Travers Smith is delighted to share that Will Normand was awarded the Editor's Choice Award at the annual British Legal Awards 2024.
Will was recognised for his steps in helping to tackle stigma on mental health in the legal industry. Earlier this year, Will contributed an article to Law.com on his personal experiences and how he deals with stress as a partner. He also participated in a firmwide panel during Mental Health Awareness Week with three other partners to discuss their lives and how they seek to cope and thrive as successful partners, whilst managing and safeguarding their mental health in a busy sector.
Will is acting Head of Asset Management and partner in the Funds Department at Travers Smith. He has a broad asset management practice advising on a wide range of products with a particular focus on retailisation structures for alternative asset managers.
Will Normand, commented:
"Every acknowledgment of mental health truly matters. Our collective effort chips away at the stigma, paving the way for acceptance, compassion, and understanding. I am grateful for the efforts of Paul Hodkinson and the team at Law.com for covering this important issue and bringing it to the forefront."
Edmund Reed, Managing Partner, commented:
"I'm always incredibly proud of how open and honest we are as a partnership and as a firm. We have worked hard to create a culture to offer sustainable careers in an environment where everyone can fulfil their ambitions – without sacrificing their wellbeing. I'd like to thank Will for sharing his very personal and candid insights on the topic. "
In relation to mental health support, Travers Smith supports all its people with the following:
- The firm is signatories of the Mindful Business Charter and promote its principles and guidance relating to working practices across the firm.
- It has a group of volunteers across the firm who are members of our Mental Health First Aid Aware Group (MHFA Aware Group).
- It provides fortnightly benefits and wellbeing updates, ensuring there is a high level of awareness of initiatives put in place to support employees and partners across the firm.
- It provides free 1:1 counselling support to all employees and partners, alongside a 24/7 helpline facility.
- Free membership of Calm.com for our people and family members, facilitating access to mindfulness and meditation sessions, relaxing music, sleep stories and more.
- The firm has a number of supportive employee-led groups, such as a Menopause Awareness Group, Bereavement Support Group and Cancer Support Network which can provide support to those dealing with the mental impacts of the menopause, ill-health and loss respectively.
- The firm holds health awareness campaigns at set points in the year creating engagement sessions which are either led by our own people or by expert external speakers.
