It was a chance conversation that Victoria’s mother had in 1996 which saw her land a role at CooperBurnett.
“My mum was singing my praises (as only a mother does!) to the estate agent who was selling the family home in Chelsfield,” says Victoria. “Very kindly, and completely unsolicited, he mentioned me to his contacts at CooperBurnett. The next thing I knew, I had a meeting with the partners and was offered the chance to join CooperBurnett in a trainee role, once I’d returned from travelling in Australia.”
Victoria’s progression at CooperBurnett was rapid. She qualified in 1998, became a partner in 2001 and an equity partner in 2003.
Victoria discovered early on in her career that she really enjoyed working in the fields of corporate and commercial law – the department that she now heads up.
“I love working with businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them,” Victoria explains. “We’re lucky that Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area has such a healthy business community and it’s great to have been part of that for more than 20 years now – supporting businesses as they grow, buy or sell.”
Victoria says she is really happy to have been given the opportunity to join CooperBurnett 23 years ago.
“I would say that if I was a piece of rock, you’d see the words ‘CooperBurnett’ written down the middle of me,” she explains. “This firm is pretty much all I’ve known and I love it.”
She continues: “The firm has undergone a fair amount of change over the years, as all businesses do. I’ve been here for 23 years but there are people who’ve been at CooperBurnett longer than me; my PA Paula was the very first employee, joining in 1981. It’s a firm where people join and stay.”
During her time at CooperBurnett, Victoria has also been keen to ‘give something back’ to both the local business market and the wider community. She has been President of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & District Law Society, and also President of West Kent Chamber of Commerce and Industry on two occasions.
Victoria is an ambassador for the hospice charity ellenor, as well as getting behind other local concerns, such as the foodbank Nourish. On top of that, she has supported fundraising initiatives surrounding the firm’s chosen charities over the years – which is currently Brain Tumour Research. In May she will join four other colleagues to cycle from London to Paris in just 24 hours, a challenge which is being held in memory of Katie Hilsdon’s cousin, Oli Hilsdon, who died in January aged just 26.
“I am always proud of how our team pulls together,” says Victoria.
She adds: “It’s hard to believe that I’ve been here for 23 years now and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve achieved at CooperBurnett. These are exciting times for us. We’ve got a great team and a brilliant future.”
