FEATURE
Proud as Punch
Elaine McLaine-Wood , managing partner at one of Teesside ’ s best-known law firms , Punch Robson Solicitors , talks to Peter Barron about her rise up the legal ladder
F or someone who ’ s spent most of her life lacking self-confidence , Elaine McLaine-Wood has proved – beyond reasonable doubt – to be a success in the world of law .
“ From early on , I never thought I was bright enough to be a lawyer , so my ambitions were pretty limited ,” she confesses .
But today , Elaine is not only the highly respected managing partner of Punch Robson Solicitors , but a passionate advocate for raising aspirations on Teesside and promoting the case of women in business .
She ’ s built an impressive track record in the legal sector , overcoming plenty of barriers along the way , and juggled that with raising two children , mainly as a single mum .
If lawyers build their cases around gathering evidence , there should be plenty of it to demonstrate that Elaine is more than up to the job . And yet , remarkably , only now is she starting to accept that she has a lot to be proud of .
There ’ s not a hint of false modesty as she speaks from Punch Robson ’ s offices in Ingleby Barwick – just an honest , matter-of-fact reflection of how she felt , or how she was made to feel , while she was growing up .
Elaine was born at Greenbank Maternity Hospital , in Darlington , and recalls being one of the youngest at a primary school with large class sizes .
“ I kept getting pushed to the back , and I wonder if that was the start of my confidence being undermined ,” she suggests .
She then went on to attend Longfield School before taking her A-levels at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College . Dad , Barry , worked for Darlington
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Simpson Rolling Mills , while mum , Ann , was in retail before training as a secretary .
“ I was never expected to go to university – it was just never talked about ,” she recalls .
Her first job was working part-time at a nursing home but swiftly realising nursing wasn ’ t for her , Elaine decided she would go to university after all and began studying for a degree in politics and economics at Sunderland .
“ I remember my dad calling me in the first year I was at university , telling me that my older sister had qualified as a teacher , and wanting to know what job my degree would get me ,” she says .
She remained unsure but she ’ d become vice president of the Students ’ Union , found herself on the national executive of the National Union of Students , and considered going down the political route .
“ I was New Labour before Tony Blair knew he was New Labour , but I was far too sensitive for politics – I couldn ’ t have coped ,” she acknowledges .
However , a lecturer – having watched her debating skills and passion for fairness – suggested she ’ d make a good lawyer , and that was the spark she needed .
Then , just as she was finishing her degree in 1997 , she fell pregnant and her daughter , Bethany , was born .
“ I suddenly had this enormous extra responsibility and I suppose that focused my mind further .”
Despite her father ’ s disapproval , Elaine borrowed £ 30,000 to do distance learning – in a Diploma in Law and a Legal Practice course – over four years .
“ Dad wasn ’ t happy because he didn ’ t believe in debt , but you have to take a gamble some time ,” she declares .
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