An interview with Debbie Reynolds

Why did you join TLT and what sets the firm apart from other law firms?

I joined TLT in September 2016, with the intention of establishing a Planning presence for TLT in Manchester and the wider North West region, adding to the Real Estate offering that had already been built and with a particular focus on servicing work emanating from Local Government.  Many of my colleagues from my trainee and qualification days at Cobbetts had already made the move to TLT before me, and it was very clear that TLT was a perfect fit for my work and social values; a business made up of excellent lawyers, delivering a first-class client service in a genuinely collegiate, approachable and down-to-earth environment.  For me, TLT presented an opportunity to really challenge myself professionally – I was faced with having to develop my workload and client base from pretty much a standing start, utilising my contacts and Public Sector experience to build my practice from the ground up.  I’ve loved the challenge and feel genuinely proud of what has been achieved over my 7 years (and counting!) with TLT.

How has your practice area changed in the last ten years?

I specialise in compulsory purchase promotion and complex compensation, and my time here has allowed me to not only hone my technical knowledge but also to create a niche client offering in this area, in Manchester and for TLT nationally.  This has opened the door to a lot of Public Sector client opportunities and now the Real Estate team in Manchester has gone from limited involvement in this sector to having an established, full-service Real Estate offering, particularly to Local Government clients.  On a wider note, gone are the days of people not really knowing who TLT are in the region – we’re well-known and it’s for all of the right reasons.

Could you share your proudest achievements so far?

From being a trainee onwards, whenever I’ve been asked the question “where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?” my answer has always been that I wanted to be known for being excellent at what I do. On that basis, I think that repeat direct awards of work and the feedback from clients as part of the legal directories each year has cumulatively been my proudest achievement.  My favourite client comment is “down to earth, approachable and deeply talented.”  Earlier this year, I was also voted one of the top 10 most influential planning lawyers in the North West by Business Today Magazine – that was quite nice!

What does the move to Eden mean to you, and do you think it is indicative of wider trends shaping Manchester’s real estate market?

The move to Eden is really exciting to me.  Not only is it a stunning building to look at, with the largest living wall in Europe, but it really demonstrates TLT’s commitment to being a sustainable business with the most sustainable building in Manchester.  It’s key that the built environment reflects a responsible attitude from businesses to the protection of our natural environment and the improved wellbeing of staff – that surely has to be the trend and expectation for all businesses going forward.  Working primarily with Public Sector clients and in the world of Planning & Environment, these important themes have a synergy with the work that I do every day, and I think that the move to Eden will be instrumental in TLT continuing to attract and retain exceptional talent.  On a very personal note, I was actually involved in drafting the original Section 106 agreement for the wider New Bailey site on behalf of Salford City Council (probably about 13 years ago now), so moving there has a very satisfying symmetry to it!