Employee Spotlight: Meet Emily Poyner.

It’s the end of September, which can only mean one thing… Employee Spotlight! 🌟

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on one of our newly qualified solicitors, Emily Poyner.

Emily joined Lanyon Bowdler in September 2024 after graduating from the University of Liverpool in 2023 with a first-class degree in law. Alongside her studies, Emily gained valuable experience working in marketing, as well as undertaking an administration role within the legal industry.

During her training contract, Emily completed her first seat in our Clinical Negligence Team before moving to the Family Team for her second seat. For her third seat, Emily joined our Corporate & Commercial Team, and for her fourth and final seat, she chose to remain with that team, having realised that this was the area of law she wanted to qualify into.

Fast forward to September 2026, and Emily is now a qualified solicitor in our Corporate & Commercial Team!

We thought this was the perfect time to get to know Emily a little better, so let’s find out more about her journey and her role at Lanyon Bowdler

• What advice would you give to a first-year trainee just starting out at the firm?

My biggest piece of advice to a first-year trainee is not to be afraid of asking questions. It can be daunting starting out in an environment where it feels like everyone else already knows what they're doing – but that's the point of being a trainee. You're there to learn from the people around you, to absorb the knowledge and experience your colleagues have built up over years, and to figure out how things actually work in practice, not just in theory. Asking questions doesn't mean you aren't good at your job but rather shows you're paying attention, that you care about getting things right, and that you're willing to learn. The great thing about Lanyon Bowdler is that many of your colleagues may have been trainees at the firm themselves not so long ago, and will be more than happy to help out where they can.

It's equally important to accept that you will get things wrong sometimes. Don't let this knock your confidence - own it, ask yourself what you can take from it, and think about how you'd approach it differently next time. Every piece of feedback, however small, is a chance to build good habits and sharpen your knowledge.

• What drew you to qualify into corporate and commercial?

This is an area of law I thoroughly enjoyed during my studies at university, and that enjoyment has only grown since I started working in this department at Lanyon Bowdler. No two days are the same when working in this area of law. The breadth of work we cover means I am regularly coming across new issues and areas of law I haven’t dealt with before. I love that I am always learning and engaging. My typical day tends to involves a lot of drafting which I thoroughly enjoy – it is extremely satisfying being able to work on, and refine, a document until its exactly right. What I find most rewarding, though, is the chance to work closely with owner-managed businesses from the local area – I enjoy being able to advise people who have built their businesses from the ground up and helping them navigate the legal side of running their business.

• How would you describe the culture of the firm to someone considering applying here?

The culture at Lanyon Bowdler is really supportive – I am surrounded by colleagues who are approachable on both a personal and professional level, which makes it easier to learn and develop as you progress through your career. The firm is engaged with the local community through its charity work and involvement in local events, which gives working for the firm an added sense of purpose.