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

I am a founding partner of Patron Capital Advisers, established in 1999, a private equity real estate fund focused on opportunistic real estate investments across Europe. As a founding partner, I have been an integral part of helping build Patron from a three-person start-up into a leading European real estate investment manager. Patron has over €5.5bn under management, with continued growth over the years and finally culminating in the sale of 70% stake in our business to Mitsubishi Estate in November 2025. This sale is an extraordinary achievement for our existing partners, who helped build the business over 28 years, and also for our new partners at Mitsubishi Estate who will bring a new dimension. A balancing act between the interests of founders, investors, management and employees whilst preserving culture, relationships and long-term strategic objectives peppered with a lot of emotion.

I am also a founding director and Investment Committee member of Women in Safe Homes, the first gender-lens property fund focused on providing quality homes for women experiencing domestic abuse. We have just published our social impact report, which I describe further below, which shows great improvement over the last twelve months. A great achievement by all involved where we had to balance investment performance with measurable social outcomes while promoting the marriage of private equity and social impact to an audience that does not always see them as natural partners. I have thoroughly embraced the challenge.

Please provide a brief description of any internal transformation/development projects within your legal team over the last twelve months.

One of the most creative developments we have made – benefitting Patron as well as the law firm involved – is an arrangement with a UK law firm whereby they hired one of the threesenior Patron lawyers referred to above as a partner. We have a retainer with the firm and the individual who has moved is the key person for that arrangement. All the knowledge he gained after working at Patron for 13 years is not lost and is used to our benefit. As the relationship is led by an ex-Patron senior in house lawyer who knows our business, and now knows the law firm, it is a win-win situation. We have reduced our overhead cost without losing expertise; the law firm has a privileged relationship with Patron, which promotes internal cross selling.

The role of the GC has evolved significantly into that of a strategic business partner. How do you balance commercial objectives with legal risk?

I agree that the role of the GC is becoming more and more significant. I believe that the rise of AI (which, for the moment, is creating more work and increased cost until it’s used appropriately, efficiently and for the right purpose with proper oversight) has increased the need for a wise, experienced, business minded GC. What is becoming apparent, in an age of sophisticated and rapidly growing technology, is the requirement for wise humans and that is where the GC comes in. To quote a famous French philosopher – Montaigne – “you can gain knowledge from a knowledgeable person, but you can’t gain wisdom from a wise person”. Wisdom will be an extremely sought after commodity.

Have you had any particularly unique or defining experiences during your legal career? What has been your biggest career challenge or highlight?

I am extremely proud of the fact that I was able to play a pivotal role in the growth of Patron over 28 years. It was full of challenges, not just from a business perspective, but also as a woman in a very male dominated industry. However, I think the biggest achievement and possibly the hardest thing I have done has been my role in Women in Safe Homes. We did it differently by structuring it as a joint venture between a social impact fund and a private equity fund (Patron). Not an obvious match but ultimately, with the right consideration, it has been very powerful. It has helped many women and children feel safe in quality homes with the right support service around them throughout the country. Since launch, more than 700 women and children have been housed and supported through the fund’s homes. During the reporting year alone, 231 women and 208 children were supported in the fund’s properties – a 32% increase on the previous year.

The report highlights the difference a safe, secure home can make. Of the women who completed the tenant survey: 93% felt safe living in their home; 93% said their home was suitable for their needs; 95% said their home helped them access the support they needed; 93% said their home was suitable for their children’s needs; and 94% said their home helped their child access the support they needed.

Beyond your legal role, is there a cause or initiative you are especially passionate about?

I am passionate about supporting women in the finance industry. I am an active mentor, speaker and panellist for GAIN (Girls Are Investors), supporting women pursuing careers in finance. I am a supporter of Young Enterprise initiatives, focused on education and career development, and an adviser and volunteer supporting vulnerable children and adults through equine therapy initiatives.