In the staid and often stolid world of law, disruption is not a term often associated with the legal profession. Yet, at A City Law Firm , disruption is our modus operandi. From pioneering payment plans to engaging with cutting-edge technology, we have redefined what it means to be a modern legal practice in the UK.
Our journey, led by a visionary female founder, showcases that innovation and legal expertise can coexist to create a truly unique and impactful firm. Couple that with friendly proactive solicitors where family life and social life are also embraced, creating an environment that people want to work in and that people want to engage with we think the firm stands out, what about you?
Breaking the Mould: A New Approach to Legal Services
From the outset, we were told our strategies would never work. Fixed fees and 12-month payment plans were scoffed at. Our name was deemed too innocuous. Yet, these very elements have become the cornerstone of our brand, fostering client engagement and retention.
Our approach is simple yet revolutionary: provide high-quality legal services with transparency and a personal touch. We are not your average high street solicitors. Our expertise lies in emerging technologies such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, drones, and artificial intelligence. We support large investment rounds and help scale numerous businesses, anticipating future regulations and drafting forward-thinking documents.
We were one of the first lawyers on the drone panel advising on potential future regulation, drafting documents as if regulation existed, and being a part of some exciting journeys. For example, our clients Bellweather creating an autonomous two-seater flying vehicle, or Ark simulations using AI to train and improve sports professionals – these are just a selection of exciting journeys.
Client-Centric and Community-Oriented
We pride ourselves on being local neighbourhood lawyers with a global perspective. Our doors are always open—literally. Clients can ring our doorbell and come in for a chat, a feature that adds a personal touch to our otherwise high-tech and high-stakes services. Despite our friendly approach, we handle complex and significant matters, from due diligence for high-net-worth individuals to litigation in the High Court.
So what can an average day look like? Frankly there isn’t one , which makes this fun….
One day, while on holiday, our founder was asked to support one of her high-net-worth individuals whose son had gone missing. This was not part of her remit of legal services, but immediately she was able to reach out to a USA lawyer who put out a BOLO (Be On the LookOut) and located her son in a hospital. Within 24 hours, she secured a Security team to fly out to New York, to protect her son and bring him home
On another occasion, a freezing order was placed on one of her company clients, preventing him from accessing mortgage payments, legal expenses, and running his business. Immediately, proceedings were issued at court to release funds to defend the matter, which was subsequently thrown out of court due to the impropriety of the claimant. Seventy-five percent of the costs were recovered from the other side, payable to her client.
Last year, an investment deal was almost lost due to a large traditional law firm taking too long and misunderstanding the complex deal. We jumped in and rescued the deal, restructured it with a tax advisor. Not only did we make sure the deal went through, but it was also more tax-efficient and beneficial through our expert advisors.
A few years ago, a standard debt recovery matter led to a county court claim, where we were successful in acting for our client as a claimant. Not only did we recover the full monies and costs, but the defendant was so impressed they subsequently instructed us on all of their next litigation matters. Clearly, not against our client.
A Day in the Life: Diverse, Dynamic, Disruptive
No two days are the same. Karen Holden tells us, ‘One moment we might be immersed in a high-stakes litigation, and the next, crafting insightful articles on AI and cryptocurrency for publication. Our social media presence is vibrant, ensuring our clients and the broader community stay informed about our activities and achievements so we need to think on this too’
She adds, ‘We thrive on diversity—not just in our client base, which spans numerous industries and geographies, but in our daily operations. Whether it’s drafting bespoke documents for technology businesses or celebrating an award, our team is constantly engaged in meaningful and challenging work. Our high-net-worth clients keep us on our toes with due diligence & litigation, even hiring other law firms to assist with matters outside of our remit such as immigration. Our entrepreneurs keep our fingers on the pulse with due diligence on companies they are looking to buy or invest in, and our technology scale up businesses certainly keep us fast-paced in adapting documents to meet an ever evolving world of AI and emerging tech. We love the fact that this diversity in clients and business means that we never get bored and we are always challenged on a daily basis.’
Leadership and Inspiration: A Female-Led Success Story
Our story , we believe, is particularly inspiring for female entrepreneurs. Founded 16 years ago with just £5000 and a suitcase of files, our firm has grown into an award-winning leader in the legal field. Our founder’s journey, balancing the demands of building a thriving business with family and social life, serves as a beacon for other women aiming to break into this traditionally male-dominated sector.
We are passionate about showing that women can achieve their goals and lead with confidence. Our leadership is not just about steering the firm but about inspiring the next generation of female founders and business specialists. We even run a female founders growth programme to help inspire other female founders as we’re both enthusiastic and committed to helping females thrive in this competitive London market.
Always Innovating, Always Evolving
We are perpetually challenging and pushing boundaries. Traditional is not in our vocabulary. We will, where necessary, embrace long hours and hard work, knowing that every effort contributes to our clients’ success and our firm’s growth. Yet we value social and family life, so we also play hard to create a wonderful environment for our team as well as our clients. Whether it’s navigating complex investment matters or predicting future regulations, our dedication to innovation and excellence never wavers. We have even been invited to Dubai to educate founders about the openings available to them in the UAE as trusted advisors, which is a real accolade and extremely exciting
Fun Facts and Final Thoughts
We believe in having a bit of fun too. Our team collectively speaks four language languages , comes from six different territories, and we have ex-military and reserve employees. Our founder was invited and given freedom of the city for her work on equality so actually walked sheep across London Bridge. One of the directors had a criminal barrister background and was converted into commercial law during her internship. The longest serving member of staff is 15 years (we are only 16yrs old). These small details make us not just a law firm, but a community of passionate, forward-thinking professionals.
Balancing Family and Career: A Commitment to Work-Life Harmony
We believe that having a family should never be a barrier to a thriving career. Our culture is family-friendly, recognising that many of our team members, both men and women, have young children and work around their family commitments to enjoy the best of both worlds. Our founder herself has a child and managed to significantly increase revenue and build the business while raising a young child. This ethos extends to our directors and staff, proving that family life and professional excellence are not mutually exclusive. We inspire and support our young professionals to grow within the business, assuring them that when they choose to start a family, they will remain integral to our team. Our commitment to flexibility ensures that our clients receive the same high-quality service, with a personal touch that reflects our understanding of the importance of work-life balance.
Being a lawyer does not mean long hours, ego, hourly billing, and stress. While some of this does, of course, happen and nothing will be perfect, we also have an exciting task of looking after our clients, achieving their goals, and celebrating their successes. Family and social life can be enjoyed, and careers and targets and barriers pushed, so that everything you want to achieve is without the stress and strain projected by many law firms.
In conclusion, being a disruptive lawyer at A City Law Firm means more than just practising law. It means innovating, inspiring, and constantly evolving to meet the needs of our clients in the most effective and engaging ways possible. We are excited about the future and the ongoing work that lies ahead, always ready to embrace the next challenge and opportunity.