35 Under 35: Caroline Doran, Partner, Sprecher Grier Halberstam LLP

by Elizabeth Harrin (London)

“Anyone who sees employment law as “touchy feely” probably hasn’t had a HR problem,” says Caroline Doran, partner at London law firm Sprecher Grier Halberstam LLP. “HR problems need a lawyer who can be commercial simultaneously as dealing with understandably emotional clients who may be stressed about paying mortgages, school fees or, if a company, protecting the business and profits.”

And on top of that, the work changes with the economic climate – something employment lawyers have to keep up to date with and plan accordingly. “In the past few months we have seen a disturbing trend,” says Doran, “although thankfully the redundancies have slowed. Many employees are reporting that work ethics have deteriorated. A high flying executive in a London bank commented that it was as if she had been transported back 40 years in terms of the behaviour of the management and what was deemed acceptable. In her opinion, some appear to have the attitude that people are ‘lucky’ to have a job in this climate and will simply have to put up with boorish behaviour.”

Doran, who specialises in both contentious and non-contentious employment issues, is pragmatic about how the difficult economy is affecting those working with less-than-perfect management. She believes that there is an element of truth in the attitude that people have to keep their heads down and ignore work ethics that would have been unacceptable not that long ago. “Only the bravest or those who cannot face another day of mistreatment will jump ship in this economic climate,” she explains. “However, we expect a glut of claims in coming months and years using the current pattern of behaviour as evidence of mistreatment or discrimination.”

It’s something that Doran is well prepared for – she’s never wanted to be anything except an employment lawyer, after her original dream to be part of the Cagney and Lacey team faded. “My school work experience programme sent me to the Employment Tribunal which gave me an insight into the cut and thrust of employment issues for businesses and staff,” she says. “I saw first-hand the passion this issue was fought by both sides and the commercial impact of the decisions. I knew then that I was going to be an employment lawyer.”

Over the years Doran has seen – and won cases for – a huge number of diverse clients, some of whom make front page news. She says it is often a pleasure to “fight tooth and nail” for their cause. “Although a win is always satisfying,” she adds, “there is nothing like achieving a great result for a client who you respect and have become close to over the previous weeks, months or even years.”

In many companies, HR professionals are often women, at least until you get to Board level. Does employment law show the same bias? “At Sprecher Grier Halberstam LLP we have a large employment team and the team happens to be entirely female at the moment,” says Doran. “So there is certainly anecdotal evidence that employment law does appeal to some female lawyers.”

However, as with many aspects of gender and employment, that is not the whole picture. “One of my male clients recommended me to his best friend on the basis that his friend needed a lawyer who could be a ‘Rottweiler’ to sort out his dispute. My clients simply want a great employment lawyer – I really don’t think they care if I am male or female.” 

“I see no evidence that women opt for something because it is more attune with their ‘feminine’ skills,” says Doran. “I think increasingly we pursue the career which interests us.”

So, if employment law does interest you, what does Doran suggest? “The law firms I have worked in have always actively supported female talent,” she explains. “I trained with Berwin Leighton Paisner and it had The Adelaide Group, a networking forum for women business leaders, which made me appreciate at an early age in my career that there was a special bond at female networking events.” Specher Grier Halberstam runs focused events for female clients and staff, ranging from sailing at Cowes Regatta to attending London Fashion week.

Doran is a big fan of networking – and even makes time to do it on her vacations. “When I’ve been on holidays or away for a long weekend I have taken thirty minutes to meet up with one of the lawyers in another country for a coffee or a drink – whether in New York or Istanbul,” she says. “Next time you have a trip across the Atlantic, just arrange to meet one contact for a coffee – you never know what will come as a result of that meeting.”

She also recommends taking advantage of any industry groups. “Sprecher Grier Halberstam is a member of LEGUS, an international organisation for law firms, and this gives us great links across Europe and throughout America.” Meeting other people at industry events gives you the opportunity to learn from the experts. “The best advice was given to me by a LEGUS event by Linda A Klein, a Managing Shareholder in the Atlanta, Georgia office of law firm Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC,” Doran says. “Linda is one of the most accomplished female lawyers I have ever met. She shared some of her secrets of her success which included not shying away from the hard fact that it takes a lot of time and effort. Linda reminded us that firstly we had to get out there to meet people, if you are not networking then you aren’t going to be in the game.”

Networking internationally is as important as networking locally. The workplace is more global now, and a lot of employment law at a senior level involves an international element. In addition to creating and keeping up with your international contacts, it is a good opportunity to find out how other countries work.

“I was fortunate to attend a Women’s Retreat hosted by Becker & Poliakoff, a leading Florida Law firm,” says Doran. During her trip to Miami she realised that the same issues are important to female professionals in America as in London, but that the lawyers had different tips for what worked well. “One of the top tips that came out of the Retreat was that many of the female professionals found it effective to send hand written thank you cards or notes and diarise clients’ and contacts’ birthdays,” Doran explains. “This personal and, in my view, distinctly feminine touch, is something I have exported back to the UK and have found it invaluable.”

It does take time to network successfully, but as Doran points out, there are more tools available today – like LinkedIn – to make the job easier. It’s all about being in regular contact, even if that is just a coffee every so often or sending them a note when there is something in the press that is relevant to their professional or personal life. “It may appear obvious advice but following it has made a huge difference in my professional career and personally; as if you are lucky some of the contacts will cross the lines to friendships,” she says.