In this series, we introduce some of the people that make up Stephens Scown. We learn about their expertise, what drew them to join the legal profession and find out a little bit about who they are outside of work.
Here we introduce Harriet Hill, a paralegal in our Corporate team.
Can you share with us a little bit about your role and a typical day?
I am a fee-earning paralegal in the Corporate and Commercial team at Stephens-Scown. My typical day involves supporting the transactional lifecycle of deals, particularly mergers and acquisitions and care transactions. This includes managing data rooms, redacting sensitive information from client documents, conducting due diligence, drafting ancillary documents, creating completion bibles and, ensuring compliance by maintaining corporate records and filings.
Why did you choose to specialise in your area of law?
At university, I studied a range of corporate and commercial modules that I really enjoyed. So, I thought it would be beneficial to pursue my interests.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of the job is helping clients achieve their goals, I have seen how grateful some clients are which in turn fosters strong and lasting relationships.
Additionally, the dynamic nature of corporate law provides for continuous learning opportunities and personal development. By working alongside skilled professionals, the collaborative culture offers valuable learning experiences.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be and why?
Growing up I always wanted to be a vet, as I have a deep love for animals. Having been surrounded by animals throughout my childhood, I thought that a career in veterinary science would be incredibly rewarding.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
Outside of work I tend to keep active, participating in a range of sports such as tennis and netball. I also regularly attend the gym in my spare time to keep fit.
I enjoy beach walks with my two labradors and swimming in the summer.
What does it mean to work for Stephens Scown, what makes us different?
I was drawn to working for Stephens Scown because of its B Corp status, recognition as a ‘best place to work’ and commitment to employee ownership. These values resonated with me and in my six months working in the corporate team, I have seen they’re more than just words and how these values also allow us to advise major clients on becoming B Corp themselves.
Additionally, through the firm’s proactive initiatives, such as the ‘giving back’ programme and ‘one firm’ approach to business, I have been able to directly contribute to our sustainability goals and social impact efforts, helping support local charities in the southwest.
The firm has a strong presence in the southwest and having grown up in Cornwall myself, I am grateful to work for a firm that supports its local communities and fosters positive change.