Episode 11 – Karen Holden – Motivated by respect for others

In this episode of Doing the Opposite: Business Disruptors, Jeff Dewing speaks to Karen Holden, founder of A City Law Firm. She established the firm to provide experienced and dynamic solicitors in the City of London, who could think outside the box, whilst delivering at competitive costs.

Karen was invited and given freedom of the City in 2019 for her work in Equality as such is part of the Guild of Freeman. She has also attended 10 Downing Street where she was awarded small business of the year.

From humble beginnings, Karen describes what motivated her to work multiple jobs alongside her A-Levels to achieve and ultimately provide a better life for her family.

Karen was disillusioned by many of the practices she experienced in the legal profession. She found many firms to be too focussed on money and billable hours, rather than the needs of clients and welfare of staff. Karen decided to launch her own firm, operating a very different model, with a view to changing the sector for the better.

Karen also reveals how her business adapted quickly to the pandemic, and the lessons they’ve taken from that to inform business decisions and operations moving forward.