A strategy of nurturing the careers of talented women by promoting them into key positions is shaping the culture of a Midland law firm.
The latest example is 38-year-old lawyer Anna Taylor, who has just been promoted to associate at Else Solicitors where she will take charge of the Private Client and Family Department.
Her main mission will be to build and develop it into a much larger entity within the firm, which has offices in Birmingham and Burton-on-Trent.
“What is most remarkable about my appointment is that since I joined Else as a solicitor in 2006 I have worked part-time in order to achieve a proper life balance,” she said.
“It reflects the culture here. This is a staff and client friendly firm and I am thrilled that the partners have the faith in me to run a growing department on that basis.”
Anna Taylor, who lives in Birmingham, is married with two children.
She comes originally from Chislehurst in Kent and studied French at Birmingham University. She later took her Common Professional Examination and Legal Practice Course at Birmingham University.
After travelling the world during two gap years she joined Gateley Wareing in 1997 as a trainee solicitor.
She qualified at that firm before joining Wragge and Co in 1999 as a newly qualified solicitor in the construction department and was promoted to associate in 2003.
In 2006 she was invited to join Else as a solicitor in the private client and family department in its new Birmingham office working under the eminent Legal 500 lawyer Michael Vale.
“I felt that the culture of this firm encouraged women to do well and the partners were prepared to nurture their careers. I have been proved right.”
The firm has recently promoted several other women to important positions.
Newly qualified Abigail Clark has joined the commercial property department in Birmingham.
Tracey Hatter has been awarded a training contract after working for the firm for four years as a para-legal – obtaining a law degree and now studying for her LPC.
Gurdip Bhanot has been awarded a training contract after working as a para-legal at Burton-on-Trent in Debt Recovery.
Shof Miah has been appointed as the firm’s IT Manager.

Pictured: Abigail Clark, associate solicitor in Else’s commercial property team, Anna Taylor, associate and head of the family team, and Tracey Hatter, trainee solicitor in the family team