From Career Break to Partner: How Natalie Quinlivan Rebuilt Her Career After Motherhood

From Career Break to Partner: How Natalie Quinlivan Rebuilt Her Career After Motherhood

In this episode of If You Ask Me, Hannah and Sarah speak with Natalie Quinlivan, Partner in the Dispute Resolution team at Fieldfisher, about her  route to partnership and what she learned from briefly stepping away from private practice to raise her young family. Natalie shares how she took a two-and-a-half-year career break, navigated the uncertainty of returning to law during the pandemic, and deliberately set herself the challenge of making partner within two years of returning to practice—a goal she successfully achieved. The conversation explores the realities of rebuilding confidence after maternity leave, the importance of coaching, sponsorship and honest feedback, and how becoming a parent reshaped Natalie's approach to leadership, ambition and success. She discusses the practical support systems that enabled her career progression, why culture matters when choosing a firm, and how women can advocate for themselves rather than waiting to be recognised. Natalie also reflects on the challenges of balancing partnership with raising young children, the importance of building a personal and professional support network, and why she believes motherhood has made her a stronger lawyer rather than holding her back. If You Ask Me is sponsored by BlckBx, the life admin personal assistant behind professional working families - saving you time, mental load and giving you back your energy. Sign up at blckbx.co.uk [http://blckbx.co.uk/] and get 10% off with code Blue10

The Squiggly Moments That Shape Your Career with Aoife McDonagh

In this episode of If You Ask Me, Hannah and Sarah speak with Aoife McDonagh, Partner in the Funds & Investment Management Group at Maples Group, about building a successful legal career while navigating motherhood, ambition, leadership and career change.  Aoife reflects on beginning her career during the global financial crisis, securing a training contract at a time when opportunities were scarce and how the relationships and team culture she experienced early on continue to shape her approach to leadership today. She also discusses the impact of AI and innovation on legal practice and what firms must do to attract and retain talent, particularly women. The conversation explores the "squiggly moments" that often define women's careers in law, including Aoife's decision to leave her long-term firm while expecting her second child and join the Maples Group with a clear ambition to make partner. She speaks candidly about the pressure women place on themselves, the importance of being vocal about your own career goals and why simply "keeping your head down" is rarely enough. If You Ask Me is sponsored by BlckBx, the life admin personal assistant behind professional working families - saving you time, mental load and giving you back your energy. Sign up at blckbx.co.uk [http://blckbx.co.uk/] and get 10% off with code Blue10

The Freedom to Choose: Law, Leadership and Financial Independence with Louise Jeffers

In this episode of If You Ask Me, we speak to Louise Jeffers, partner in clinical negligence at Browne Jacobson, about building a successful legal career in a way that is both ambitious and sustainable. Louise reflects on her route into law, her move from claimant to defendant work, and the career path that led her to partnership while raising two young children. She talks openly about the realities of combining leadership and motherhood, the support systems that made it possible, and why becoming a parent did not reduce her ambition but gave her a deeper sense of clarity, empathy and purpose. The conversation also explores some of the bigger structural questions facing the profession, including what law firms need to do to retain more women, why genuine flexibility matters, and how better support around maternity leave and return to work can make a real difference. Louise also shares her thoughts on financial independence, why women in law should be talking more about money and investing, and how having financial freedom can create more choice over the shape of a career and family life. This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about leadership, motherhood, money and what success can look like when you define it for yourself.

Motherhood, ambition and making partner in law, with Marianne McJannett

In this episode of If You Ask Me, Hannah and Sarah speak to Marianne McJannett, employment law partner at Aberdein Considine, about building a legal career on her own terms. Marianne shares the story of how she stepped into leadership unusually early, taking on major responsibility just months after qualifying, and how that shaped the way she thinks about confidence, networks and career development. She also talks candidly about using LinkedIn to raise her profile, build credibility and open doors, including how it supported her path to partnership. The conversation also explores the reality of combining a demanding legal career with motherhood. Marianne reflects on returning from maternity leave, the adjustment of the first six months back, the importance of support at home and at work, and why becoming a parent sharpened her ambition rather than limiting it. This is an honest and practical conversation about visibility, leadership, flexibility and what career progression can look like when you stop following the traditional script.

You Can Have a Big Career and a Family: Joy Davey on Partnership, Ambition and Motherhood

In this episode of If You Ask Me, we speak to Joy Davey, partner at CMS, co-founder of Women Who Work, and mother of three, about what it really takes to build a senior legal career alongside family life. Joy shares her path into law, her determination to make partner, and the reality of navigating promotions, maternity leave and career moves with young children. We talk about the impact of post-Covid flexibility, the pressure many women feel to scale back after becoming mothers, and why ambition does not disappear after having children. This is a candid conversation about speaking up for what you want, resisting the urge to opt out too early, and creating a version of career and motherhood that works for you. Expect honest reflections on: * returning to work after maternity leave * full-time versus part-time working * making partner with young children * flexibility in law firms * the support women really need to thrive A practical and reassuring listen for women in law who want both a fulfilling career and a family life on their own terms.