Emma Price

What do you think sets A&O apart? Or what do you think is A&O’s USP?

For me it’s the people who work at A&O that set A&O apart.  There is a really collegiate atmosphere, everyone is supportive of one another, is happy to help and share experience and advice.  

How long have you been at A&O? How do you feel it has changed over the years?

The firm has changed hugely since I joined in 2002.  Our footprint has grown with offices opening from as far afield as Washington DC, to Sydney to Belfast, to mention just a few.  As the times have changed A&O has responded to these changes and has begun its journey to address all sorts of new challenges from diversity, to our U.S. offering, to advanced delivery etc.  I certainly think the next five years will be another exciting chapter in A&O’s history. 

Tell us about your A&O journey – what initially drew you to A&O?

I joined A&O after working in the Legal Transactions team at UBS.  I was attracted to A&O primarily by the quality of the brand and market standing.  

I have worked full time, part time, solo, as part of a job share, in the office and from home, and throughout A&O has been a supportive and progressive employer.  There aren’t many people who have had quite such a variety of working arrangements!

It has been and continues to be a truly great place to work. I have worked my way up through the ranks in the BD team and look forward to continuing to progress into more senior roles at A&O. 

How do you balance your career at A&O and your home life?

It is certainly a juggling act!  I now work part time, with a job share, which has allowed me further opportunity to invest in my time away from the office and develop my outside interests, which includes managing a holiday let in the Cotswolds! There are inevitably times when I need to work late or do a call on my days off but it is all about give and take.

If you could switch roles with anyone else in A&O, who’s job would you want and why?

There are such a huge variety of roles available at A&O it’s hard to choose one... but for something completely different to what I do now, I think I would quite like to work as one of the fitness instructors in the A&O gym.. not because I am an exercise fiend but more because I would love putting people through their paces!

What advice would you give for people considering joining A&O?

I wouldn’t think twice about applying for a role at A&O, it’s a great place to work.  I think the best advice I could give anybody would be do your research, know the team you are joining, both the strengths and weaknesses of the team and work out what added value you can bring to the role. 

Name something that people may not know about A&O.

A&O’s London office has two incredible roof terraces, one of which is off the staff canteen, which is a real treat to be able to enjoy in the Summer…London weather of course permitting!

What’s been your biggest professional challenge while working at A&O?

For me the biggest professional challenge I have faced working at A&O was moving to work as part of a job share and working on a part time basis. My first job share, was the complete opposite of me in every way, but we learned a huge amount from one another. 

There are many misconceptions about both job sharing and part time working and in some respects doing something a bit different to the norm means you have to prove yourself enough more!

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Aside from a very persistent alarm clock, it’s the drive to do a good job in all aspects of my life that gets me jumping (?!) out of bed.