Yorkshire Christmas catch-up: Lake Legal’s Lyn Ayrton

As Christmas is right around the corner, and the businesspeople of Yorkshire are preparing to hang up their stockings, Bdaily is running a December interview series with a holiday twist.

As you already know, we at Bdaily love to bring our readers closer to the stories we write. So this month, we’re asking the questions we don’t usually get a chance to ask - giving you the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the businesses you often read about.

For the series’ first interview, we are speaking with Lyn Ayrton, managing partner of Lake Legal, a Leeds-based family law firm that recently expanded with the opening of a new office in Manchester.

Your Business

Hello Lyn, so what were the highlights for your business in 2015?

Having won the Yorkshire Legal Awards the previous year, it would be difficult to top that as a highlight. On a personal level, being able to close the office and take the whole team to Ladies Day at York Races in August, will always stand out for me. I have a great team and it was wonderful to be able to do something that was out of the ordinary for us during the usual working week.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently this year?

To be honest, there isn’t – I am pleased to say that we have had a really successful last 12 months, with the team going from strength to strength.

What’s in store for Lake Legal in 2016?

We are looking to build on our newly opened Manchester office - taking our Yorkshire approach (down to earth and value for money) across the Pennines.

Your favourites

Have any other Yorkshire companies caught your eye this year? if so - why?

Stonebridge Offices Limited, who own our office building, have really flourished this year, opening a Manchester office, and winning Business Centre of the Year award, which they justly deserve. I know the owner, Darren Stubbs, really well, and he and I share the same values, and approach to our respective businesses.

When business life gets on top of you, what do you do to destress?

I talk whatever is troubling me through with one or two really close friends, a problem shared and all that. Running your own business without another partner can seem lonely at times, so it’s important to be able to confide in people who will listen and support you.

Who has been your favourite social media personality this year? Any accounts stood out for you?

In my line of work (family law), you become wary of social media. Sure it connects people but sometimes not the people who should be connected! Not being a fan of Facebook, I would however probably now have dinner with Mark Zuckerberg, following the announcement of the multi-billion pounds donation to charitable causes he and his wife, Priscilla, intend to make following the birth of their first child. I think he’ll still have enough to pick up the dinner bill though.

The what ifs

If you could do any job in the world what would it be?

I wanted to be a lawyer from the age of 13 so I am fortunate that I genuinely love what I do. If I had to choose another job though it would probably have been on the theatrical stage, although I would have to develop a better singing voice!

If you could go back in time, which piece of advice would you give your younger self?

There’s no such thing as a safety net, sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith. I have a sign on my desk that one of my friends gave to me that reads ‘if you fear to fall, you’ll never fly’, which I think is pretty much how I feel.

And finally, what would be the perfect Christmas gift for you?

My family all around me.

Thank you for your time Lyn, Merry Christmas for the Bdaily team!

To feature in our Yorkshire Christmas catch-up series, contact Nick at nick.hill@bdaily.co.uk.