Flora McLean - Partner
You were doing very well at another Magic Circle firm before you came here. What made you take the leap?
For the work I specialise in, I was slightly falling between two different practice areas. It’s just the way my old firm was organised. But I’d done some work with Freshfields lawyers on the other side of the deal and I’d always said that it would be the only other place I’d consider going to. I like the culture, the people enjoy their work, they’re professional. Plus there’s no cult of the individual, even at this level. And that’s refreshing.
There’s an idea that it’s harder to become a partner if you’re a woman. What’s the secret of your success?
I work hard and I enjoy what I do. Contrary to what people might think, gender is genuinely an irrelevance here. I love being able to say that. If you’re capable and you’re ambitious, you can go all the way. It’s really that simple.
But juggling kids and a partner’s workload can’t be all that easy.
You’d be surprised. Having a life outside the office is really valued here, so I get a lot of support. I just knew I’d be a better mother if I was working. This is what I enjoy doing, so it was important for me as a parent and as a partner to make it work. Things these days are getting more flexible because of technology and concerns about work/life balance so that helps too. Because I do transactional work, I need to be flexible but I can easily carry on in the evenings. I go home, spend some time with my daughters, put them to bed and if there’s work to do, I can get on and do it. My clients know the situation and they know I can deliver so they’re happy.
Flora McLean
Partner
PPE at St Hilda’s College, Oxford
Joined 2000