Six months after joining the firm, Sophie Adshead talks about her role as an Associate in the firm’s corporate team and the satisfaction of supporting businesses as they grow through the life stages of a company.

Tell us a bit about your role at Pannone

I work in the corporate team as an Associate. The team deals with M&A, venture capital and also private equity transaction and I am involved in working in all of these areas. We have a large team, and I regularly work with each of the partners on a variety of transactions which has provided me with great exposure. Our clients range from institutional investors to SMEs and global organisations.

Why did you join Pannone?

As soon as I attended my first interview at Pannone I had a gut feeling that it was exactly the type of firm that I was looking to work at and that has proven to be entirely correct. The firm allows me to work on excellent quality transactions in a collaborative and supportive working environment. I am constantly learning and facing new challenges on each of the transactions that I work on. The firm is part of the international PLG network and we therefore advise on many transactions which have a cross border element. We have great relationships with the other PLG member firms and this allows us provide seamless advice to clients across all jurisdictions.

What route did you go down, in terms of training and qualifications?

I went down the traditional route, having studied law at the University of Manchester and then completing the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in Manchester. The University of Manchester was a brilliant institution to learn, and I thoroughly enjoyed studying for my degree. However, there are various options available for aspiring solicitors today; I would probably have considered all avenues if they’d been available at the time.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

I most enjoy working with our clients to learn about their businesses, in particular what drives their business and goals, what obstacles they face in their particular industry or sector and to be able to advise them at each business life stage. We build relationships with our clients by working with them through, what can be,  intense periods by helping to limit the stress and complexity of the relevant transaction process as far as possible.

It’s amazing to be able to assist throughout the life stages of a company – for example, we are able to act on a VC investment into a start-up company, act on subsequent follow on rounds and then advise the investor on their subsequent exit. Likewise, we are able to prepare the constitutional / governance documents for an early stage company, act on its potential acquisition(s) of other companies and then advise the sellers on the eventual sale. It is fantastic to see the way that the businesses grow over the years and be able to help investors and business owners along the way.

The work is always intellectually satisfying which I would say is the other best part of the job!

What does a typical day look like?

The days can vary largely depending on the nature of the transactions which I am dealing with at any particular time and the stages that they are at. An example of a typical day could involve spending part of the day reviewing a term sheet on an M&A transaction and discussing this with our clients, reviewing and negotiating investment documents on a venture capital investment, and later joining all parties calls or meetings on a transaction. I also get involved in attending various networking events, mainly in Manchester, and sometimes training events. By way of example, I recently helped hold a workshop at our annual in-house lawyers seminar.

What are your career ambitions?

Over time I hope to be able to move up through the ranks in the firm and to contribute as far as possible to us being able to work on the excellent quality work which we currently undertake. I am also hoping to be able to study for the corporate finance qualification as I think this would be of great benefit to our clients.

What would you be doing if you didn’t have a career in law? 

I studied economics at A-level and considered opting for either an economics degree or the philosophy, politics and economics degree – so perhaps something related to that area!

In our final blog in the series to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, we speak to Sarah Bazaraa. She joined Pannone LLP back in 2009 as a trainee solicitor and qualified to become part of the firm’s dispute resolution team, before rising through the ranks to Associate Partner in 2021.

“I think it says a lot about Pannone that there are so many ‘lifers’ who have been with the firm throughout our legal careers,” says Sarah.

We asked her a number of questions to find out what life has been like at Pannone over the last decade since the firm completed an MBO in 2014.

What made you want to join Pannone?

I did a vacation placement with the firm (too) many years ago when I was in my second year of university and was impressed by the quality of the work I experienced. I also found that there was a genuinely friendly and supportive atmosphere. I didn’t have to think twice when I was offered a training contract, and I jumped at the chance to be part of the firm post MBO.

How has that changed in the last decade?

The firm has gone from strength to strength in the last decade. We have longstanding relationships with clients we have worked with over the last 10 years, and continue to attract new and exciting businesses. We have also grown as a firm and attracted some really talented lawyers and support staff who have really embraced the culture of Pannone.

What was your first impression of the firm and the team on your first day?

I remember thinking that there was something special about the place. I still feel that all these years later.

What’s the best thing about working at Pannone?

I definitely think it is the people who make the firm. I am very lucky that over the years I have worked with exceptional and technically brilliant lawyers – many of whom have become some of my closest friends too.

What’s your favourite memory of working at Pannone?

I am not sure I can pick one! There are a few significant cases which I am proud to have worked on. When you live and breathe a case for a number of years and work as part of a client, barrister and Pannone team to secure a great outcome that is very rewarding. Also, the firm parties are always really good fun!

What’s the achievement you’re most proud of while working at the firm?

I am proud to have been part of the team that moved across as part of the MBO and to have contributed to making the firm what it is today.

Where do you see the North West business community 10 years from now?

There feels a real energy and innovation about the North West. There’s construction work everywhere you look, and the creative and technology sectors seem to be thriving. It has been amazing over the last year to see the streets of the Northern Quarter be transformed into Chanel’s runway, and organisations like Aviva Studios (Factory International) bringing something original to the arts. I am sure the North West business community will continue to stamp its mark over the next 10 years!

What would you like to see the firm achieve in the next 10 years?

Continuing to build on the values and foundations which have been established over the past 10.

Describe Pannone in one word.

Team.

In the latest blog in our 10 year anniversary series, we asked Real Estate partner, Garry King, ten questions to get his views on what makes Pannone what it is and what his ambitions are for the firm over the next decade.

When did you join Pannone?

I joined Pannone back in October 2018 as an associate partner, before being promoted to partner earlier this year.

What made you want to join Pannone?

Over the last 10 years, Pannone has built a strong commercial brand that is well known and respected across the country. To be part of that story was very appealing.

How has that evolved in the last decade?

There are many things about the firm that have remained the same over the last 10 years, such as its culture, values and the strength of its people. But the firm has also grown and become a stronger unit despite the trials and tribulations of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-changing commercial landscape. That in itself is testament to the unwavering foundations that it’s built on.

What was your first impression of the firm and the team on your first day?

As soon as I met the partners I knew that the firm was the perfect fit for me. It very much reminded me of the first law firm I trained at in London – a place that convinced me to qualify as a lawyer. You can’t beat a gut feeling!

What’s the best thing about working at Pannone?

Without a doubt, it’s got to be the people who I work with. The team has grown and developed enormously in recent years, but the collaborative and positive dynamic that exists between the teams has not altered. We’re a group of like-minded individuals who are all striving for the same aims, with our clients firmly in the centre of that.

What’s your favourite memory of working at Pannone?

It would have to be my first day at Pannone. It felt like I’d worked here for years, which is a very high compliment to make.

What’s the achievement you’re most proud of while working at the firm?

There are lots of things that we’re very proud of as a team, such as the clients we work with and the work we do for them, but becoming a partner at Pannone definitely ranks up there from a personal perspective.

Where do you see the North West business community 10 years from now?

Like Pannone, the North West economy has been on a positive growth trajectory thanks to the diverse range of businesses we have in the region, combined with their ambition and desire to innovate and push boundaries at every possible turn. I can only see that trend continuing over the next 10 years as the North West cement its position as the place to do business.

What would you like to see the firm achieve in the next 10 years?

We’ve laid an excellent foundation over the last decade which sets us up perfectly to become the leading mid-sized commercial law firm in the North West – but, most importantly, without losing what makes the firm unique and special, which is an unwavering ethos for caring about our people.

Describe Pannone in one word.

Dynamic.

Danielle Amor has just reached a major milestone at Pannone, after celebrating 10 years at the firm last month [September]. Her work anniversary mirrors that of the firm, having joined Pannone just a few months after the MBO completed on Valentine’s Day 2014.

“It was an exciting time to join Pannone and the firm felt very collaborative and supportive,” explains Danielle, who was impressed by the firm’s approach and reputation.

Danielle has seen first-hand how much the firm has changed in the last 10 years – all the while retaining the same culture through recruiting likeminded people and creating the right environment for those people to prosper and grow.

“Right from my first day, everyone was very friendly and relaxed,” says Danielle. “I knew I had made the right decision and quickly felt part of the team.”

Unsurprisingly, no two days are the same at Pannone. “One day I might be working on the settlement of a trade mark dispute, the next negotiating a software licensing agreement and the next advising a client on a data breach,” explains Danielle.

Advising on data has become a significant part of the commercial team’s practice in recent years, driven by the radical overhaul of data protection legislation in the UK in May 2018.

“The GDPR required most businesses to adopt new policies and procedures,” explains Danielle. “We were extremely busy during this period trying to get all our clients (and ourselves) up to speed with the new requirements. Looking back now, as a team I feel we handled the pressures really well and we have since become one of the leading firms advising on data in the North West.”

As key achievements go in the last 10 years, that is certainly up there for Danielle. But it’s also the smaller things that create lasting memories.

“In one meeting, a particularly remarkable client wrote us each a personalised poem which he read out at the end,” recalls Danielle. “I’m not sure what that says about the quality of our discussions during the meeting, but I certainly will never forget it!”

While Danielle agrees that Manchester has huge appeal and is a great place to live and work, she wouldn’t be averse to Pannone opening a remote working space in Hawaii! Jokes aside, she sees significant potential in the region over the coming 10 years.

“With the right investment in transport and infrastructure, Manchester can solidify its position as the UK’s biggest business hub outside of London, particularly for tech businesses and start-ups,” she says.

One thing is for sure, Pannone will be there to see how the region unfolds. As Danielle says, the firm is ‘steadfast’ and will long be an unwavering feature in the North West marketplace.

Simon Fitzgerald has been a mainstay at Pannone in all its guises since 2002. As a Debt Recovery Executive, Simon has seen the firm grow and develop considerably, joining 22 years ago on the back of a ‘fantastic opportunity’ to be part of Pannone along with a team of four other people.

Simon’s route in law is not too dissimilar to that of an apprenticeship – working on the job while gaining qualifications at night school; Ilex (Legal Executive) was his destination of choice after finishing his A-Levels.

Over more than two decades, Simon has built up a strong bond with the team around him.

“I spend the better part of my life with the people at Pannone and they are all wonderful,” admits Simon. “Our team, in particular, is like a family – dysfunctional – but a family all the same!”

Every day in the Debt Recovery team is the ‘same type of different’, according to Simon, but he loves that no two days are the same. “Even at 52, my ambition is to keep improving on what I already know,” he admits. “It’s true what they say, every day is a school day!”

While Simon jokes that he should’ve been a mechanic rather than going into law, given how much his last car service cost, he’s definitely very much part of the team at Pannone. A philosophy he truly buys into.

“As a profession, we always need to promote the ‘team effort – one goal’ ethic,” he explains. “It’s important to work collaboratively with clients so it doesn’t turn into a    ‘them and us’ relationship.”

The team/family ethos is as important to Simon in work as it is out of work, with his children, grandchildren and family taking up much of his free time – not to mention his love of Manchester City!

“The order of priority changes on a daily basis,” jokes Simon! However, there’s no doubt about his priority at work after more than two decades at Pannone.

Pannone Corporate has appointed a new Head of Finance to its Manchester team, as part of ambitious growth plans.

Sarah-Jane Roper joins the law firm from the University of Manchester. As Head of Finance, she was responsible for three cultural institutions, Manchester Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery and Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, as well as Manchester University Press. Prior to that, she worked in internal audit across 12 universities for 10 years.

The chartered accountant, who’s been a ICAEW Fellow for more than 10 years, brings vast and varied experience to the role, including financial management, audit, compliance and taxation, as well as significant expertise in finance business partnering. At Pannone, she will work across the firm with responsibility for financial control, reporting and financial planning.

Paul Jonson, senior partner at Pannone, said: “Appointing someone of Sarah’s calibre is a major coup for Pannone. Her financial expertise and in-depth knowledge of the regional landscape will be hugely important to us as we enter the next phase of growth.

“We’re delighted to have her onboard and we are confident that with her vast experience she will bring a fresh perspective to the firm that will challenge us and help us to drive change.”

Sarah’s appointment follows a trio of hires earlier this month. Emma Haymes joined the law firm as a senior associate in the dispute resolution team. She was joined by Sophie Adshead, who was appointed as an associate in the corporate team. Burak Demir completed the trio of appointments, joining as a solicitor in the real estate litigation team.

Sarah said: “Pannone is at an exciting stage in its growth journey, attracting real talent to create a strong team ethos, which strongly resonated with me.

“After leaving a role within a large organisation, I was really attracted by the opportunity to take on responsibility for the full remit of Pannone’s finance department, while also continuing with the finance business partnering aspect of the role that I enjoy so much. I’m very much looking forward to getting stuck in!”

This year’s Chambers 2025 rankings have been published, with Pannone once again featuring strongly – both for individual lawyers and teams.

The Chambers publication follows an equally as impressive recognition in the Legal 500, which was announced earlier this month [link to story].

Highlights from this year’s annual Chambers 2025 rankings include:

• The Corporate team maintaining their Band One ranking for the third successive year
• The IP and Media team maintaining their Band Two ranking
• The Litigation team making it eight years in a row as a Band Three ranked team
• Other Band Three teams, include: IT, Real Estate Litigation and Real Estate, with eight teams ranked in total
• Individually, Tom Hall (Corporate) and Paul Jonson (Dispute Resolution) have been ranked in Band One, with Jonson featuring as an Eminent Practitioner. In Band Two, Mark Winthorpe (Corporate) and Amy Chandler (IT) feature, with Tim Hamilton (Corporate), Amy Chandler (IP), Gemma Staples (Real Estate Litigation), Daniel Clarke (Restructuring and Insolvency), David Walton (Health & Safety), David Brown ( Dispute Resolution), Martin Pennington (Dispute Resolution), Fiona Hamor (Employment), Jack Harrington (Employment), Melanie McGuirk ( IP), Bill Dunkerley (Regulatory) and Gareth Birch (Real Estate) also ranked
• In total, Pannone has 17 individually ranked lawyers, up from 12 in last year’s rankings, with Arshnoor Amershi (Corporate) ranked as ‘Up and Coming’ and Sarah Bazaraa (IP and Media) featured as an ‘Associate to Watch’.

So, what do our clients say about us?

Corporate: “The team at Pannone were experienced, with the intellectual horsepower to be able to deconstruct the complexity and guide us through their solutions. They go head to head with the big firms and can hold their own.”

Employment: “They exhibit a remarkable aptitude for dissecting issues, giving diverse perspectives and devising innovative solutions. Each member brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the table.”

Litigation: “Pannone takes the time to understand the key points of the matter, which means that in complex areas they rapidly develop a deep understanding of the issues to provide appropriate advice.”

IT: “They have their finger on the pulse and have a lot of relevant experience to draw upon.”

IP: “Pannone has a hard-working and dedicated team at all levels, from partner through to associates, who are intellectually rigorous and sensitive to clients’ priorities.”

Commenting on this year’s results, senior partner Paul Jonson said: “On the back of our success in the Legal 500 rankings, it’s fantastic to see such a strong showing in Chambers – both across teams and for individuals.

“The feedback we get from clients reflects the hard work and dedication of the team, as they continue to deliver innovative, responsive and commercially-minded solutions that demonstrate a deep understanding of our clients’ needs and the challenges that they face.”

Chambers and Partners identifies the best law firms globally, from multi-nationals to boutiques, based on independent research and analysis of feedback from clients, peers and the wider market.

Chambers produces annual global rankings of teams and individuals according to their area of specialism. They take into account: client service; technical legal ability; depth of team; commercial vision and business understanding; diligence and value for money.

Pannone has been a member of PLG International Lawyers for over 30 years, providing the firm with access to a professional network of lawyers from across the world, spanning 30 countries.

For the last three years, the organisation has held an annual event aimed at the next generation of lawyers – the YPLG Academy. Last month, lawyers under 35 from across Europe came together for a week-long conference to hear from experts from multiple disciplines, as well as forge strong relationships with their peers – professional bonds that will prove invaluable in years to come, not only to them as individuals, but to the firms they represent.

This year, it was the turn of corporate solicitor,  Catherine Ossai, who travelled to Lisbon for YPLG 2024. The Pannone lawyer was joined by 14 other legal professionals from Spain, Poland, Italy, France, Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium – all at the same stage in their career and all eager to learn.

During the week-long academy event, held at the Catolica Global School of Law in Lisbon, delegates attended lectures hosted by different PLG partners and external speakers, covering a range of topics, including soft skills, public speaking, negotiation, legal English, crypto regulation and AI.

“The AI session was so interesting,” explained Catherine. “To hear and understand from someone who’s done a deep dive of the subject matter, and how AI can help the legal profession on a day-to-day basis, was really fascinating.”

While the lectures gave each of the 14 young lawyers an insight into core and emerging topics in the sector, it was the relationship building that was equally as important.

“It was lovely to hear about their experiences as junior lawyers in their respective countries and what it means to them to be part of the PLG network,” explained Catherine. “Making strong contacts and creating long-lasting friendships was one of the biggest takeaways from the academy. The idea is you grow together as lawyers within the PLG network. I feel very lucky to have been picked to represent Pannone at the event.”

YPLG also included teambuilding, which involved the young lawyers getting to grips with surfing. However, a real highlight was the welcome dinner on the first evening of the five-day event.

“It was a real highlight to be able to get to know everyone properly on the first night, after a day packed with lectures,” said Catherine. “It was a perfect way to cement our growing friendships and find out more about our shared interests. It really set the tone for the rest of the trip. After all, it’s friendships like these that ultimately make a working relationship better.”

This year’s Legal 500 rankings have been published and, once again, Pannone Corporate has excelled in the annual listings. In total, 17 lawyers feature in Legal 500 UK commentary for their excellent contribution to their respective practices. This includes:

• Three ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyers
• 11 ‘leading individuals’, and
• Three ‘next generation’ partners.

 The firm’s practice areas also continue to rank highly amongst those within the profession. Pannone has top tier practice areas in TMT: Intellectual Property; TMT: Media and Entertainment and Private Client: Contentious Trusts and Probate. A further six practices areas are ranked in the second tie and recommended in the listings. These cover:

• Corporate and commercial
• Dispute resolution: commercial litigation
• Dispute resolution: debt recovery
• Employment
• Health & safety
• TMT: IT and telecoms.

Paul Jonson, senior partner at Pannone Corporate, commented: “Every year the team continues to excel in the Legal 500 rankings, demonstrating the strength and depth within the firm across multiple legal disciplines.

“Not only do we have an increasing number of outstanding individuals, who are highlighted across the Hall of Fame, Leading Individuals, and Next Generation rankings, but collectively the team has shown the importance of delivering a high quality, client-focused service that places commerciality, professionalism, hard work and that human touch, at the heart of everything we do. Congratulations to everyone on another outstanding year and a big “thank you” to our clients and contacts.”

Standout comments include:

“What sets Pannone Corporate apart is their unique blend of professionalism with a personable touch.”

“Pannone Corporate has a ‘quality niche team with strong regional profile’.”

 “The ‘very hands-on team’ at Pannone Corporate handles a wide range of corporate matters, including joint ventures, supply and procurement of goods and distribution.”

“The commercial property team at Pannone Corporate ‘acts with the utmost level of professionalism’ when assisting its lucrative client base.”

“Pannone Corporate is well-known for its strong focus on the hospitality, tech and IT, and fashion retail sectors.”

“Praised by clients for its ‘expertise and commitment‘, the group at Pannone Corporate handles a myriad of mandates.”

“The team is highly skilled, knowledgeable, and confident in their work . Their ability to communicate effectively and empathetically with me was outstanding.”

“Pannone was first class from start to finish. They gave me honest and fair advice and definitely attempted to think outside of the usual to come up with an approach that could yield the desired goals.”

 “The team are adept at truly understanding your business and any commercial nuances. They consistently provide advice that is of the highest standard, comprehensive and in a very timely manner. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the team, you feel totally supported, every step of the way.”

“Strength in depth and a partner led approach. Very responsive, pragmatic business advice which addresses commercial requirements of the client with more focus than most. Good cross collaboration with other departments within the firm to provide legal services.”

“All associated with Pannone have an excellent attitude built on professionalism and are very approachable within their own fields.”

“I have been working with Pannone Corporate LLP for nearly a decade, and they have been an instrumental partner in my business endeavours. Their guidance is pivotal, a testament to their expertise and commitment.”

The Legal 500 analyses the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions.

Tom Hall is a self-professed ‘day oner’ – part of a core who joined Pannone pre-MBO in 2014. His career began at the ‘old Pannone’ in September 2004, when he started a training contract in the business crime team. Twenty years on, Tom is a partner in the corporate team and has become an integral part of the firm.

If there’s a consistent thread that runs through Pannone, in terms of its people, there also remains a consistency in approach, which is as strong today as it was ten years ago when the MBO completed – a moment that Tom admits really ‘galvanised’ the firm.

“For our 10 year anniversary in February 2024, we looked back at the original core values and principles that were put in place when the firm was founded in 2014,” Tom explains. “Despite them being drafted over a decade earlier, those core values remain a word-for-word representation of what the firm is and stands for today. If we can say the same in February 2034 then we will have done very well.”

The same can be said for the North West business community, which Tom believes is still the same, despite the huge changes in the region in the last 10 years. “The business community remains close-knit, plain-speaking and has the energy and desire to make things happen, rather than waiting for others to do it for us,” says Tom. “I don’t see that changing.”

As a ‘well-known and well-regarded’ law firm, Tom agrees that the best thing about Pannone is its people.

“Nothing makes me prouder than seeing lawyers who have started as trainees or paralegals in the team rise through the ranks, lead their own transactions and win their own work,” he explains. “We are very lucky to have some brilliant people in the team who have been fundamental to its growth and reputation over the years. Watching them in full flow on all party calls gives me a warm glow inside.

“We’re also very fortunate to support a wide range of national and international clients, across every sector you can think of,” Tom adds. “I love going to see clients at their place of business, having a look around and finding out what makes them tick. I always come away from those meetings feeling inspired and/or with some food for thought about how we can improve or refine our own business.”

Over 20 years, Tom has seen first-hand how the firm has improved and refined its proposition, with many favourite moments, including the call at 8pm on Valentine’s Day 2014 to confirm the Pannone Corporate buyout had completed when ‘wild scenes ensued’! Aside from those celebrations, it’s the strong partnerships that have been built over the last 10 years that stand out for Tom.

“My involvement with PLG International Lawyers, our firm’s international network, has probably been the aspect of the role that I have enjoyed the most over the last decade,” says Tom. “PLG has opened the door to some fantastic global clients and transactions, and I have made lifelong relationships with many of the outstanding lawyers involved.”

And, as a people-centric business, relationships are everything.

In the latest in our 10 year anniversary blog series, Ten in 10, we speak to the man who keeps the IT engine running at Pannone – Steve Elderfield.

Steve joined what was the ‘old’ Pannone is 2006 as a Senior IT Support Technician, before moving across to Pannone Corporate following the firm’s MBO in 2014, becoming IT Manager. Ten years on, he continues to play an integral role in the firm as IT & Facilities Manager. “Pannone offered a great opportunity to continue my journey in IT which I couldn’t turn down and I’ve never looked back,” admits Steve.

Like many people in the firm, his role has evolved significantly in the last 10 years. “What started out as just the IT Manager, has grown into much more,” explains Steve. “I have taken on more roles and responsibilities along the way, covering various different areas of our IT and the building.”

While his role has developed in the last decade, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed from the day he started and that’s the people and work culture. “Everyone was very friendly and welcoming on my first day, which gave me a real sense of acceptance and made the working environment that much more enjoyable,” says Steve. “I recall feeling like I was part of something special and through the years I developed a lot of friendships in the firm.”

There have been a number of highlights and key achievements for Steve since he joined, including his own personal development and gaining the trust and responsibilities that comes with the role, while also seeing and being part of the firm grow into what it is today. But one particular highlight was the move to the Chapel, which Pannone proudly calls home. “Although the move was very challenging to manage at the time,” admits Steve. “It was also very exciting to be a part of.”

He’s not only proud of Pannone and its achievements in the last 10 years, but also how the North West business community has grown during that time. “It’s been flourishing over the last 10 years, bringing more people to the city,” says Steve. “In the next 10 years, I can only see the North West becoming one of the great business hubs, alongside London which, in turn, will boost the economy and generate more work for firm’s such as ours.”

The use of the word ‘our’ feels very deliberate. Steve has a strong connection with the firm and carries real aspirations for more expansion and growth, but it’s how he describes Pannone that tells the true story of his relationship with the firm – “If I had to describe Pannone in one word, it would be ‘family’.”

Nearly a decade on from joining Pannone Corporate, Danielle Amor talks about her career, her passion for seeing clients get the outcome they deserve, her love of coffee, and the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the legal sector.

Tell us a little about your career before joining Pannone

I studied law at Durham, then took the LPC at Oxford before starting a two year training contract at an international law firm in London, which included six months working at ITV in the Rights and Business Affairs team. I worked there for about seven years before making the move back up north.

My first role in Manchester was in-house at Manchester United working on the then-record sponsorship deal with adidas, before moving back into private practice at Pannone. When I joined, the firm had only been formed a few months before, so it was a really exciting time to be starting.

In her current role as a director in the commercial team, Danielle advises on commercial contracts, intellectual property and data protection compliance, with a broad range of specialism across the experienced team covering retail, fashion, manufacturing, hospitality, media, IT and industrial services. It was that talent and expertise that attracted her to Pannone. I was drawn to the mix of excellent lawyers and high quality work.

Despite a few wobbles along the way when she considered packing it all in ‘for a life of wanderlust’,  Danielle remains committed to the profession and what can be achieved. I am really irked by injustice! I enjoy seeing clients achieve the outcome they deserve, particularly when they have been in a dispute and I am instructed to draft the settlement terms.

Danielle is also passionate about the important role lawyers have to play in a world that is already changing with the increasing use of technology, particularly AI. I can see why businesses might turn to AI for drafting contracts and legal letters when they don’t always receive the practical, commercial advice they need from legal advisors. However, the nuances and subtleties that the majority of our drafting requires, cannot be replicated by AI as it stands. This reinforces why we need to continue to keep our advice concise, relevant and responsive to our clients’ needs.

So what does a typical day look like? I prefer being in the office, so I usually get in around 9am after dropping the kids off at school and nursery. A lot of my work involves drafting long agreements, so there is a lot of time spent in front of a screen. We have regular team catch-ups and training sessions in the diary and most client meetings tend to be via Teams. I also try and go for a walk at lunchtime and get a coffee from Mancoco to power me through the afternoon.

Coffee is a clear favourite of Danielle’s. When asked what she would be doing if she didn’t have a career in law, she responded: I have always quite fancied running my own café selling coffee and cake.

What’s more, if Danielle was managing partner for the day, the first thing she would do is install a coffee machine!

Outside of work, Danielle is kept busy by her three young children and a springer spaniel! We enjoy getting out into the nearby countryside and back to my home town of Blackpool whenever the weather allows. I also enjoy baking birthday cakes (for the kids, not the dog!) and yoga to de-stress.

Radhika Das joined Pannone in July 2018 as a Paralegal from a well-known HR services provider. In the last six years, Radhika has progressed to become an Associate in the firm’s employment team.

Radhika began her career at Pannone mid-way through its 10-year journey at which point it was clear what set it apart from other firms. “I was aware of the Pannone name and that it is well respected in the industry,” she says. “When I joined, the firm had been going for four years post-MBO and I felt it was an exciting time to join.”

In that time, a lot has changed at Pannone, with the employment team, in particular, growing to eight lawyers – a team that has plenty of experience behind it. “I received a team sheet on my first day which had the details of my team members, including the years they qualified,” explains Radhika. “I remember being impressed by the experience in the team and that some of them qualified in the 1990s!”

But it’s the team approach that Radhika values the most about the firm. “It sounds cliché but the people really are the best thing about Pannone, definitely,” she says. “Even though we operate a hybrid model, the office is always busy on any given day, and I think that is because everyone here genuinely enjoys working with their colleagues.”

The last six years have thrown up some real highlights for Radhika, including helping to plan the firm Christmas party in 2019. “It was the best work Christmas party I have been to, even if I do say so myself!”

She certainly has a lot to be proud of. “I joined the firm as a Paralegal,” she explains. “I qualified as a Legal Executive in 2021, I went back to University in 2022 to do my LPC part-time whilst continuing to work, and I finally cross-qualified as a Solicitor in 2023. I took the more scenic route to qualification, but I would not change a thing.”

While the firm has undoubtedly grown and developed during her time at Pannone, so too has the business community that sits around it. So what of the next 10 years?

“The North West business community is already growing rapidly and I can only envisage that this will continue over the next 10 years to level up with the South,” she says.

“In terms of the firm, I would like Pannone to continue investing in its people and talent and to carry on supporting alternative routes to qualification. Without that support, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she adds.

It’s hardly surprising that when asked to sum up Pannone in one word, the first that springs to Radhika’s mind is ‘talent’.

I was one of the founding partners who set up Pannone Corporate in 2014. We effectively performed an MBO of the commercial part of Pannone LLP – a top 50 law firm at the time. I joined Pannone LLP in 2004 as a partner, having worked at a regional law firm and two international law firms prior to that. I am now the firm’s senior partner – a role that I really enjoy, having been the managing partner when we formed ten years ago.

When the opportunity arose for a new firm to be created from the commercial teams at Pannone LLP, I knew it could work. I saw it as the “ best of both”,  in the sense that we were creating something completely new but with people and clients who had worked together for many years, in some cases almost 30 years.

Reassuringly familiar, but refreshingly different was always how I saw it. I believed that if our clients could see we were going to support them in the same way they had come to expect, with the same team of people, then they would give us a chance!  Even with this conviction I was still nervous – setting up a new law firm isn’t usually what you do, at least not back in 2014. There was a huge amount of work to be done by everyone involved to get us to the starting line. From the autumn of 2013 to February 2014, it was pretty much a non-stop adrenaline rush.

The firm today is both similar and very different to where we started. We have retained the vast majority of the clients we started off with, and many of the people who took the leap of faith with us are happily still here. We have also added many more new clients and team members since 2014, so it looks and feels different to 2014, while still retaining the strong culture that we started with.

The best thing
The best thing about my job is the daily interaction with our clients and team. I consider myself a people person and l like few things better in life than meeting clients (new or long established) and discussing their business, challenges, and opportunities.

Standout moments
My favourite memory of the last ten years? That is a difficult question. The launch party is definitely up there! I would also include every new client win, every tender success, and every time someone chooses to join us to spend part of their career with us. The legal profession is ultimately a people business, and we genuinely have a great group of people at Pannone which comes across to clients on a daily basis.

The achievement I am most proud of is helping to create a sustainable, profitable law firm that is able to offer its staff a supportive, engaging, and collegiate working environment. We are a stronger firm now than when we started off 10 years ago and that is down to our people and clients.

What also makes me proud is that so many clients, including household names such as boohoo, DHL, Iceland, and New Balance to name only a few, have placed their trust in us.

The future

I see the North West business community going from strength to strength in the next ten years, building on the incredible achievements during the last ten. With a change of government looking very likely in the next six months and a genuine commitment to more devolved powers to the region (amongst others) as a consequence of a new administration, it looks a promising outlook for our region.

For our firm, I see the next ten years as growth years. We have invested heavily in IT in the last 12 months and our new infrastructure puts us in a good place from which to grow – adding more people and more clients. We have never sought growth for the sake of it – we have always sought sustainable, profitable growth. I genuinely cannot see why more clients in the region and beyond would not want to see what we have to offer!

One word

If I had to describe us in one word – ambitious.

In the final piece in our series commenting on Manchester’s aims to achieve net zero by 2038, we look to the future and offer our predictions as to some of the key environmental issues for businesses going forwards.

Manchester’s objectives – and the UK as a whole – are clear, as are the opportunities for businesses to cooperate and participate in achieving net zero. As we have highlighted in our previous blogs, businesses can no longer shy away from their environmental impact, and must integrate ‘green’ issues and how they consider them in their day-to-day operations.

But what does this mean in practice?

Whilst environmental impact is not a new concern for businesses, unlike in the past, in the next few years the promotion of environmental objectives will be placed onto at least an equal footing and importance as other daily business concerns.

Appreciation of environmental impact

As we have highlighted in previous blogs in this series, there are many ways in which businesses can help contribute to Manchester’s goals.

All of these measures however require businesses to evaluate their environmental footprint, and then to take measures to address specific issues arising. For example, we have previously touched upon cycle to work schemes and onsite EV charging. Whilst not necessarily applicable to every business, these are perhaps obvious areas for businesses to consider if they can reduce their carbon impact.

Likewise, our blog series has also commented on the potential to retrofit the built environment. There are a number of potentially ‘easy wins’ in this regard, in terms of upgrading insulation and heating systems, but there are cost consequences.

We recommend that businesses take the time now to consider all aspects of their operations, and assess where and how measures can be taken to contribute to the net zero aims. It would be advantageous for businesses to undertake this task now, before they are compelled to do so, in order to best position themselves going forwards in light of expected growth in this area.

Lengthier due diligence exercises

As environmental awareness increases, and local and national drives to achieve net zero pick up pace, we anticipate that this will be reflected in more protracted and complicated due diligence exercises.

We have touched upon some of the relevant concerns within this series, but the net result will require businesses to consider additional matters when considering purchases and acquisitions. For example, where new build commercial properties are constructed with the benefit of on-site energy generation, issues of licensing, regulatory requirements and health and safety will need be incorporated into enquiries. The consequence of considering such additional matters will be to increase the cost of, and time required to complete, legal due diligence.

Cultural change

It is accepted that net zero cannot be achieved overnight, and will require a concerted and consistent approach across all sectors. That being said, change needs to start somewhere and may for many businesses require a cultural change and significant revision to their current operating procedures.

Such changes can only flow from the top of an organisation, and the active promotion and furtherance of environmental aims cannot be seen or treated as a simple tick-box exercise. The achievement of net zero will require a new mindset and a genuine prioritisation of the objectives to be achieved.

Solid foundation for environmental claims

In contributing to the region’s net zero aims, businesses may want to promote their own environmental credentials – either by way of encouragement of others, or to promote the steps they are taking. However, organisations must remain mindful that any ‘green’ claims they publish about themselves must be accurate and not misleading. Recent years have seen an almost overnight increase in the number of ‘greenwashing’ claims, and the Competition and Markets Authority is actively investigating claims of sustainability.

In order to avoid falling foul of these novel causes of action and litigation, businesses need to be conscious of the way in which they publicise their net zero actions and, where necessary, have in the background clear data to demonstrate the validity of their claims – for example, in terms of their environmental sustainability or net zero achievements.

Increasing importance of ESG scores

Environmental, social and governance scores have existed for many years, although historically they have been used by financial institutions to benchmark their performance against competitors and assess likelihood of default by a business.

The last few years has seen a rapid increase in their prevalence, across all sectors, and we predict that they will only play an ever more central role over the coming years. Not only does the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive serve to mandate the inclusion of ESG scores within companies’ annual reporting processes, but this information will also likely play an increasingly seismic role in M&A deals, and is already being seen as a key influencer in investment decisions:. Investors will require clear and unambiguous confirmation that their investments have verifiable ‘green’ credentials.

Carbon accountability

Han-in-hand with the increase in ESG scores, we anticipate that the next few years will see an increasing awareness, and benchmarking, of carbon accountability. Manchester has already provided information as to how much carbon its net zero measures have saved, and we consider it is only a matter of time before similar information is volunteered by other sectors.

To date, these scores have mainly been used by aviation companies to provide information as to the carbon impact of individual flights, but we anticipate their spread into construction, hospitality and retail.

As worldwide efforts to achieve net zero increase, and consumers become more alive to their own environmental impact, carbon scores will likely become increasingly omnipresent and a key driver of consumer behaviour. It may be the case that carbon limits are in time placed on businesses, and potentially individuals, as further drivers of change. For example, similar initiatives have been introduced by some banks which have already started to offer card accounts with an in-built carbon tracker.

In time, it may be the case that retail goods, and other purchases, are provided with an individual ESG/ carbon accountability score in much the same way that energy efficiency ratings currently attach to white goods.  We therefore recommend again that business look now at where their main carbon spend is occurring, and what measures may be available to address and reduce this.

War on plastic

Although our series has not focussed on the war on plastic, Manchester’s actions towards net zero are taking place against the national background of this issue. The government has stated its desire to avoid all avoidable waste by 2042, and recent years have seen the prohibition on sales of certain items, such as single-use plastic cutlery, and the introduction of the plastic bag charge.

Businesses are not immune to these measures and have been equally affected by the Plastic Packaging Tax and extended producer responsibilities, both of which serve to impose waste management cost obligations on businesses for the packaging they generate and handle.  Whilst the purpose of these regulations is to encourage and incentivise durability, repairability and recycling, and move away from disposal as the default option at a product’s end of life, the additional costs generated are almost certainly going to be passed on throughout the supply chain.

As part of the suggested internal review and assessment identified at the start of this piece, businesses need to start considering now whether any of their produced items can be redesigned using environmentally friendly components, or re-packaged in a way that supports environmental targets.

What does the future hold?

Absent of a crystal ball, no one can predict with certainty what tomorrow may bring, but so far as the achievement of net zero and climate action are concerned, the route is clear: preservation of the environment is to be promoted.

We suggested at the outset that businesses may want to consider now (before they are obliged to do so) what their environmental footprint is and how they may be able to reduce this so as to contribute not only to their immediate community, but also the wider objectives stated by Manchester and central government.

Whilst this will almost certainly result in immediate costs being incurred, these perhaps pale into insignificance given the greater good to be achieved.

Photo: Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn

In our penultimate article on Manchester’s intention to become a zero carbon city by 2038, we consider this week the built environment, the measures available to help contribute to objectives, and the implications for those involved in the management and/ or transaction of real estate.

Manchester’s Climate Change Framework estimates that housing, and the built environment generally, may contribute up to 30% of the city’s total carbon emissions. Real estate is therefore considered to be a key driver in efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, with buildings being categorised as ‘net zero’ if they have no net carbon emissions during either their construction or operation.

However, the obstacles to overcome to achieve this objective are two-fold: not only is it necessary to remedy defects or environmentally prejudicial characteristics within existing stock, which includes those premises constructed before there was the current awareness of climate change; but in addition, net zero requires that those buildings y