Loading More Content
Before joining Seedrs, Karen worked at Simmons & Simmons in the Financial Markets Litigation and Contentious Regulatory Team. At Seedrs she works as in house counsel heading up the legal, financial, compliance and administrative functions.
I read English because I loved literature, but I was never going to do one of the ‘typical’ English degree careers like writing or publishing – I’m not patient or creative enough. The law had always been interesting to me, having done my first work experience aged 15 in a legal aid firm and getting a huge amount of exposure. So taking a law postgrad seemed the obvious next step.
Simmons & Simmons: training contract in London and Abu Dhabi; qualified into financial markets litigation/contentious regulatory team.
I didn’t just want to move ‘in house’. At the time I left Simmons I was thinking about quitting the law entirely and starting my own business. I started looking at potential fundraising options, which was when I discovered Seedrs. When I saw the job advertised on Escape the City a few months later, I thought I’d apply. It is now 4 years later…
I knew some people that were already in the alternative finance “space” and, particularly having spent most of my time in private practice dealing with financial crisis fallouts, I’d started to lose faith in “old-world” financial services. I’ve also always been drawn to the world of entrepreneurship, and seen first hand the challenges of funding (my mother and many of my friends are entrepreneurs). Seedrs addressed the funding gap with a new wave fintech solution, which fascinated me.
As Chief Legal Officer, I don’t just provide the business with legal advice. I sit on the Executive Committee and lead the business operations team, which includes not only law, but also compliance, finance, audit and HR. This means my role in hugely diverse, which I love. But also extremely demanding, with responsibilities in a variety different areas.
Choose carefully, and think about what you want. Not all in house roles are equal. I work far harder than I ever did in private practice (and I worked hard there) – but it is infinitely more rewarding. And network. Unlike private practice, there is no pre-determined career path; you’ve got to make your own destiny.
For more insight into in house counsel roles, why not take a look at our other case studies:
Warren Little – In House Counsel at British Telecoms
Julia Mansi – In House Solicitor at BT
Simon Swain – In House Counsel at Certas Energy
Loading More Content