“This event, completely different in my view…It’s therapy for senior lawyers”

⏬ SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO ⏬

Ah cheers Zak! (Daliri General Counsel Corsearch)

‘“It’s been said before that it’s like group therapy and I thought - no it can’t be - but actually I think everyone took something out of the session and felt that they really benefitted, and that for me is super valuable.’”

Elizabeth Thompson General Counsel Fortnum & Mason

Comments like this, can only mean there’s been another Workgroup Legal!

‘We’ve all selected the topics that we’re into and it just gives us an opportunity to really deep dive into that topic’

Selina Chan Senior Legal Counsel Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company

All our events are special (obvs) but this one in particular was extra special for two reasons.

Firstly and most importantly, it is our inaugural Birmingham event! 🎉

We started in London but swiftly realised that we and everyone else was missing a trick. Apparently people actually work OUTSIDE of London! Who knew?!

So we took our secret sauce for events by GCs for GCs on the (terrible) English roads. We started in Manchester to cover our NW peeps, expanded to Leeds for Yorkshire and NE colleagues and now last but certainly not least, we have brought all the lovely goodness of Workgroup Legal to Birmingham for our Midlands based GCs.

“It’s great to have this event in Birmingham … it’s great to meet with people who are based in a similar location because you tend to have similar interests and similar issues”
Kirin Kalsi General Counsel, Compliance Officer & DPO E.on

Aside from the personal connection that you can make with someone who lives in your area, who went to the same school as you, who may know some of the same people as you; being local means that the event fits into your life, not the other way around.

Living near Sheffield meant that a London 1-day conference for me was a minimum of 2 days away from home, often 3, with trains, hotels and eugh; the sweat box that is the underground. 🚆 This isn’t good enough! Why should those of us who chose not to live in London, have to choose between our professional development and our personal life?

Inviting GCs to an event, and being able to tell them that it’s on their doorstep and they can be home in time to put their kids to bed or to go out to their fitness class or to the local pub quiz is just one more reason I love these events – you’re not just lawyers; you’re people with lives and families 🫶 and here at Workgroup, we love being a part of that.

“The quality of conversations has been superb lots of people in very similar situations to myself leading legal functions with lean resources, short of time and it’s great to compare notes.”
Nim Cassidy General Counsel Stark UK

Secondly, this event was super special for me as it was my first event since starting here in the summer 🎉

As a former sole in-house counsel, part of the reason I left, was because it was the loneliest job I’d ever done. I could go days without having a meaningful conversation with anyone. It was all transactional calls and people wanting something from me. As soon as they got it or the promise that I would look into it, they were gone. 

And this is another reason why I love the workgroup format so much – it’s creating a community and having the connection time to make you realise that you are not alone, however much it might feel that way sometimes.

Take away the suits, the boardroom tables and the discussions on complex points of law and in its place put jeans, cakes and discussions on making life work for you, and you have Workgroup Legal.

The atmosphere was friendly and informal and, whilst there was plenty of serious discussion on important topics, the organisers also managed to make it fun.’

Kate Cooper, General Counsel, The MTC

🥰 We try our best Kate!

Massive thanks to our Sponsors BCL Legal, DWF, Mills & Reeve and Pinsent Masons for making this possible.

Our GC calendar for the rest of the year includes Leeds (10th October), and finally London (14th November), so save the dates! We’ll also be back in the Midlands in March 2025 so if you fancy running your own workgroup, then drop me an email!

Before I leave you to watch the highlights video below, one final testimony for you!

“It was excellent. You’d curated a really interesting and diverse group of people, but all of whom were open and willing to share, while also being curious and willing to learn. The vibe was spot on! All of the sessions I attended were engaging and lead to great discussions, as well as side discussions which followed into the breaks.”
Sam McGinty General Counsel & Director of Legal Services Loughborough University

THE HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO 👇

Thank you to Zak, Selina, Kirin, Nim and Elizabeth!

Cheers!