Team size: 4

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

The past year has presented several opportunities for my team and I to provide expertise and partnership to the business as we navigate the significant increase in regulatory compliance facing the retail sector. As an in-house legal function, we have played a crucial role in supporting compliance with regulatory obligations by providing guidance on legal requirements and supporting with the development and implementation of compliance policies including in relation to the European Accessibility Act (EAA), The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). At Brown Thomas Arnotts, we strive for a sustainable future for our people, customers and communities. Amongst our core business values is ‘Doing the Right Thing’, meaning that we place sustainability, accessibility and safety at the heart of everything we do. Our hope is to create retail environments that are conscious, considerate and community focused. My team and I have worked closely with internal stakeholders and project teams to understand the requirements of the various regulations, assess applicability, and mitigate any legal risks. As part of my role, I also sit on the Executive Leadership Team of the business and on the Risk Management Committee, which supports in keeping regulatory compliance front of mind for the business.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

We completed the sale of Brown Thomas Arnotts to Central Group and Signa Holdings (whose 40% shareholding was acquired in 2024 by The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia) in August 2022. This was a very significant transaction that created substantial benefits across all aspects of the organisation. The project was incredibly interesting from a legal perspective and has been a tremendous success for the business. The completion of the transaction added Brown Thomas Arnotts to a large portfolio of luxury department stores owned by Central Group.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

In my experience over the past ten years with Brown Thomas Arnotts, in order to thrive and support our business, modern in-house counsel require a blend of strong legal expertise, business acumen, and soft skills. Excellent communication skills, in particular, are key in our constantly evolving legal and business landscape. At Brown Thomas Arnotts, we have a small legal team of capable and driven lawyers who are all excellent communicators. Our effective communication skills improve and enhance our relationships with our internal stakeholders across all departments and support us in ensuring that our legal team remains closely aligned with the overall strategy of our business. Our legal team are considered as an important business partner at Brown Thomas Arnotts, not merely a support function.