My name’s Ted Powell. I’m a solicitor in the Commercial Dispute Resolution team and also part of the Sports Sector Group.
I started here as a trainee solicitor around three years ago and I’ve progressed to a junior solicitor during that time. I’ve still got so much to learn, but I’m supported by a team of partners and senior associates who’re fantastic lawyers. They invest time into my growth, they value me and want to see me develop.
My Motivating Factor
When I was at university, both my parents became seriously ill at the same time. It was very difficult while I was managing a law degree and university life. I’m fortunate enough to say that they’re both in a really good place now.
The skills I learnt from that incredibly challenging time have given me the ability to be a better lawyer and a better person. My resilience and empathy is something I’m really proud of, and I owe it to that challenging time. I hope my parents are proud of what I’ve achieved so far in my legal career. They’re my biggest motivating factor.
Irwin Mitchell’s sports sector was something that really drew me here, because I knew that I wanted to do something with sport and law. Sport has always been a huge part of my life. I played rugby through college and university. I’m also keen on cricket, football, cycling, the gym and running.
My training contract here was a really enjoyable experience and a positive start to my legal career. Everyone takes the time to look out for you and invest in your training. In my role as a junior solicitor, I’ve had lots of fantastic opportunities. I’ve planned and hosted podcasts, organised a conference at Twickenham, and written articles which are getting picked up by publications.
In terms of Commercial Dispute Resolution, a large part of my job involves helping clients, educating them about their rights and what their risks might be. This helps them to understand what they can do to navigate their disputes and hopefully find a workable resolution.
By offering this advice, we can hopefully take the burden from them and give them a clearer understanding of how they can move forward. Being on that journey with them, from advising them about their rights to finding a resolution is extremely fulfilling. That’s the human touch that matters to me.
We work with clients from athletes to corporates, governing bodies to clubs. They’re extremely determined and driven, and we connect by showing them that we’re equally motivated in a legal sense.
We’re the RFU’s legal partner, which is exciting because it’s such a large governing body in a sport which I’m passionate about. British Rowing and UK Athletics are also our partners. I’m looking forward to establishing ourselves as the “go-to” law firm for governing bodies and becoming the leading law firm for sports-related work.
A Team Invested In My Growth
Sometimes being both a solicitor and sports sector expert can be demanding, but my priority is to always deliver the best service I can. If I ever feel like I’m being over-stretched, I know I can have honest conversations with my supervisors to manage my workload and prioritise effectively.
Having an approachable team is fantastic for my personal growth. I’m still very new to this career so getting feedback and support from experienced lawyers helps me to continually develop.
My team also look out for me when we’re on a dispute, because when it’s getting intense, they’re there to help if I need them. Knowing that I’ve got colleagues who’ll support me in delivering an amazing service for our clients is really reassuring and makes my career really enjoyable.
Teamwork is also vital in my role because we offer the full range of services to the sports community. We need experts in tax, employment law, data protection law, financial services and more. So it’s a real team effort, and having colleagues who are passionate about sport across these different areas is paramount.
Trusted To Work Independently
Our flexible by choice policy has made a huge difference to my day-to-day life. Because I can choose to work from home, I could be swimming in the sea before work and watching the sunset on the beach after work. But if I want to go into the office and get the buzz from working with my colleagues, I can do.
Being trusted to work when and where we want, with no questions asked, is really unique. It allows us to focus on doing the best for our clients.
Inclusivity In Sport
The culture here is extremely supportive. Throughout my career, I’ve felt valued and respected. I can see my team care about me both as a solicitor and a person. Knowing that I can turn to my colleagues for support and personal development at any time is important to me. That’s the human touch that matters.
The firm is also very inclusive and this extends to our work with para sport and disability sport, which I find really rewarding. Sport can change people’s lives no matter what their age, gender or ability and I feel incredibly lucky to work with talented para athletes. Seeing how sport has transformed their lives and how they inspire others in similar situations – it’s a real perk of my role.
Work For Us
Irwin Mitchell is a fantastic place to train and work. The support and respect here is second to none and I really look forward to catching up with my colleagues every day. The culture is also diverse, inclusive and flexible – it’s just a happy place to be, so I’d encourage anyone who’s interested to apply for a role.
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