In this series, we introduce some of the people that make up Stephens Scown. We learn about their expertise, what drew them to join the legal profession and find out a little bit about who they are outside of work.
Here we introduce Ella Taylor, a trainee solicitor in our Real Estate team.
Can you share with us a little bit about your role and a typical day?
The majority of my working day is based around negotiating property documentation. That could be leases where I’m acting for the landlord or tenant, or working on the property side of Corporate deals, such as business sales and M&As. The work is varied, but my goal is always to make the process as easy as possible for the client, by understanding what they’re looking to achieve, and working with them towards getting the best possible outcome.
As a confirmed food and drink enthusiast, the rest of my day is spent drinking a lot of tea and trying not to distract my colleagues by asking them “what are you having for dinner”.
Why did you choose to specialise in Real Estate?
I undertook a training contract in Rural Real Estate, Construction, Corporate, and Commercial Property. I knew quite early on that Real Estate was my favourite seat. The work I get to do and the client interactions really stood out, and I enjoyed seeing the impact of that work on the businesses and individuals that I was helping.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
It’s great to be able to tell your client you have completed on their transaction. As commercial property is a transactional team, you get to build some good relationships with your client, agents and lawyers on the other side.
That camaraderie and collaborative way of working together on a matter never gets old, knowing that you have a team supporting you and being able to support others is a great feeling.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be and why?
I would love to have been a primary school teacher. I think I have the energy to keep up with them, and I love getting to share stories and pass on knowledge. Getting hands-on and doing craftwork would be fun too!
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I have a little dog called Ted who keeps me on my toes, and we spend weekends at the beach if it’s sunny, and with family and friends. I have grown up in the South West, so I’m lucky to live near my family and to see them so much.
In the colder months, I love going for a winter walk and a Sunday roast. Ted also loves a Sunday roast.
What does it mean to work for Stephens Scown, what makes us different?
I have worked at Stephens Scown since 2020, first as a paralegal in the Intellectual Property, Data Protection and Technology team for two years before starting my training contract.
For me, it’s genuinely the people. The team is very supportive, and we get through the stressful times by having a laugh and helping each other. I always feel like they have my back, which is important as a young lawyer starting my career.