Dee, previously Head of Legal at HL Solicitors, has significant debt recovery and commercial litigation experience. She advises a wide range of education clients, including universities, on all aspects of managing their debt portfolios.
Dee was the winner of the Best in Legal Services Award 2015 at the Annual BI awards, in association with BDO, and winner of the Best in Debt Recovery Services 2015 UK by Acquisition International Legal Awards.
What attracted you to joining VWV?
Having worked with education clients and with the London Universities Purchasing Consortium (LUPC) over a number of years, my first consideration was to join a firm that had an excellent reputation, focus and experience within the sector.
It was important that the firm had a strong education client base and had the ambition to grow this area. VWV hits all these targets. I was also excited by the prospect of working with our offices in Bristol, London and Birmingham, and our new base in Watford.
What type of work have you done with higher education clients?
Anything and everything to do with debt recovery, including working with clients on the recovery of tuition fees, accommodation fees, commercial and sundry debts. I have been instructed on the smallest of debts, such as library fines, to medium sized tuition fees and large commercial debts.
The key to our success is that we work in partnership with clients to provide specific solutions to their problems, with a view to continuously improving our service. We are large enough to handle instructions of all sizes, including substantial volume work, whilst still retaining the personal touch.
We offer a complete debt recovery service incorporating pre-legal collections, trace and legal solutions, which gives us the flexibility that clients expect. We take into account commercial considerations, reputational risk and cost budgets. We evaluate the best course of action in any given situation by considering a number of factors such as the size of the debt, age of the debt, debt type, debtor type and debtor status on which we can make an informed recommendation to clients as to their best options for recovery.
I have had the privilege of working closely with the LUPC and the quality of service was reflected in being the number one ranked supplier for debt recovery service provisions. This agreement was adopted by the SUPC, APUC, NEUPC, NWUPC and HEPCW.
What else do you do beyond what would be expected from your daily role?
I am an ambassador of a networking group called TAG. This networking group helps trainees, apprentices, graduates and students within all sectors across the West Midlands.
I spend time mentoring law students, graduates and trainees in the soft skills needed to be successful in law. I often give talks and seminars to students on how to become a successful lawyer, how to win clients, how best to network and helping with career advice. It's also really rewarding attending a number of networking events to help connect students and trainees to the business sector.
I have been re-elected for the fifth year onto the Executive Committee and maintain an influential position on the Board at the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) in Birmingham. The ABCC is part of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group and specialises in supporting the needs of businesses across the West Midlands. The organisation works closely with the Chamber to lobby on the key issues and concerns faced by its members, whilst also providing a range of regular networking events.
Other commitments outside of normal working hours include my work as an elected member of the Birmingham Law Society Council. It was established in 1818 and is now the largest Local Law Society in the country, representing over 4,400 solicitors, barristers, legal executives, trainee solicitors and paralegals in 130 practices in Birmingham and the Greater Midlands. The Birmingham Law Society is a membership organisation offering a number of benefits that are relevant to today's legal community.
What makes your approach different to others in your profession?
I work very hard at understanding my clients, their businesses, their sectors, their needs and requirements. It is important that I understand from the beginning the context in which they operate.
Being a good listener is key to helping clients achieve their desired outcome in a cost effective and timely fashion, and always without legal jargon.
Can you sum yourself up in five words?
Confident, ambitious, approachable, reliable and charismatic.