In conversation with: Grace Walton

Grace Walton joined the firm as people and culture director in March 2024. At Lodders, she leads and coordinates the delivery of the firm’s strategic and operational HR function, people initiatives, and talent management activities, as well as developing the People team.

Culture: it’s hard to get and easy to lose

Integral to Grace’s role is fostering a strong company culture at Lodders and ensuring this is consistent across all our offices, providing an environment where our people can develop and thrive. After all, a positive workplace culture undoubtedly plays a key role in driving growth and success in a law firm, as Grace explains: “Culture is everything – it’s the fundamental underpinning of a business and the reason people come to work and do the work they do. Culture is the reason people stay; it’s hard to get and easy to lose.”

Lodders is embarking on a new phase of growth and development. Central to this strategy is our newly expanded People team, dedicated to bringing in the very best talent to the firm whilst conserving our culture. “Introducing new people to a well-established culture can be challenging,” says Grace. “But our People team is here to enhance what Lodders already has. The firm has strength in the personal connections our people have fostered. Whether you’ve been here for your whole career or just a few months like me, the personal relationships built across the matrix are invaluable. The understanding people have of each other, the way they work, and the things they want to achieve is hugely impressive.”

Attracting top-tier talent

Talent attraction and retention is another key area of focus for the People team. “Trainee recruitment and pipeline are hugely important and are currently undergoing a reshape,” Grace explains. “We want to ensure we attract top-tier talent and provide these individuals with the best experience. For a firm like Lodders, it is vital that we ‘grow our own’ and retain that talent.”

As part of this, the People team will be focusing on developing staff across the firm to their full potential. This includes ensuring everyone has access to clear career progression routes, soft skills training, and ongoing upskilling opportunities. “We are keen to ensure Lodders offers an excellent workplace experience for both new recruits and the existing workforce,” Grace says, “with opportunities for greater collaboration and supervision, as well as a benefits package that adds real value to each and every team member.”

Workplace benefits

Whilst salary remains a crucial factor, Grace notes there has been a noticeable shift since the pandemic in the value placed on additional benefits in the workplace. “This is why culture plays such a huge part,” she says. “People want to know that they’re going to do high-quality work for great clients and that they’re going to be mentored, developed, and supported. This is particularly true for trainees and younger generations.”

Looking to the future, Grace comments: “With more than 240 years of rich history under its belt, Lodders is no ordinary law firm and I’m really excited to harness the firm’s brilliant potential and explore new possibilities for growth and success.”

Click here to read Lodders Life Issue 10 in full.