Our new Chair Nina Taylor answers our questions about her role, the firm, and her life in and outwith law
In April this year, Nina Taylor took up the role of Lindsays Chair, succeeding Peter Tweedie. Nina, a highly experienced Partner in our Family Law team, joined Lindsays as an Associate 11 years ago and has more than 30 years’ experience as a solicitor.
Q. What is the role of chair at Lindsays?
Nina: There are some official duties such as chairing the partnership meetings and there’s an ambassadorial role, promoting the firm, its culture and ethos externally. I want people, such as clients and other professional advisers and so on, to understand who we are and what we can offer them.
Q. What are your priorities as chair?
To do whatever I can to assist the Board and the wider firm in continuing a pattern of sustained growth; to promote diversity and inclusion across the firm; and to promote a firm-wide culture and ethos, without geographical barriers, against a background where we have offices across Scotland and many colleagues working from home.
Q. Why did you become a solicitor?
I considered other careers but decided that Law would be an interesting degree and would open up a number of different doors. I became a solicitor as I felt it gave me the opportunity to specialise in a variety of fields if I chose to do so, and to work with individuals.
Q. Why Lindsays - as a client and as a solicitor?
We are full service, so all clients’ needs are met under one umbrella and our solicitors work in a very collegiate way to ensure a holistic approach. Solicitors in individual departments are aware of their colleagues’ specialisms and when they can add value for their client. So, for instance, the Family Law team may identify issues when dealing with a separation for a client in the farming sector that requires specialist input from our Rural – Land and Business team and also our corporate team. It is reassuring for clients to know that all of their needs are being identified and met by specialist solicitors, without the need to go elsewhere.
And as a solicitor, it is a genuinely pleasant place to work with an emphasis on a work-life balance and collaborative working practices, recognising and rewarding hard work and a non-blame culture.
Q. What’s your proudest moment at Lindsays?
Back in 2016, we won Family Law Team of the year at the Scottish Legal Awards and then on the same night we also won Firm of the Year. I was also proud that Lindsays marked our 200th anniversary by promoting and encouraging charitable causes and volunteering throughout the whole year, and beyond.
Q. How do you spend your time away from work
I’m a trustee of an excellent Edinburgh charity called Bright Light, which provides relationship counselling. I’m very interested in art, especially contemporary Scottish art, and have friends who are trained artists, so I try to support their work. And I see music whenever I can, anything from indie to jazz.
