Patrick Lockton

Posted: 09/12/2011

Was in:

International Firm, M & A and Corporate Finance, City of London

Now in:

Went about it:

I started up my own business, Matrix Law Group, two weeks after leaving private legal practice. Matrix places world class lawyers as temporary In-House Counsel to small and medium sized businesses that aren't able to afford big City law firms. I use the extra time to get involved in activities I enjoy.

I was working up to 80 hours a week in the City with a lot of hard-working and talented but desperately unhappy lawyers. The intensity of the working culture and the anesthetising salaries leave little opportunity for reflection and the realisation that your life is seriously out of balance.

The slow market last summer gave me the time to reflect and realise that although I loved the law, working insane hours for big businesses was not the reason I chose to become a solicitor. I wanted to do some good, to choose my own clients and make my own hours. I also wanted to pursue my passion for sports, travel and fitness and to spend time with family and friends.

I dreamt up the Matrix Law Group concept over the summer of 2009 because I wanted to help small businesses grow and reach their true potential. Big law firms charge clients on a time basis (which can breed inefficiency) and their high overheads don't serve everyone's interests.

My mission was to help improve access to the quality of legal services usually reserved for protecting big businesses and to improve my quality of life - I think I may have succeeded. Matrix Law Group is now one of the fastest growing legal businesses in the UK.

I feel I have found a healthy work- life balance. The extra time and energy I now have has allowed me to invest more time and energy into my other business, Krav Maga Academy NYC.