Shalini is a senior commercial and IT lawyer who is commercially astute and enjoys collaborating across business functions, as well as aligning activities to business objectives. Shalini has sound experience that stretches across various sectors, including commercial and finance, mainly based around technology. She has proven to be an excellent communicator and influencer through her time at Argus Media and Addleshaw Goddard where she advised and supported internal and external stakeholders. Here, she shares her insights on recent experiences as an Obelisk consultant.
Can you describe your work experiences through Obelisk?
I’ve actually only had one role so far – in the GC team at a multinational media conglomerate in Canary Wharf. I went for two months and over two years later, I’m still there. I love the team and the work is varied and interesting.
What makes your expertise unique?
I’ve had a varied private practice and in-house career across different areas of the law; and I’m also the founder of my own company, which is a coaching and L&D business. The people side of law is so important now and I’m really interested in that – it’s where my legal and coaching interests come together.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of flexible working as a lawyer?
Being able to manage my time and see my children more.
The most challenging?
I have to be really clear about boundaries – working from home, it’s easy for all the boundaries to get blurred!
What are your proudest professional and personal achievements so far?
My proudest professional moment was meeting Lady Hale (who is one of my heroes); and my proudest personal achievement has been adopting each of my two children.
How do you find the right work/life balance?
It’s hard! I’m not there yet.
What are your words of advice to other legal consultants?
Always say yes to work and clients that you have the right gut feeling about.
How do you start and end your day?
I usually start by being woken up by my children, making loads of noise; and I try and end it with a few pages of a good novel.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Time travel.
