Interview with Legal Director Rebekah Finch

What attracted you to TLT in Birmingham?

 For me, TLT had the perfect mix of opportunities that I was looking for at both a professional and personal level. I joined TLT when I was still on maternity leave and so TLT World, the firm’s flexible approach to work, and the family policies confirmed it was a firm with values that matched mine. It was also somewhere I knew I would feel supported to progress my career as a working mum. With TLT’s triple win of Law Firm of the Year and the opening of the new office in Birmingham, it felt like an exciting time to join a well-established national law firm as it develops in a new city. 

What are your highlights from the past 12 months?

It has been fantastic to be a part of TLT Birmingham since the start, watching the office grow and meeting and collaborating with new colleagues who all share the same ambition of making TLT Birmingham a success. It’s been great to see how the office has already expanded to cater for how quickly we are growing and how everyone really comes together to celebrate successes, attend and organise various events and get involved in lots of different initiatives.

A personal highlight for me has been joining the Women’s Equality Network committee as the Birmingham lead, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this role as it aligns with my own values and it continues to be a great opportunity to work with others across the firm. 

What legal trends have you identified in Birmingham relating to the litigation market? 

In the local and wider litigation market, I have seen an increased focus on Alternative Dispute Resolution, including arbitration.

The impact of tech on processes is another trend that continues to grow as we move on from the Covid pandemic. Electronic processes continue to develop, the quality of remote hearings continue to improve as well as the integration of tech into disclosure.

Clients also ask about everything AI! Particularly for us, it’s been interesting learning how AI might impact the work of litigators, the court processes and how this may benefit our clients. 

Where is your favourite place in Birmingham? 

This is such a hard question to answer as I could name a few, but generally, the city centre which feels so much newer and refreshed than it did five to ten years ago. There are new buildings, offices and restaurants regularly popping up. Outside our office at Chamberlain Square is lovely, a place to sit outside and eat lunch on a nice sunny day and there is always a buzz / something going on in the square, such as events related to the Olympics, or brass bands playing, as an example. Between our office and all along on to Colmore Row there are various bars, restaurants and more casual food and drink stops for whatever you fancy that day. Dishoom opposite the office is a firm favourite food spot and you may also regularly see TLT employees queuing up for the falafel van in Pigeon Park.