In the latest edition of Realm Talks To… we spoke to Joanne Perritt, Head of Commercial Property at Myerson Solicitors. During their conversation, Joanne told us about what the future holds for the team at Myerson, what Joanne looks for in a lawyer when hiring and why Altrincham is a fantastic place to work.
How do you start your working day?
I like to start my day early (whether that’s in the office in Altrincham or working from home) as I find I am most productive first thing before the distractions of the day kick in. Every working day, wherever I am, starts with at least three cups of strong builder’s tea and a review of my to-do list, to identify my priorities for the day. Once a month, we have a team breakfast, which is a great chance for a proper catch-up on the gossip with everyone over a coffee and a pastry.
What would you say sets Myerson apart from other law firms?
It is a cliché, but it really is the people and the culture of Myerson that I think sets it apart from other law firms and makes it a fantastic place to work. We have a genuinely supportive culture with no individual time recording or billing targets – we have a team budget which each team works together towards achieving. The firm takes wellbeing and training extremely seriously and we have a wide range of training and assistance of various types available to help make sure that our people are fully supported in all areas of their life, not just their work life.
We undertake city-centre calibre work, which is demonstrated by the fact we won the Property Team of the Year category at the 2021 Manchester Legal Awards, but we do this work in a really pleasant environment where we work collaboratively with colleagues and clients. I am biased of course, but I think we have managed to create something really special, where we have the best of both worlds!
Altrincham has just been named one of the best places to live in the UK…what is it like working in Altrincham?
We are extremely proud of our roots in Altrincham and it has been amazing to see the regeneration of the town, which is still ongoing today. When I first started working in the town 15 years ago, it was a very different place with not much to do or see. We now have a fantastic array of shopping, eating and drinking establishments as well as a thriving professionals scene. A lot of businesses have realised that they don’t need to be in the city centre, particularly since the pandemic. We really enjoy being a part of the local community and we are proud to support Trafford Domestic Abuse Services and Manchester Mind as our chosen Firm charities. The Myerson Bee has also become quite a famous landmark in the town and families in particular love to visit it as they pass by the office.
What do the next 12 months hold for Myerson?
2022 sees the 40th anniversary of the firm and we are very excited about the celebrations with clients and colleagues which are coming up in the next couple of months. The firm has continued to grow organically over the last few years and is having its best financial year ever this year. We plan to build on that over the next twelve months by continuing to provide a fantastic service to clients both existing and new. We have also recently added a dedicated insolvency team and look forward to developing that sector over the coming months.
When it comes to recruiting for the team at Myerson, what do you look for in a lawyer?
We have five core values which we live by as a firm and which we look for when recruiting new members into the team. We find we don’t go far wrong when we recruit people who understand and are on board with our core values, which include being professional but friendly and approachable, taking responsibility and being commercial, producing consistently high-quality work and being innovative, creative and entrepreneurial. We look for people who really want to get stuck in and make their mark in the firm, no matter what level they are starting at. We are a meritocracy and progression is based on each individual’s hard work, talent and dedication.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I have two children, so I am very much a taxi service for them and chief cheerleader and snack provider beside the swimming pool and football pitch. In any spare time after that, I like to keep fit by going to the gym (I’ve discovered early morning classes since lockdown and have surprised myself by really enjoying a HIIT class at 6.45 am a few times a week!) and walking in the Lake District. I’m also a member of a local choral society, which I love.
When you’re having a bad day, what do you do to make yourself feel better?
I find singing a fantastic way to de-stress after a bad day and so choir practice is always a good one. Failing that, my two cats are always pleased to see me, so a cuddle with them whilst binge-watching something on Netflix generally works wonders!
About Joanne Perritt
Joanne is a Partner and the head of the Real Estate Team at Myerson. The Myerson Real Estate Group is one of the largest real estate groups in the North West outside of the big city centre firms and is consistently ranked in the Top Tier of the Legal 500. Recognised as a leading individual in the Legal 500, Joanne is the client relationship partner for the majority of the department’s largest clients and leads the team on key transactions across the sector.
Joanne is a member of the Board at Myerson and is also the firm’s Training Principal.
To find out more about Joanne and the team at Myerson visit their website www.myerson.co.uk.
