Name: Fiona Bolton                                                       
Female
Partner
Top City of London Firm

My name is Fiona Bolton.  I was born in 1977 and I am 31 years old as at January 2009.  I have been a solicitor since 2000.

I read law at Nottingham University and graduated with a 2:1 in 1997.  I did my Legal Practice Course (LPC) at Nottingham School of Law and in 1998 joined Herbert Smith as a    t rainee   s olicitor.  After my admission as a Solicitor in 2000, I remained with Herbert Smith, eventually becoming a senior associate within its Employment Team. I became a partner at Eversheds in 2008 and undertake a full range of contentious, non-contentious and transactional employment work.

I have particular experience in acting for clients in High Court claims in relation to restrictive covenants and team moves, and in high value employment tribunal claims, such as whistle-blowing and discrimination claims. I have also acted for clients in multi-jurisdictional litigation matters. In addition, I advise on non-contentious matters, including employment contracts and bonus arrangements, executive terminations, internal grievances and investigations, complex TUPE issues, individual and collective redundancies and employment issues arising in insolvency situations.

There is no such thing as a typical day or even a typical week: one day I might be in the Employment Tribunal defending a discrimination claim, the next advising in relation to the termination of a senior executive's employment and the next advising on the employment aspects of a complex corporate transaction!

I am listed as a leading individual in employment law in the Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession. I have   written articles on a range of employment law issues, including, most recently, on bonuses in the financial services sector and cross-border restrictive covenant issues.

My advice to those thinking of training as solicitors and for junior solicitors is: 

·         Make every effort to excel at what you do.

·         Be positive and interested in every task you are given, no matter how big or small. Think around the task and see where you can add extra value.

·         Demonstrate initiative and the willingness to help others.    

·         Always consider how you can give the best service to your client.

·         Build up your personal brand and network.

I would advise those seeking a training contract, and who have not been able to do relevant legal work experience during their vacations, to really think about the experience that they have gained in other jobs/voluntary work which might help them in working at a law firm. They should also make sure that they highlight the ways in which the experience they have gained is relevant.