Ian Curtis is the Managing and Senior Partner of Warner Goodman LLP, one of the largest firms of solicitors in the South East, which has been in practice for over 150 years. 

Ian has spent his entire legal career with Warner Goodman, believes fervently in involving staff at all levels in the shaping of the firm’s future.  Ian thinks that if you snapped him in half, you’d read Warner Goodman, going through him like a stick of rock.   He loves all things cricket

How would others describe you in three words?
I have taken input from those who know me better than myself!  The suggested words are fair, positive and fun.  Even though we all know the last few years have been difficult I have always tried, wherever possible, to think positively and inject humour where I can.

What has been your best professional moment to date?
I guess it was probably when I was elected as the firm's full time Managing Partner - 20 years ago.  I was only 38 years of age at the time. The election in theory was by secret ballot but I have always suspected there was a stitch up!  Little did I know I would still be in the post 20 years on!

What has been your worst/most embarrassing professional moment to date?
The worst moment has to be the handling of redundancies arising out of the recession.  We had to lose some really good and loyal people including a Conveyancer who had given the firm 58 years of service - and who had hoped to break the firm's record of 66 years service!  The silver lining to that cloud is that many of those who left still keep in regular contact with the firm - and we have even been able to re-recruit some of them.

Tell us about one surprising thing you’ve learned since becoming Senior/Managing Partner?
Although in many respects this is a lonely job I have been surprised at how willing my counterparts (in other firms both inside and outside of LawNet) have been to discuss common problems with me.

If you hadn't chosen Law, what do you think you'd be doing with your life?
In my dreams I would have had a successful career playing football for Manchester United and England - in reality I probably would have become a journalist.  If I had done, and in view of the recent phone hacking scandal, I would have chosen one of the few professions which is even less popular than the one I chose!

If we looked in your desk’s top drawer, what would we find?
Do not go there.  It can best be described as a desk version of an attic - full of stuff which I think I might use one day but actually never will.

Ian Curtis is the Managing and Senior Partner of Warner Goodman LLP, one of the largest firms of solicitors in the South East, which has been in practice for over 150 years. 

Ian has spent his entire legal career with Warner Goodman, believes fervently in involving staff at all levels in the shaping of the firm’s future.  Ian thinks that if you snapped him in half, you’d read Warner Goodman, going through him like a stick of rock.   He loves all things cricket

How would others describe you in three words?
I have taken input from those who know me better than myself!  The suggested words are fair, positive and fun.  Even though we all know the last few years have been difficult I have always tried, wherever possible, to think positively and inject humour where I can.

What has been your best professional moment to date?
I guess it was probably when I was elected as the firm's full time Managing Partner - 20 years ago.  I was only 38 years of age at the time. The election in theory was by secret ballot but I have always suspected there was a stitch up!  Little did I know I would still be in the post 20 years on!

What has been your worst/most embarrassing professional moment to date?
The worst moment has to be the handling of redundancies arising out of the recession.  We had to lose some really good and loyal people including a Conveyancer who had given the firm 58 years of service - and who had hoped to break the firm's record of 66 years service!  The silver lining to that cloud is that many of those who left still keep in regular contact with the firm - and we have even been able to re-recruit some of them.

Tell us about one surprising thing you’ve learned since becoming Senior/Managing Partner?
Although in many respects this is a lonely job I have been surprised at how willing my counterparts (in other firms both inside and outside of LawNet) have been to discuss common problems with me.

If you hadn't chosen Law, what do you think you'd be doing with your life?
In my dreams I would have had a successful career playing football for Manchester United and England - in reality I probably would have become a journalist.  If I had done, and in view of the recent phone hacking scandal, I would have chosen one of the few professions which is even less popular than the one I chose!

If we looked in your desk’s top drawer, what would we find?
Do not go there.  It can best be described as a desk version of an attic - full of stuff which I think I might use one day but actually never will.