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’.