Who we are

Sameera Khan is an investment funds lawyer and social entrepreneur in the making, who has found that working in a different way has reignited her career motivation and satisfaction.

Having spent years musing over an idea for a hub for local creativity, skills sharing and tea and cake with a twist in her native Brighton, Sameera was looking to be able to continue to enjoy quality legal work, whilst having time to explore and develop her business idea and spend more time by the sea with friends and family.

Previously the sole legal advisor to the commodity-focused Armajaro group of companies, Sameera has been on assignments through LOD at Coutts & Co, Lloyds and Colt.

Sameera says:

LOD offers the best of both worlds. It allows individuals to continue to have a dynamic legal career, with the flexibility and freedom to focus on interests outside law.

...or, more simply:

You can have your cake and eat it!

Before LOD:

Sole legal advisor at Armajaro Holdings

Outside LOD:

Wannabe social innovator and Brighton beach regular

Jon Esson is a senior commercial lawyer. Working through LOD has given him exposure to a broad range of clients and industries, as well as affording him the time to develop a new business and enjoy regular downtime with his family.

Jon found himself looking fondly back at his in-house experience (at DaimlerChrysler) upon his return to private practice, particularly missing the close commercial involvement he’d enjoyed as well as the greater degree of flexibility and work/life balance. When he heard about LOD from a work colleague, Jon was at the stage where he wanted to be able to commit time to both his involvement in an internet start-up and to his children (who were then aged just 5 and 3).

Jon has completed LOD assignments at Volkswagen Group UK, Tata Steel UK, Colt and BSkyB.

Jon says:

The concept of having greater control over the hours you work and the kind of work you get involved in really appealed, as did the prospect of having periods between roles to do other things. I also liked the idea of working for new clients every six months or so and the variety of experience that would inevitably give me.

Of his LOD experience so far, Jon enthuses:

It’s a little like discovering that you’ve been walking around with your hands tied together for the last few years. It’s beyond what I expected and possibly even what I hoped for. The best bit of LOD is the freedom. Without a doubt.

Before LOD:

Pinsent Masons, DaimlerChrysler UK, Fennemores, Oury Clark

Outside LOD:

Internet entrepreneur and paddling pool supervisor

LOD provides a sense of balance for commercial and projects lawyer and professional yoga teacher Rachael Waring.

Rachael was seeking a more flexible alternative to the usual structure of traditional legal employment. She wanted to continue to develop her legal career without having to give up her other interests, including teaching yoga and travelling. When a friend heard about LOD via the BLP website, she immediately got in touch to find out more.

Rachael says:

I couldn’t really believe that LOD existed as it sounded so perfect for me! I enjoy the mental stimulation I get from working as a lawyer and didn’t want to give that up, but I wanted to be able to have a better work-life balance. It sounded like LOD would offer the flexibility that would allow me to keep both my mind and soul satisfied!

Having spent several years in-house at EC Harris, a major international Built Asset Consultancy, Rachael is currently on assignment through LOD at BLP’s Projects team in London. She confirms:

I am much happier. Knowing that I am continuing to develop my legal career without sacrificing the lifestyle I want is great. The legal profession has been crying out for something like this - it’s a fantastic scheme and hopefully will mean that less people will feel they need to leave what is traditionally a very inflexible profession in order to achieve the lifestyle they want.

Before LOD:

In-house counsel at EC Harris LLP; Eversheds

Outside LOD:

Travelling yogi and passionate conservationist

Estelle Unsworth is a senior corporate lawyer who enjoys the combination of flexibility and great work that being an LOD lawyer brings her.

Having spent several years leading complex international M&A transactions and gaining extensive corporate advisory experience, Estelle wanted to continue in a career that she had always found stimulating and enjoyable whilst being able to have the flexibility to take time off between assignments to spend more time with her children. After a stint at Lexis Nexis Butterworths delivering practice notes on various aspects of company law, she heard about LOD and decided to take a closer look.

Estelle is currently on assignment through LOD at BLP, working on multiple corporate projects. She enjoys the variety and academic challenges of her work.

Estelle thinks the best bit is:

getting to a stage in a transaction where you understand all the complicated aspects, can think around the issues and can go back to the client with advice that really adds value to their business.

Estelle enjoys the backing she gets by working through LOD, enthusing:

I have the same support as to knowledge management and resources as any regular fee earner in private practice would.

Before LOD:

Senior corporate associate at Bryan Cave LLP; freelance legal author at Lexis Nexis Butterworths

Outside LOD:

Enjoying flexible family time

Simon is a commercial lawyer with more than 15 years' experience in City law firms. After eight years as an equity partner at BLP, during which he led the firm's work in the TMT sector, he stepped down from the partnership in 2012 to focus on leading LOD. Always a fan of creative legal solutions, he co-founded LOD after thinking of the idea whilst sitting on a beach.

Outside LOD:

Simon likes listening to music, eating cheese and exploring cities (sometimes all at once).

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After qualifying as a solicitor Jonathan saw the light pretty quickly and decided to become a recruiter. He co-founded ZMB which became the UK's leading independent legal recruitment consultancy before its sale to Hays 10 years ago.

Outside LOD:

Jonathan cut his teeth early in the tricky field of people management as a professional children’s party entertainer throughout his student years. He also specialises in emotional stress management (married to an artist, 3 children, 1 dog).

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Carly joined LOD in 2008. With her previous experience in both legal practice and recruitment, she brings a special skill set to the LOD team and is involved in all aspects of the LOD business.

Outside LOD:

Carly loves spending time at the family farmhouse in France attempting to recreate the gastronomic delights of almost any cuisine. In the right season you will find her continuing her search for the elusive black truffle!

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Gemma brings a unique viewpoint to the LOD HQ team, having worked for six years as an associate in BLP's commercial practice before becoming one of the first LOD lawyers to work in private practice and then joining the HQ team in early 2012. She runs LOD's client care programme and hasn't altogether given up life as a lawyer as she is also LOD's in-house counsel.

Outside LOD:

Often seen jogging round Hampstead Heath, Gemma is also a massive fan of mountains (walking up them and skiing down them).

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Of an unwaveringly cheerful disposition, Nadia provides wide ranging assistance, advice and support to our team of freelance lawyers.

Outside LOD:

When she’s not gift-wrapping to a semi-professional standard, Nadia can usually be found inhaling the fresh sea air of the south coast on rollerblades.

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Robin stepped away from his career in recruitment in 2012 in order to join LOD. He assists with the addition of lawyers to the LOD team, as well as their placement on client assignments.

Outside LOD:

Robin likes nothing more than following the highs - and all too regular lows - of Southampton FC. Football and his love of music dominate the majority of his non-working life.

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Stationery addict Emily keeps the LOD team shipshape. Other than obsessively organising, she looks after the new lawyer application process from new enquiries through to arranging interviews. If there's anything you (or we) need doing quickly and brilliantly, Emily is the first port of call.

Outside LOD:

Emily prepared for her role at LOD HQ by completing a Masters degree in psychology and teaching dance to toddlers. Both have come in remarkably useful since she joined the team.

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Mike manages day-to-day finance matters at LOD HQ, including billing and invoicing.

Outside LOD:

With a tenuous connection to Lord Hoffman and an extensive knowledge of cocktails, Mike has all the requisite qualifications to manage LOD's financial affairs.

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Imogen joined LOD in 2013 following completion of her Graduate Diploma in Law. She provides valuable administrative support to the LOD HQ team.

Outside LOD:

Having recently moved to London from the North, Imogen loves the capital's buzz but it still getting to grips with the rental market, packed tubes and the price of a glass of wine.

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