Lauren Smith
After completing my A-levels I attended Derby University in order to read law. After obtaining my degree I then went on to complete my Legal Practitioners Course at the University of Law in Birmingham.
Keen to pursue my career in law I completed a number of vacation schemes and work experience placements in various local law firms before going on to secure a position as Paralegal. A short while after taking on the role as Paralegal I was offered the position of Trainee Solicitor and I commenced my training contract with a local firm based in Walsall.
In 2016, shortly after becoming a qualified Solicitor, I moved to Enoch Evans LLP in order to pursue my career as a litigator as this area of law was something that I very much enjoyed whilst completing my training contract. During my time in the litigation department I have been able to specialise in commercial litigation and in particular commercial property litigation, including commercial lease disputes and residential landlord and tenant disputes and I was promoted to the position of Associate Solicitor in April 2021.
More recently, in April 2022, I was promoted to the position of Partner within the firm.
Any specific areas of expertise within practice area
- Injunctions
- Fast track and multi-track legal proceedings
- Contractual disputes
- Commercial lease disputes
- Commercial rent arrears claims
- Forfeiture of commercial leases
- Dilapidations claims
- Shareholder/Director disputes
- Debt recovery
- Residential landlord and tenant disputes
- Residential possession matters
- Residential tenancy deposit claims
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
Professional memberships & accreditations
- Birmingham Law Society.
What you offer your clients
I appreciate that for some of my clients they may have been lucky enough to have avoided any legal disputes prior to instructing me and therefore they may initially feel a little apprehensive about instructing a dispute solicitor. It is my approachable and pragmatic approach that enables me to put my clients at ease and to navigate them through what they sometimes initially perceive to be an overwhelming experience.
My experience as a litigator enables me to offer my clients practical advice, in addition to sound legal advice. Identifying my clients’ objectives from the outset enables me to have frank and honest conversations with my clients as to whether their objectives are realistic and if so, how they can be achieved in the most commercially viable way possible. Being able to identify a road map at the outset of my instructions is valuable, however it is my experience that allows me to deal with a matter promptly when something occurs that means the road map must be deviated away from.
Why you love what you do
Put simply, being a litigation solicitor often means that my days are very unpredictable, chaotic and involve working under pressure, which are all characteristics of my job that I have come to not only love, but thrive from. I love problem solving, being creative and challenging opinions and this job allows me to do that on a daily basis.
There is no other rewarding feeling like it when you achieve a good result for your client, whether that be by reaching a favourable settlement during a mediation or by being successful at Trial. It is that buzz when you jump in your car at the end of the day knowing you have achieved what you have set out to and that your client is happy that makes me excited to come back into work the next day and do it all over again.
Personal interests
I have a keen passion for sport, especially for playing netball and I have played for my local netball team for three years. Skiing is also another sport that I really enjoy, especially when you are skiing in sunny conditions which will often involve stopping for a nice lunch with a glass of wine whilst taking in the scenery.
I also really enjoy travelling and I have been lucky enough to visit some really special places, my favourite being travelling along the Garden Route in South Africa.