The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 42: April/May 2019 | Page 16

MEET TECHIES JUDGE KATE WESTBROOK
This year, Kate is joining The Techies judging panel to help the sector
shine. We met with her to find out more about the work she does.
Kate Westbrook is a leading
technology and contracts lawyer
in the South West. Her team at
Thrings works with a range of
technology businesses, from
UK SMEs to multinational
listed PLCs. Working with
these innovative and fast-
paced enterprises, Kate enjoys
becoming part of the team and
helping these businesses to
grow. Based in Swindon herself,
she feels that the tech sector
in Wiltshire is in need of a
spotlight.
For more info:
www.thrings.com
Where did you train as a lawyer?
At Thrings. After a degree in law and a Legal
Practice Course (better known amongst
lawyers as an LPC) in Cardiff, I headed straight
to the thriving business centre that is Swindon
to start my training contract with Thring
Townsend, as it was known then.
What made you specialise
in the technology sector?
There’s something very exciting about working
with tech businesses. They really make stuff
happen and their “nothing is impossible” mind-
set is irresistible. Plus, it’s rewarding to see a
business start with an idea, and to help them
grow it into reality – however small our part is.
From a geeky legal point of view, tech contracts
can be very challenging, but I love getting stuck
into that side of things.
How long have you worked at Thrings?
I’ve actually been with the firm for 18 (great)
years. Starting as a trainee solicitor and
working my way up to partner, I’m so lucky to
have found my ‘home’ in my first legal job. A
lot has changed in that time, but not the kind
of people. Our team is like family, and I have
inspiring and fun-loving clients too.
Who is your typical client?
Inspiring and fun-loving! But that’s not what you
mean, is it? The companies I work with range
from small tech start-ups all the way up to
global multinationals. It’s my job to help them
assess risks and provide the information they
need to make sound judgments.
Typically, my clients are people who know
what they want and are looking for a lawyer
to help them get there quickly (while not
putting up blockers). Our consistent, timely
and passionate delivery of sound legal advice
means they keep coming back.
Can you tell us about some
of your recent work?
Confidentiality is important to many of our
clients, so I can only talk about my work
in vague terms (bar some exceptions). I’m
doing a lot around app development at
the moment. I’ve also been working with
a digital design and development agency
called Bonsai Tiger on an agreement
with the Financial Times for their SaaS
product Framewürk (an innovative sales
and marketing application). These guys are
growing quickly and it’s exciting to be part of
is proud to sponsor
The Techies 2019
Celebrating Swindon & Wiltshire’s
vibrant tech community
16
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019
the team. At the other end of the spectrum
(or business cycle), we recently helped sell
Swindon-based AgSpace, an innovative
agri-tech business, to Origin Enterprises for
£16m.
What excites you the most about the tech
space in Swindon & Wiltshire?
Tech is changing the world. The sector is
growing so rapidly and there is a real buzz
about it. Although Swindon and Wiltshire are
particularly known for being home to a number
of manufacturing giants, it’s exciting to see how
tech has exploded here over a relatively short
space of time.
As a Techies judge what are you
looking forward to the most?
Finding out more about the awesome
businesses we have in the region and helping
them celebrate their successes. Although I’m
not from Wiltshire originally, after almost two
decades living in Swindon, it’s very much my
home. I’m hugely invested in the success of our
business community and want to do all I can to
support it.