03 Mar 2026
By Aimee Gibbons, Lead Partner, Thorntons, Glasgow
International Women’s Day always invites reflection, and this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” resonates strongly with me as a lawyer. In the legal profession, progress rarely happens by chance: it happens because individuals choose to invest time, energy and opportunity into others, and in doing so, create stronger firms, better client outcomes and a more inclusive profession.
At Thorntons, that philosophy is embodied in the leadership of our Managing Partner, Lesley Larg. Under her stewardship, the firm has achieved record financial growth, reaching a turnover of over £50 million in the last financial year. In the same period, we have expanded from 71 to 77 partners and from 520 to 584 colleagues across Scotland, strengthening our presence in key cities including Glasgow and Aberdeen. Strategic mergers have extended our geographic reach and deepened our sector expertise, particularly across technology, energy and healthcare.
But growth alone is not impact. The true measure lies in how that growth is used.
Lesley has been intentional about ensuring that opportunity flows alongside commercial success. In January 2026, she played a pivotal role in appointing Jennifer Young and Sarah Stuart as partners in our new Aberdeen office, both highly experienced leaders with more than 20 years in practice. Their appointments are not only central to our regional expansion but also powerful examples of senior women stepping confidently into visible leadership roles. Representation matters, and visibility inspires progression.
The same principle underpins our commitment to access. Through the PRIME initiative, Thorntons offers work placements to school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, many of them young women who might not otherwise see law as an attainable career. The programme aims to dismantle barriers to entry and widen the profession’s talent pipeline. Giving young people time and opportunity can change the trajectory of a life.
Internally, investment in people continues to shape our culture. The appointment of Helen Honeyman as Chief People Officer, the creation of a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Lead Partner role, and the introduction of policies which support all of our colleagues, whether they are starting families or have caring responsibilities, reflect a clear commitment to building a family-friendly, supportive environment in an industry that has not always made space for this. Encouragingly, we are seeing retention strengthen.
“Give to Gain” is not a slogan; it is a strategy. By giving opportunity, mentorship and inclusion, we gain resilience, innovation and long-term success. This International Women’s Day, I am proud to be part of a firm that understands that progress for women in law is not accidental but is built deliberately by those willing to invest in others.
