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Long service – Tilly Bailey & Irvine corporate law and commercial litigation solicitors Jonathan Fletcher ( left ), Alison Leith and Nigel Broadbent .
EXPERIENCE IS KING
Lawyers are embracing modern tech – but it can ’ t replace valuable knowhow
PICTURE : TOM BANKS
The legal profession is steeped in history , and some people think of it as archaic and out of date .
However , as with every industry , developments in technology are driving change within the legal sector – as they always have done .
As each new generation enters the profession , their reliance on technology increases as they have known nothing else . There are reports that members of Gen Z are reluctant to even speak over the telephone .
Generative AI is expected by many to bring radical changes to the way in which law firms operate and legal advice is given .
Technological advances undoubtedly bring operational efficiencies – but can they be a substitute for the expertise and personal insights that a long-term relationship between a business and its legal advisors bring ?
Tilly Bailey & Irvine ( TBI ) are committed to adapting the way in which they work to best suit clients ’ needs .
The teams use technology where appropriate to a client ’ s needs , to streamline a process or increase efficiency .
Alison Leith , partner in the firm ’ s commercial law team , believes that the knowledge and experience gained over a long career , and passed down directly to junior lawyers as part of a team , cannot be replaced by AI .
“ Being on hand to speak to clients face to face or over the telephone is vital in understanding their expectations and goals and to provide individually tailored advice in each case ,” says Alison .
“ Being knowledgeable about a client ’ s business or personal circumstances is vital , especially when negotiating in person or through intermediaries , or representing clients in court .”
TBI ’ s commercial litigation and corporate teams are home to three of the region ’ s longest serving and most experienced solicitors .
Alison , together with Nigel Broadbent and Jonathan Fletcher , have more than 90 years in practice between them , specialising in corporate law and commercial litigation .
Each of them qualified in the 1990s , when emails were in their infancy and , if something was really urgent , you sent a fax .
Nigel trained and worked at a national firm in the Midlands before moving back to his native Yorkshire , where he spent many years as a partner at a commercial firm before joining TBI in 2018 .
Nigel advises on all manner of commercial disputes and has worked as a “ trusted advisor ” with many of his clients for well over 20 years . He is also an accredited mediator .
Jonathan is Teesside born and bred and followed his father into the legal profession , training and qualifying at a local firm . He established and ran his own firm before joining TBI in 2022 .
Having worked in commercial and property litigation for some time , Jonathan has specialised in corporate transactional work for a number of years . He is well connected in the local business and professional community and is the first point of contact for many individuals and businesses across the region whenever an issue arises .
Alison trained in a commercial firm in Leeds before moving to a regional heavyweight firm in Newcastle . A partner at TBI for 20 years , she has specialised in commercial disputes for the majority of her career .
Alison won Lawyer of the Year at the inaugural Northern Law Awards , when the team also won the Dispute Resolution Team of the Year . In recent years , Alison has developed a successful contentious probate practice which continues to grow and which she runs alongside commercial disputes .
Being now part of the “ older generation ”, all three have experienced many technological advances throughout their careers , ensuring that innovations are adopted and applied in ways that enhance the service provided to clients .
Even so , they all agree that there is nothing so good as direct , focused discussions to really get to the heart of a matter and to understand the client ’ s needs and expectations . Ninety years of commercial law experience is a vast reserve for clients to draw on .
Alison , Nigel and Jonathan believe that served by technology but not being a servant to it , they and the solicitors , legal executives and paralegals who make up the team at TBI represent a bright future for the provision of legal services to the firm ’ s clients in the North-East and beyond .
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