law south east 25
Paris Smith – a positive experience from start to finish
New managing partner at Paris Smith, Peter Taylor, an expert in business risk management, met Sue Hughes and shared his vision for the firm‘s future
Paris Smith‘s managing partner Peter Taylor has gone back to basics with his objective, ‘to create a business around the people‘. By that he means making Paris Smith a place which has the most qualified and most engaged staff.
Since stepping into the role, he has quizzed everyone from his cheery reception team on how calls are transferred, through to clients walking through the doors on how they are greeted. That is before they even meet a lawyer.
Why this almost ‘new age‘ approach? Quite simply because it is a new age for a firm which has a 197-year-old pedigree and serves the central southern England from its headquarters in Southampton.
“I want to enable success through positive engagement,“ he said. “On the outside we need to build and develop long-term relationships with clients, understand what they want and use our skills and local networking to enable them to reach their goals. Clients should have a positive experience from start to finish. It should be a journey of legal excellence.
“Within the firm I want to create an environment where all our people can reach their full potential. For that you need good communication and the right environment to inspire them to want to be here and do great things for our clients.“
‘Why?‘ figures a lot in Taylor‘s leadership style; why, for example, should clients, prospective clients and private individuals engage with Paris Smith?
“We need to deliver on that message – we are here to add value and to help them do great things. There are a number of businesses that are extremely good at what they do, but it‘s the explanation of individual value which is paramount.
“Seeing people succeed is the best thing for me, whether it‘s our staff or clients. We know we add real value when we develop long-term relationships because you are working with them as well as for them.“
Team Paris Smith, as he describes the culture in the firm, comprises 156 staff of whom 29 are partners, all of whom are driving the public face of the firm, which is poised for expansion this year.
“Our core strength is being at the heart of life in the Central South, a good, entirely-dependable law firm in the region,“ continued Taylor. “I
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – MARCH 2015
am mindful that we cannot be all things to all people, but we like to work with people who do business and operate in a manner similar to ourselves.
“We‘re highly solutions-focused and recognise that people buy from people. One enjoys working with people and organisations that share the same beliefs and values. That is when working for and with clients is most rewarding.“
Taylor, who has worked in the south since qualifying in 1982, is well known and respected in the business community, which has a proliferation of law firms, both high end and smaller practices.
“There are firms that were our competitors that now look to being more national players. There are smaller firms in the region that have joined forces. Those smaller firms may acquire technical expertise and gain a wider client reach through amalgamation, but we come back to that vital question of ‘why?‘. I have to ask myself, do the people in merged organisations have the requisite level synergy of DNA when they join forces? If the people within the firm truly share and buy into the beliefs and vision of the firm, then they‘ll move heaven and earth for that firm to deliver what is required.“
Paris Smith is expanding into Winchester with the opening of a new office at Parchment Street later in the year, which will be home to 20 lawyers covering the entire legal spectrum.
This exciting growth complements Taylor‘s vision for Paris Smith: “It reaffirms we are at the heart of the Central South. We continue to recruit, attracting very able lawyers coming down from London. We are passionate about our beliefs and values, and by living and working by them we then grow and develop as people – which benefits us as people and our clients.
“If people ask what we can do for them, well, we listen more, take time to understand and build trust and empathy. It is then that one is
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best placed to add real value to the lives and businesses of our clients.“
A CEDR-accredited mediator, Taylor is well placed to harness what drives individuals in a firm which is the sum of many parts and skills, each providing a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation.
Better communication is key. “During my first month doing this job, communication has been probably the most important aspect of being managing partner. One can deliver information or communicate information, but only one is a two-way process. Communication rather than delivery of information enables success both within the firm and for our clients.“
He adds: “What you see with me is what you get. There is no hidden side to me. It‘s not about me, it‘s about the great people within the firm at all levels and our clients.“
Such a frank approach to management will undoubtedly attract more business clients; after all they will find they are talking to someone who has a business to run, understands their aspirations and is committed to achieving goals. Taylor founded, with Sarah Wheadon, the Paris Smith Business Club, a forum to help business owners keep abreast of key changes in business risk, which was awarded The Law Society‘s Excellence in Innovation Award 2012.
Proud of the past, Taylor is living in the moment and excited about the future.
He has every reason to be.
Details: Peter Taylor 023-8048-2286
peter.taylor@parissmith.co.uk www.parissmith.co.uk
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