There are still times when I look back and can’t quite believe how far I’ve come. It’s been quite a journey and I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved and what we’ve achieved as a business.
I’m a local lad and my story starts at Trinity School in Carlisle. I studied A-Levels in Ancient History, English Literature and French but I always knew I wanted to be a solicitor. So, I went to Leeds Metropolitan University – now Leeds Beckett – and spent four years studying Law, first as an undergraduate LLB degree from 1990 – 1993 and latterly, after a final year taking my Post Graduate Diploma in legal Studies, graduating for a second time in 1994.
From there, I needed a training contract and was always happy to come home to Cumbria. I trained with a local firm in their Carlisle and Newcastle offices and qualified as a solicitor in 1996. But it was in 2000 when my career really took off.
When three partners left the firm to form Bell Park Kerridge in 2000, they asked me to join them and I was delighted to do so. And I’ve never looked back since.
The opportunities I was given have moved my career onto another level and here I am today as a Director of BPK. I’m still proud every time I say that and grateful to everyone who has supported me and who gave me the chance to develop my career as I have done.
In my career, which reaches its 30th year as a qualified solicitor in 2024, I’ve covered all aspects of property and private client work, acting for individuals businesses and institutional clients. Most recently, I’ve focused on development, commercial sales and purchases, commercial leases acting for landlords and tenants and high value/complex residential property.
Having joined BPK as a relatively newly-qualified solicitor, I’ve worked my through to my current role where I’m one of two Directors along with James. It enables me to balance running the business but also still to do what I love – working with clients and helping them solve their problems.
It’s the best of both worlds and now I also get the chance to help other colleagues develop their careers too. We’ve seen lots of people successfully progress with us and I still get a buzz from thinking about how much more opportunity there is for everyone – those already working with us and those who’ll join us.
And living in Carlisle also allows me to pursue my other favourite things – golf, fell walking and my love of music. You’ll find me in Carlisle’s Vinyl Café most weekends and I’m only happy if I’ve got tickets for my next gig booked.
