Leadership, Culture, and Purpose: A Q&A with Neil Wilson, Managing Partner at Chadwick Lawrence

At the heart of every successful law firm is strong leadership, clear vision, and a commitment to people. In this Q&A, we speak with Neil Wilson, Managing Partner at Chadwick Lawrence, about his unconventional journey into law, the culture and values that drive the firm, and the initiatives he is most proud of; from championing colleague wellbeing to fostering community partnerships and investing in future talent. 

We sat down with Neil to learn a bit more about what makes Chadwick Lawrence not only a leading legal practice, but also a great place to work. 

Q: Start by telling us a little bit more about yourself.

A: I joined the firm in 1998, changing careers to become a trainee solicitor here. I progressed to Partner around 2008 and then took on my current role in 2014.

Chadwick Lawrence is a full-service legal practice with eight offices across West Yorkshire. We serve clients nationwide and employ over 200 people. 

Q: Your path into law was unconventional, how so?

A: I had an unconventional path into law, partly because I changed careers to do it. I studied law on evenings and weekends while working in a government managerial position, initially just as a hobby. But I became so interested in it that I decided I wanted to pursue it as a career. 

What was unconventional is that I had no connections in the industry. At the time, many people would say that without connections, you wouldn’t be able to get into the profession. That’s different now as we all know, and there are many more, and varied ways of entering the legal profession. 

My route was not unique, but it worked. I stuck at it, secured a training contract at Chadwick Lawrence, and I’m still here today. 

Q: How would you describe the vision and culture at Chadwick Lawrence?

A: The vision and culture we’ve created have been fundamental to our success and recognition. For example, we received the Professional Leadership Award last year, which I was fortunate to accept on behalf of my colleagues. 

Another significant achievement was being listed in the Sunday Times Top 500 Best Places to Work in the UK. Without the creation of the vision and the values, we would not have achieved those accolades. There have been many more along the way too, which is very pleasing. 

Q: How do you support career progression and development within the firm?

A: It’s very important for us to invest in colleagues and nurture talent within the business. We have a progression route that anyone can apply for each year, with the opportunity to move to the next grade or, in some cases, skip a couple of grades. 

We also introduced an extended equity scheme a couple of years ago. This enables people to invest in the business at different levels, helping us to retain our top talent. That scheme is working particularly well. 

Q: You’ve spoken previously about health and wellness – what initiatives has the firm introduced in this area?

A: Our commitment to health and wellness is the initiative I’m most proud of. It’s something we’ve been working on for several years. 

One example is that we give every member of staff two hours each week, fully paid, to do something beneficial for their health and wellbeing. That could be going to the gym, going for a run, reading a book, or even joining our knitting group. That group knits for our dementia gift drive, which sends gifts into nursing homes every summer. 

We also take part in at least four charitable 10k runs each year, usually with 20 or more colleagues involved. This takes not only training time, but also a half-day at the weekend, when staff volunteer their personal time to raise funds for charitable causes. 

It’s difficult to calculate exactly how many hours we devote to charitable causes, as we don’t record them all. But I would say we’re pushing 1,500 hours per year, which equates to roughly 180 days – a significant amount for a firm of our size. It’s the right thing to do, and it benefits both our colleagues and the community. 

Q: Community involvement seems to be a big part of your work. Can you share an example?

A: Absolutely. We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Leeds Rhinos, acting for the club and players for nearly 20 years. That has been a really worthwhile partnership, but it has also opened up opportunities to get involved in the community. 

For many years, I’ve been a trustee of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, and I encourage colleagues to take on similar roles. Several of us at senior level devote our time to community organisations, whether that’s attending meetings, offering our skills and experience, or undertaking pro bono legal work. 

Q: Finally, what excites you about the future of Chadwick Lawrence?

A: I’m really excited about what lies ahead. We have a challenging year, but I’m confident we’ll achieve what we’ve set out to do. There are also many projects beyond increasing turnover and growing the business that will put us in a strong position for the future. 

Learn more about Chadwick Lawrence’s values, vision, and legal services at
👉 www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk