

When the O Shaped principles are applied, they create a really positive workplace culture of mutual respect, continuous learning, and adaptability – one with psychological safety at its core, where people feel valued and able to contribute.

What Effie’s nominations said…….

Her trajectory started a year ago, when she won the “best mentor” award for the Santander Breakthrough Women Business Leaders' Mentoring Programme. This programme supports the advancement of female entrepreneurship in the UK and aligns with two of Effie’s passions: championing women in the workplace and fostering innovation.

Effie stepped onto the legal conference circuit and chaired a talk on “Championing For Yourself” at the Women, Influence & Power in Law UK conference. Her focus on finding your passion and being your authentic self, struck a chord with many female attendees.

Effie established the Women in Law Constellation network to address a gap in networking and development opportunities for mid-level female legal professionals. To date, close to 100 women have signed up for this network - a truly remarkable number - and Effie has recently hosted the first in a series of well-attended guest speaker events, focussing on the theme of “emotions as data” and has spoken about the O Shaped.

What Effie said…….

The O List is the Legal Oscar because it really is my proudest accolade! It means I have found my tribe where the value and impact is “non-traditional”, and I feel like I have reached my aspirations of being able to be authentic at home and in the workplace.

We can’t work or operate in silos. We can’t succeed together without taking ownership. “Not my job” triggers me so much as I think it’s a really limited viewpoint. Taking ownership means really playing a fundamental part in being in a team. It also means you can ask others for help/feedback/advice as you try and carve your own way. It also gives a wonderful sense of pride.

Self-reflection is really important - once you can start to identify your core values, it’s easy to see how you can become more O Shaped.

“ ”

Whilst I really like being known as optimistic, the ‘O’ I value in myself and my team the most is Ownership because it’s one of my core values.

Emma Haywood

The O Shaped values are fundamentally about encouraging lawyers to not just show their humanity, but also treat it as a strength.

What Emma’s nominations said…….

Emma is passionate about creating an inclusive, innovative legal profession through mentoring, thought leadership and new ways of working.

She has built long-term mentoring relationships with 20 aspiring and junior lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds. Each of Emma’s mentees has benefited from her warm and authentic style, drawing on her personal experiences as a first-generation lawyer and working mother from an ethnic minority background.

Emma is committed to being a visible role model and inspiring others to change the legal profession for the better. Speaking at events such as Crafty Fest, Legal Geek and the Black Counsel Forum, she shares her ideas and experiences on a wider scale, with a focus on legal innovation, career progression, work-life balance and her passion topic, the four-day working week.

What Emma said…….

The O Shaped mindset has been really important in my career transition over the past 3 years. It all started with openness, which for me meant being transparent about my alternative working patterns in my private practice and in-house roles, in the hope of showing others that it’s possible to be a successful lawyer without dedicating all of your waking hours to work.

I started a newsletter called The 4 Day Lawyer and began writing and speaking publicly about my 4-day working week. The positive reaction inspired me to be bolder and eventually led me to set up Bloomworks Legal.

As a values-led lawyer, I’m thrilled to be recognised for how I operate, as opposed to what I do. Of course it’s important to me to do great work, be technically strong and keep my clients happy and being named on the O List tells me that I’m moving in the right direction and making a difference.

The O Shaped mindset is a great blueprint for achieving positive outcomes in a values-led way, which can only be a good thing for workplace culture.

What Emma’s nominations said…….

Emma led the hugely successful implementation of a suite of policies focused on retaining and supporting diverse talent.

She is a very commercial lawyer, interested in understanding and driving forward the big picture “why” as much as the legal intricacies of the contract.

She tutors disadvantaged students every year alongside The Access Project, the Social Mobility Foundation and Mentoring Works, helping at least three students get into Russell Group universities.

What Emma said…….

I’m keen to ensure the next generation of lawyers view emotional intelligence, adaptability and continuous learning as more important than face time at the office.

Hopefully as a group, the inaugural O Listers can pave the way to changing the legal profession for the better.

It’s all about being part of a community of inspirational individuals, each with a different background and a different approach, but all dedicated to making a difference.

I’m much more focused on the quality of output instead of the number of hours worked. I’m also not afraid to challenge the status quo and suggest better ways of working.

Block out time to think about each of the

‘O’ principles and how you can implement them

into your working week

George Grammer-Taylor

Optimism is at the heart and soul of everything I am, my team are and the clients that I work with currently in the Pro Bono sphere. “ ”

What

George’s nominations said…….

George had a huge number of nominations highlighting his enthusiasm, energy, optimistic, positive, supporting diversity and minorities, authentic, mentor.

“We can’t"

is not part of George’s vocabulary.

What George said…….

I am not just a lawyer, I’m George and I want to encompass all the wonderful attributes of me into my personal brand and encourage others to do the same. Being on the O List is incredibly heartwarming – it is my first professional recognition on a list, and what a list to be showcased on!

There are so many people in life who will seek to drag you down, make you feel small, not cherish you. But you need to remember in these times that you are a person, with your own dreams and ambitions – pursue those dreams and ambitions with a people first approach.

Use optimism to build relationships. I am genuinely the most silver lining kind of person you will meet – I think that’s where I have my USP and personal leadership style. Let’s make every day amazing and trust each other, communicate, and collaborate.

What Jeanette’s nominations said…….

Jeanette Burgess

Jeanette has always been willing to take an active leadership role in driving D&I forward.

Jeanette has also made it clear to everyone at the firm that not only is Diversity and Inclusion important, but how we all need to take ownership.

She has a very much open-door policy, offering her time to anyone regardless of who they are if they would like to discuss Diversity and Inclusion.

What Jeanette said…….

I am very focused on social mobility to help others to have the opportunities that I had so they too can follow their chosen career. It was only because of a great teacher that I was made aware of the possibilities. I was lucky. Others might not get that leadership from their school so I see it as my role to help people in that situation.

I have mentored and brought on a number of junior lawyers. That includes day one trainees who have gone on to success in this firm or others and I stay in touch and follow their careers closely. One of the things I make sure I share is that we all make mistakes – I still do now. It’s how you deal with it that matters - we can sort it out if it is shared.

We are part of a very demanding profession and although improving, the long hours culture remains a challenge. I try to ensure a fair balance across the team so that team members can share the hours and have the opportunity to take their down time.

I am an open person. The job is very demanding and being open and being yourself is the best way to be. “ ”

“

Joanna Hughes

I will continue to practice empathy to put myself in other people’s shoes and imagine how it’s like to see the world through their eyes.

What Joanna’s nominations said…….

Joanna has been an ambassador for the City Century which will create more than 100 year-one solicitor apprenticeships in London each year.

She has worked tirelessly, energetically and infectiously (in a good way!) to raise awareness among employers, potential apprentices, educators, the government and society in general, has created a community and persuaded organisations of all hues to share knowledge and information,

Her work has been groundbreaking and will bring real life-changing career opportunities to people, many of whom we expect to be from non-traditional backgrounds and for whom entrance to the solicitors’ profession is unachievable.

What Joanna

said…….

For the team I work with, we are definitely defined by the O of Opportunity – everything we do is about seizing opportunities and collaborating across networks. One of the Workstreams I am involved in is about creating networking opportunities for solicitor apprentices and I have been careful to connect all the different groups together.

‘People first’, is a strong driving force in my life. I recently completed a course at Cambridge University on Intercultural Communication for Business because I wanted to get better at communication as a way of putting people first. We did an International Preferences Indicator assessment to assess our styles and approaches to working internationally. I scored very low on some measurements, but my 93 out of 100 score on being ‘Attuned’ to people made me happy!

In my view, the most important O Shape Attributes are Emotional Intelligence, Trust and Confidence, Communication and Collaboration. If we could encourage one small practice of even one of these a day then I think the legal profession would be a happier place for many.

Karen has long been an advocate of breaking down silos and was a founder of Queen Mary’s SKETCH programme, where students work in interdisciplinary teams to create, develop and implement innovative ideas to make the legal profession better.

She encapsulated her ambitious plans to expand the opportunities for students and clients in a new mission statement - ‘to help the next generation of lawyers help the next generation of clients to create value in the world’.

The qLegal team use innovative educational techniques to train students on topics including ‘giving and receiving feedback’, ‘growth mindset and resilience’ ‘owning up and managing up’ and ‘reflective practice and lifelong learning’. This is in addition to skills-based practical training including ‘writing for the reader’, ‘collaboration and stakeholder management’ and ‘presenting with confidence’.

What Karen said…….

Within Queen Mary we are known for having a strong team. Staff, students and alumni talk about being part of the ‘qLegal family’. I think this is because we adopt a ‘humans first, lawyers second’ approach and put great stock on collaboration, emotional intelligence and continuous learning.

I see potential for in-house lawyers in particular to play a role in shifting ideas about what being a good lawyer means. The interests of in-house and private practice lawyers are not wholly aligned for structural reasons, but in their capacity as clients, in-house teams can influence the way law is delivered within and outside their organisations.

If people sign up to and embody the Os, it is hard to imagine how that could produce anything other than a positive workplace culture.

“

As a result of the O List, I know there are people on a similar wavelength to me. It strengthens my conviction that what I am doing is valuable and relevant.

”

Katie White

I am very optimistic – I’ve always been a glass half full person who wants to achieve the best results within the team. “ ”

What Katie’s nominations said…….

Katie is always full of smiles, positive energy and is bursting with enthusiasm. She is Optimistic and passionate about fundraisers and finding new ways we can better serve our communities, local businesses and make an impact for charities.

Throughout meetings, conversations in the kitchen and during social events Katie is always encouraging other colleagues to come up with Original ideas and supporting them with their marketing, shared experience or a friendly ear to bounce ideas off as to how to execute a successful fundraising initiative.

What Katie said…….

To be named on the O list at such a junior stage in my career is an honour. I’ve only been at the firm for a year and a half so to be recognised internally and externally for the work I’ve done alongside the community action group is something I am really proud of.

Working within an office that encourages an open, optimistic culture makes a big difference! It’s allowed future lawyers, like me, to get involved in large activities within the firm and provide feedback, which is taken onboard and acted upon, which makes everyone feel valued, to the benefit of the firm. The O Shaped principles will help everyone to feel that they can be their authentic self.

Kenny Robertson

What Kenny’s nominations said…….

Kenny has invested considerable time developing, embedding and documenting the culture he wants for his team. The culture focuses on three pillars: teamship, progressive mindset and performance. It is rare for a lawyer to consider culture and strategy, rarer still for one to take the time to embed and document them.

Kenny places a premium on fostering a psychologically safe team environment. He encourages regular feedback, coaching and transparency. Failures are not ignored but are acknowledges and discussed openly with team successes being shared on a weekly basis.

What Kenny said…….

Being recognised by judges I admire and respect felt like affirmation that what we’ve been doing is making a positive change. It was really nice to have external validation.

Trying to build something different to the norm in law and focus on culture and asking ourselves questions about what sort of team we want to be isn’t easy; it meant a lot to me that I’d been nominated and made the cut.

By focusing on our behaviours and culture, I’ve found colleagues to be far more energized and happier at work. Hearing people in the team tell me they no longer suffer from the Sunday night dread tells me we’re heading in the right direction!

I like to think I’ve helped create an environment where everyone is open toward better ways of doing things, no matter where we might have found the ideas. “

”

Laura West

Being open and honest will almost never be a bad thing and the more you share with others, the more you will get back. “

What Laura’s nominations said…….

Laura has created an inclusive workplace where every team member has a voice knowing their CEO and team will listen, which is a refreshing change from other firms and the team often comment on this, their feedback is listened to and ideas implemented.

By requesting feedback internally and externally, Laura continues to adapt where required to ensure continued high level service delivery.

Laura as CEO is approachable, personable and takes responsibility, she is a remarkable leader and ensures all her team feel part of Springbird and are invested in the success of the business and their CEO.

Through her vision, Laura has allowed others to see there are better ways of doing things, moving away from archaic legal mindsets to create a modern firm with a proactive approach which itself creates positivity.

The team are all optimistic for the future of Springbird under the lead of their Founder and CEO.

What Laura said…….

I always ask my team how they are, what they are struggling with and where they want to be, professionally. This makes each team member feel they work for someone who cares about them above and beyond the bottom line and is there to help them achieve their career aspirations.

Many of my team had lost faith in the profession and were considering leaving it. I feel like I have created roles to suit each individual and an environment where they can thrive, feel valued and engage with each other and with clients in an open and authentic way.

Operating based on trust and openness to change and new ideas will mean building a loyal team committed to enhancing client experience. Allowing everyone in the team to contribute solutions and be involved in creating original ideas will only help the business as a whole succeed.

What Leila’s nominations said…….

She's super open and genuine, she's resolutely optimistic, and she's generally a massive boost to the morale when she's in the room.

She's building a community focused on the legal industry and helping people to thrive. It's absolutely typical of her that jumping into a project of her own is focused on other people.

I believe that we all have some or all of the O values in us. I would say, do more of what comes naturally. “ ”

I've literally heard her say "other people's success is my only success"

What Leila said…….

I believe that the O made me develop and discover other skills. For example, I was quite confident of my legal related skills but I never thought I was a creative person and am delighted about being recognised in this way.

Embracing O Shaped principles can only lead to a safer work environment. If people are welcomed with openness, their originality is celebrated.

Lucie Allen

“ ”

I have always been a problem solver and been driven to stand out and offer something different.

What Lucie’s nominations said…….

She has put in place coaching and mentoring and a set of company core values to support team member success.

Lucie is a passionate believer in improving legal education for the industry and goes above and beyond to inspire others around her to do the same.

She has endless positivity and is a problem-solver with a can-do approach.

What Lucie said…….

Being part of the inaugural O List helps raise awareness of all the work happening across the profession with a key focus on the importance of people.

As legal educators, we have a significant role to play in ensuring our students are prepared to thrive as they step into or continue their careers.

The forces at play mean change in the legal industry is real. The changing route to qualification through the SQE, the advancement of AI, talent, culture and remote working are all examples of real challenge and opportunity.

Focus on people and the value they bring highlights the investment and attention required. Well-equipped and prepared people will help us navigate the change that is yet to come.

What Paula’s nominations said…….

Through her Lawyers Career Mastermind coaching course, Paula creates opportunities for lawyers to thrive and stand out in their careers in many different ways.

Paula is an incredible support who, I feel, genuinely helps lawyers to grow, evolve and be a better version of themselves at work.

What Paula said…….

I was so pumped to win because when you're self-employed, you very often find yourself working on my own with my clients so it's easy to sometimes feel a little bit disconnected from what other people are doing, and so to be included in such an amazing list was incredibly humbling.

It was also very gratifying because my purpose in life is to help people to find the satisfaction in their own lives. We're only here for a limited amount of time so let's not waste any of it being unhappy and dissatisfied.

The O means to me sharing my own story and being honest about the struggles that I have gone through and the solutions that I've found, because then my clients realise that they are dealing with a human being. They're dealing with somebody that they, too, can be honest about.

They don't have to put up a front – that’s very powerful and very O Shaped.

I encourage my clients to recognise and overcome the limiting beliefs they have about what is possible in their professional lives. “ ”

Sarah Clark

Vulnerability and courage are the heart of O Shaped for me - the courage to be yourself and being prepared to do something differently.

What Sarah’s nominations said…….

Not only is Sarah an incredible leader, she goes above and beyond to support others. Sarah embodies the principals of O shaped like no other. I am so honoured to have worked very closely with Sarah, her drive, determination and passion for subjects close to her heart are infectious.

Her willingness to support others success through wise guidance, shared experiences and giving up her precious time has been valuable to many. She is a key voice across our organisation, armed with a sense of humour she is an amazing line manager, and an inspiration to all she meets.

What

Sarah said…….

I think O Shaped is helping to give people permission to show up in an authentic way. It takes work from being performative – from showing up and putting on a performance at work in in a way that you feel that you should – to showing up as your true self.

O Shaped is something I believe incredibly passionately in and it it's good to have it reflected back at you that you are that you are living and demonstrating those values that you believe in.

And not only does that make people happier, I think it makes people able to deliver their best work and be consistently in a good place with mental health at work.

What Scott’s nominations said…….

Scott is a true supporter of his team. He has created a very generous parental leave policy and the Lessons I Learned in Law podcast, which creates a platform for lawyers to share their experiences.

He is the most supportive boss, friend, ally that I have ever worked with.

He inspires me every day to create new opportunities for the legal community to come together. He supports me when I'm overwhelmed and celebrates me when I achieve something. He works hard to create the best work environment I've ever had.

Truly, the best boss but more importantly, a reliable ear to the legal community.

What Scott said…….

As a recruiter, we have noticed a significant shift in the “Push and Pull” factors that repel and attract legal talent in recent years. Most candidates (particularly at the Junior to Mid-Level) rank career fulfilment and a sense of purpose far higher than compensation and linear career progression.

O Shaped cultivates an inclusive and supportive environment, for people to be their best self when executing this work.

Where Legal Teams implement the O Shaped approach it will elevate its position within an organisation. In-House Legal teams can be hamstrung by a company culture and set of values, but lawyers can play a huge part in shifting culture by adopting and showcasing their own valued behaviours.

It’s a real privilege to be on the list – but it also comes with a real responsibility

What Tom’s nominations said…….

He has revolutionised thinking and process around the importance of social mobility. Driven by a relentless focus on ‘fairness’ and unwavering bravery, Tom’s approach has led to Browne Jacobson changing their entire recruitment philosophy. The firm now recruits using a ‘Contextual’ approach, ensuring every candidate is assessed for their potential, not their polish.

Tom is the creator of the multi-award winning high impact social mobility programme called FAIRE (Fairer Access Into Real Experience), the sole aim of which is to get more people from underrepresented backgrounds into the legal sector and increase diverse representation.

Tom’s work has inspired people from all backgrounds to realise they can be a highly valued part of the legal profession. The firm’s clients have followed Tom’s original approach, and many want to partner with the firm to enact change in their own organisations.

What Tom said…….

I’ve come to realise the power of having an optimistic perspective and a courageous approach to everything I do – that doesn’t mean I’m not realistic or reckless – but it means I’m not fearful of failure or having an original idea that people might not initially like.

The ‘new’ generation of lawyers will bring a fresh approach to the profession, and I think they’ll benefit hugely from taking an O Shaped approach. I also think the older generation of lawyer who, for years, have been told to do things the ‘traditional way’ will be positively impacted by the O Shaped approach – they may rediscover the joy in really being your authentic self in the workplace.

A positive workplace is one where you can be open and confident of sharing your ideas, feelings and fears and being supported with these. An initiative like O shaped encourages all of this.

What Xavier’s nominations said…….

He makes us better people and more effective colleagues, driving real impact seen in increased employee engagement, the development of more inclusive policies, and social media advocacy on company milestones.

He is an amazing legal eagle but an even better person. He takes the time to listen and share his honest thoughts.

His ‘good intentions’ mantra comes through in how he approaches his work, which has a positive and constructive impact on even the toughest of topics.

What

Xavier said…….

You owe it to yourself, teams and business, and the wider legal profession to want to be / try to do things in a better way that adds more value than just trying to follow the status quo.

I always find that people are hungry for lawyers to be more rounded and embody the O Shaped Mindset.

Response from the business is one of the most positive and rewarding aspects. It also often creates a domino effect within the business.

Xavier Langlois

I always encourage my team to embrace the ‘O’ mindset and push themselves out of their comfort zones as I believe that there is always an opportunity to improve “ ”