An interview with Legal Director Leanne Fryer

Since opening our doors in Birmingham three years ago, we have continued to grow our team and presence across the Midlands region. Following our recent move into our new office at One Centenery Way, we reflect on our journey so far.

In this interview, we speak to Leanne Fryer, a Legal Director in our Corporate team.

What has been the most rewarding part of seeing the Birmingham team grow?

I joined the Birmingham office when there were only a handful of us on the ground, so it’s been hugely rewarding to see how quickly the team has grown and developed. There’s always been a real sense that everyone has a vested interest in each other’s success and will share opportunities and help each other grow their practices. I think that collaborative approach has been a big part of our growth and our ability to attract really high-quality people, which in turn means we can offer an increasingly broad, top-quality service to our clients.

What do you enjoy most about being part of Birmingham’s corporate and professional services community?

Birmingham has a really open, friendly and entrepreneurial professional community, which I think is one of its real strengths. There’s a genuine desire amongst advisers to create opportunities in the region and deliver great outcomes for Midlands businesses and investors. For me, that also means you can build really meaningful relationships with other advisers over time, getting to understand how they work, what they’re trying to achieve and how we can support each other along the way. It makes doing business here genuinely enjoyable.

How has the corporate market in Birmingham and the wider Midlands evolved during your time at TLT?

Over the last few years, businesses and dealmakers have had to navigate a lot of wider economic and geopolitical uncertainty, but what has really stood out to me is the resilience and ambition of the Midlands market. There continue to be good businesses looking to grow, invest, raise capital or pursue opportunities, even when conditions are more challenging. TLT’s own growth in Birmingham reflects that confidence. As a firm and as a Birmingham office, we are committed to the region and we will continue to invest and grow our team in this region because we see a huge amount of opportunity here.

What excites you most about the next chapter for TLT Birmingham?

For me, it’s about building on the foundations we already have. We’ve grown rapidly, but there is still so much opportunity to deepen our relationships with clients and contacts and to bring more of TLT’s wider expertise to support them. I’m particularly excited about continuing to grow our teams, sharing opportunities across different practice areas and being able to support clients through more of the challenges and opportunities they encounter as their businesses evolve.

What advice would you give someone joining TLT Birmingham today?

Be open to opportunities and get involved. Since joining TLT, some of the most rewarding experiences have come from looking beyond my immediate day job, building relationships across the firm and with clients and contacts, and playing a part in the growth of the Birmingham team. My advice would be to get to know people, be curious about what they do and don’t be afraid to put your hand up. There are lots of opportunities to make your mark.