Sarah Booth
General counsel and company secretary
Hammerson
Described as ‘straightforward to deal with’, Sarah Booth doesn’t have much back up at Hammerson. In fact, she is the entire resource – the only lawyer in a company of roughly 300 people. She is proof of the importance of having good relationships with general counsel because these days she doesn’t have the time to handle all the work in-house, something she always used to do before.
Booth clearly enjoys being in-house, particularly taking on a business role. ‘The business element is very appealing. It’s about becoming a good and rounded businessperson and using legal knowledge to maximise benefits to the business. You just can’t do it in quite the same way in private practice,’ she says.
Like many GCs in her industry sector, Booth doesn’t have a background in real estate. ‘None of us have a background in property,’ she says. ‘The satisfying bit about being in-house is being there at the gestation of an idea, contributing to its formulation and execution and then supporting the business. But you do have to get to grips with the key issues and drivers on the property side of the organisation. You need to understand it and the framework of reference that your colleagues work in.’
She describes herself as a ‘career in-house lawyer’ and has to be very selective with how she uses her time. ‘I try to do the things that only I can do,’ she says.
Law firms used: Herbert Smith Freehills, Nabarro
2010-present: General counsel and company secretary, Hammerson
2009–10: Associate, LBC Wise Counsel
2004-08: General counsel, Sodexo
2001-04: General counsel and company secretary, Damovo Group
1991–2001: Solicitor and corporate development director, Christian Salvesen