Spotlight on our people – meet Emilia Smith

With our Spotlight on our people interview series, we shine a light on the people behind the expert legal advice. In this edition, our spotlight is on Senior Commercial Solicitor, Emilia Smith. Emilia joined the Harper James commercial team in May 2017. After 4 years in the fold, she had some time off to have her children and returned to Harper James in November 2023. Her experience spans private practice and in-house roles; having worked as In-house Counsel at Eurostar and later as General Counsel at purpose-driven production company, Content with Purpose.

How did you begin your career? What/who inspired your legal career?

‘Like many other lawyers, I would say I ‘fell’ into law,’ Emilia says. ‘I studied Law with French at university – I excelled in English and History and quite liked the idea of having a prescribed path. That said, if I’m honest, I was quite a care-free teenager, who didn’t overthink my choice of degree or career.  I knew law was a well-respected degree, and I just thought, even if I don’t want to be a lawyer, it will be a fantastic springboard for other careers.  Thankfully, all worked out well, because I love what I do.  However, that is all down to luck rather than careful planning on my part!

Did you have any expectations of the legal industry?

‘I (very naively) thought that being a lawyer would be exactly like what you used to see on TV shows like Ally McBeal – I quickly realised that it was neither as dramatic nor as glamourous as for my on-screen counterparts!’ Emilia exclaims. ‘However, I really enjoyed my early years working in law; there was a buzz to being young and working in the City. I trained with SJ Berwin and specialised in private equity work – those first few years were very intense and meant that I worked alongside some exceptional lawyers. Being around and learning from so many bright minds was instrumental to my professional development.’

‘Over the last twelve years of my career, my motivations and expectations have since evolved,’ Emilia says. ‘What’s great about the modern legal industry is that I have been able to find a working environment to match my needs as they’ve evolved. There are so many different types of dynamics, and they vary from firm-to-firm – if you know what you want, we live in a time when you will definitely be able to find it.’

What are your main areas of commercial expertise? Do you cover any niche areas, or have you had exposure to any particular sectors?

‘I’m a general commercial contracts lawyer, advising on the full spectrum of matters and agreements, whether it be supply of goods and services, distribution agreements, technology licencing agreements, consultancy services or SaaS agreements,’ says Emilia. ‘Since qualifying, I’ve worked in-house at a large corporate and also at a small production company, so I have a particular appreciation for the inner workings of a business and what might commercially drive a business at various stages of its growth.’

How do you find working at Harper James? What opportunities and flexibility does it offer you?

‘My journey with Harper James started in 2017,’ Emilia tells us. ‘I had left my job in London and moved to France – everyone thought I was crazy! I wanted to work remotely from the French Alps while practising English law, but more importantly – I wanted to work flexibly. At the time, everyone I had spoken to told me that what I was looking for just didn’t exist in the legal industry. I stumbled across Harper James, and it seemingly offered all that I was looking for – and I must confess, I thought it was too good to be true. But it’s fair to say it is everything it promised it would be – I was skiing in the mornings and working in the afternoons! Everyone in the team was friendly and approachable and the culture was genuinely free of bureaucracy.’

‘I worked at Harper James for four years until I became a mum and took a short career break,’ says Emilia. ‘Fast-forward to 2023, I was back in the UK with two small children and decided to return to Harper James.  Even though skiing was no longer a priority – I wouldn’t have moved to work at another law firm because, all the things that initially attracted me to Harper James in 2017 were still just as important. I love that I can be a lawyer and have the career I want, whilst still being able to do the school run and be there for my children every day.’                                                         

What’s the best piece of advice would you give someone looking to start a career in law?

‘Spend a lot of time thinking about these two things: how do you like to work and what level of flexibility do you want. Putting a lot of thought into those two questions will offer you the best chance at specialising in the right area of the law for you. It’s also important to do the due diligence when it comes to finding a law firm that aligns with your values and is the right culture fit for you.’

What do you think your clients value most about the way you work with them?

‘I like to keep things simple and transparent. I always strive to be approachable and friendly with my clients and I genuinely believe that no question is a silly one.’

Do you have any hobbies? What do you do to unwind?

‘I like to be outside whenever time allows me, preferably somewhere warm and sunny,’ says Emilia. ‘I enjoy being active, whether that’s by doing Yoga, hiking, step aerobics or swimming, but I’m usually at my happiest just sitting on a beach, listening to the waves—even on a winter’s day.’

What are three things on your bucket list?

‘Travel around Europe in a motorhome with my husband, live in Italy for a year and refine my Italian, and finally renovate my house!’