Name: Jayne Croft
Company: Glenville Walker
Position: Senior Associate Solicitor
What do you actually do day-to-day? I deal mostly with corporate transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, company reorganisations and banking/ financing/investments. This means reviewing and drafting a lot of documents, advising clients on what they mean, negotiating the terms of documents and project managing a transaction to a conclusion. I always love the initial meeting with a client especially when it’s face to face as we get to really get under the skin of their business and find out what makes them tick.
Have you ever had a mentor? If so, who? Not a mentor as such, but I’ve come across a lot of role model type people in my time who’ve all influenced me in their own ways.
Does money motivate you? It goes a long way, yes. But recognition and appreciation for a job well done also help.
What has been the most important event in your working life? Probably the point when I realised that I have as much right to be here as anyone else. I spent a lot of time when I was newly qualified feeling like I didn’t fit and fighting imposter syndrome. It still rears its head every now and again, but I just try to own it now.
Who do you most admire? I would have to say my mum. She’s the CEO of Centre 63 which is a youth club and community centre in Kirkby. She genuinely cares and every day she goes in and fights for those kids and the local community, whether that is for funding or access to advice or education. It’s pretty awe inspiring to watch and now me and my sister (who is a nurse and number 2 on my list of amazing people) know where we get our strong work ethic from!
What does leadership mean to you? I think you can learn a lot about leadership from books and courses, but a lot of it comes down to mindset and having those skills naturally. It’s inherent in our industry (and other traditionally partner led businesses) that good lawyers are promoted into management roles but being a good lawyer doesn’t automatically equate to good leadership. If you’re lucky enough to have both, it’s a powerful mix.
What’s your favourite TV programme? Currently it’s Yellowstone, but True Blood and Ted Lasso are definitely up there as all time favourites.
How do you relax? Not sure it’s that relaxing, but most weekends you can find me and Mylo strutting our stuff at a dog show.
Fry up or healthy smoothie? Fry up
Pub or club? Pub. Extra points if there’s live music or karaoke. I’m looking at you, the Croc.
Gym or countryside walk? Country walk with the dog in tow. Particularly if there’s a pub lunch at the end of it. Gym… what’s one of those?!
Favourite piece of music? My taste in music is probably too random to pick just one. Some of the artists that make regular appearances in my Spotify ‘On Repeat’ playlist include Gerry Cinnamon, Jamie Webster, John Mayer, Eminem and Tupac.
Flannels or Florence & Fred? Bit of both!
Birkdale or Birkenhead? Birkdale. In the words of Jamie Webster, I’m a ‘North End Kid’.