Over that time, we have gained an enviable reputation for the legal support we’ve provided to our clients; while our contribution to charities and our local community is well-known.
However, here at CooperBurnett LLP, our success is down to our people, who have been central to what we’ve achieved. Our longest-serving Partner, Victoria Sampson, marks 30 years with TeamCB tomorrow, while several of our 15 Partners aren’t far behind her.
Here, though, we hear from some of our amazing support staff, many of whom have spent their entire working lives with us at Napier House.
Incredibly, Paula Armstong, CooperBurnett’s very first employee – who joined in June 1981 – is still very much part of TeamCB (although she did leave us between 1990 and 2014 to bring up her children).
Here’s a little history lesson from Paula: “When I first joined the firm, it was known as IB Leslie & Co and, shortly afterwards, became IB Leslie, Cooper & Burnett. It was a much smaller organisation then and my role was PA to Nigel Burnett, who worked across all areas of law, particularly property and private client matters.”
“I clearly remember my first day - sitting down to take shorthand dictation and then typing up the correspondence,” continues Paula. “We also prepared Wills and leases, where accuracy was essential. The learning curve was steep but it has undoubtedly stood me in good stead for my current role as PA to Victoria Sampson and Russell Brinkhurst, as well as supporting the wider Corporate and Commercial team.”
She says: “It has been fascinating to witness how office life has evolved. I remember being the only member of staff trained to operate the telex machine. We then progressed to electric typewriters with line-by-line displays, which felt incredibly advanced. The arrival of computers, however, was transformative; I recall booting up the system each morning - a process that took some time!”
“Someone said to me recently that I must have CooperBurnett running through my veins,” continues Paula. “I feel a genuine passion for the firm and its people. We are all committed to delivering the very best service to our clients and, while we work hard, we also have fun and support one another through thick and thin.”
After 24 years away, Paula had no hesitation in coming back: “Returning felt truly special - I walked in and was greeted by so many familiar faces. It is often said by new joiners that they feel part of TeamCB straightaway and that’s something very special to be part of.”
Among those colleagues Paula would have recognised on her return were Debbie Charman, Lorraine Constable and Alison Wood – all of whom have remarkably been with us for more than 40 years!
Debbie Charman joined CooperBurnett in July 1985, aged 17.
“Initially, it was just to do a two-week holiday cover for general office but I was offered a full-time job at the end,” says Debbie. “The firm has always had a ‘family’ feel to it. Judith Slater, the original office manager, helped install the values within the firm, to help each other out, to be able to discuss problems that arose, making sure everyone was happy. That ‘we are all approachable’ feeling has stayed and I’m proud to still be part of the team.”
Alison Wood, now a PA in our Residential Property team, also joined us in 1985, initially as a temp in our then Crowborough office (now the location of the town’s popular Jade’s Palace restaurant).
“I was taken on as a permanent secretary and worked for Clare Codd,” says Alison. “At that time, we used electronic manual typewriters, with carbon paper, audio dictation and even shorthand. I left in 1987 to work in London.”
Alison returned to the fold in 2005, as a float secretary.
“I was then the mother of young children and CooperBurnett provided me with stability and flexibility,” she continues. “By then, technology had moved on, the manual typewriters were (almost) gone; we had computers and emails were starting to be a thing.”
Lorraine Constable stepped through the doors of Napier House on 8 July 1986. Today she is conveyancing assistant to Partner Lisa Connolly, in our Residential Property team and was previously Jonathan Smithers’ PA for 20 years.
“I enjoy working for the firm and with the people,” she says. “It has a real family feel.”
Hazel Thompson joined us the following year, on 1 June 1987 and, today, is PA to our Head of Residential Property, Jennifer Irving.
“I started out in General Office and, after a few years in the word processing department, I became secretary to Martin Athey (for nine years) and PA to Nigel Burnett for almost 10 years,” remembers Hazel. “During that time, I realised my love for residential conveyancing. Even today, being the one to tell a client they can collect the keys to their new home - especially first-time buyers - is the best part of the job!”
She continues: “I started my first full-time job at the tender age of 15, as a very quiet and shy girl. But, under the guidance and mentoring of Judith Slater (then Practice Manager) and Angela May, I gained confidence. As I progressed, I learned so much from experienced colleagues such as Clare Codd, Carol Higdon and later Jennifer Irving, to name but a few.”
Hazel reveals that, many years ago, she did leave TeamCB…
“On the very first day of that new job, I realised that the grass wasn’t greener and, thankfully, CooperBurnett took me back!” she says. “TeamCB really is a family. In today’s world where we can work from home, it is all too easy to become detached from colleagues but, when I’m back in the office, it really does feel like ‘coming home’. The support and flexibility given to me from the partners over a few difficult years has made me realise that loyalty does pay. The highlight of my time here must be the lifelong friends I have made and, nearly four decades later, being here to celebrate 45 years of CooperBurnett!”
PA to Partner, Joseph Oates, Sue Ward became part of TeamCB 27 years ago, in February 1999.
“I joined CooperBurnett as a secretary in the litigation department until I went on maternity leave,” she says. “After my return, I worked as a ‘float’ secretary in various departments before moving back to litigation to work with Joseph and, 26 years later, we’re still a team!”
Sue says that when she joined TeamCB in 1999, she ‘immediately felt at home’ and the highlight of her time must be her ‘wonderful colleagues!”
She adds: “Over the years, the partners have been so flexible with any requests to change my working hours and I’ve really appreciated that, as it’s helped create a great work/life balance. From the beginning, everyone was so welcoming and generous with their time and this friendly and caring environment has not been lost, even as the firm has grown. Put simply, this is a happy place to work!”
