Legal Matters Q&A: Janice Colley, partner Ford & Warren

Prior to this act the original tenant of a lease remains liable throughout the existence of the lease.

What law would you like to see changed?

The succession laws became a hot topic at my school (St Joseph’s College, Bradford) when Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips.

She appeared to us to be a modern, feisty, young woman and it seemed unfair that she would rank behind all of her brothers and any of their heirs before she could succeed to the throne.

The Prime Ministers of the commonwealth realms have agreed to work together towards a common approach to amend the rules on the succession to the throne with the aim of giving effect to the changes simultaneously in all 16 countries.

As a lawyer, I am interested in the technical and logistical complications that will follow.

What is the most exciting work you’ve ever done?

I was involved in a distressed sale which involved reviewing and reporting on over 100 properties in under 12 hours.

Who in the legal world do you most admire?

Ally McBeal, with all the distractions including the adjoining nightclub and the communal toilets she still manages to win every case.

What advice would you give someone starting out in the profession?

My first boss asked me to name my most important client. I named the biggest client we had. This was the wrong answer.

Your most important client is the client you are currently working for.