The Hot 100, Devolution & UK Government Reforms | Ep 30 Laura Hughes

Fresh off The Lawyer’s Hot 100 list, Laura Hughes (Browne Jacobson) talks about the future of law, government, and everything in between.

In this episode of But is it Legal?, Laura joins Simon Marshall to break down what’s really going on behind the scenes of English devolution, local government reform, and the rise of Combined County Authorities. From advising governments on landmark structural changes to opening Browne Jacobson’s Cardiff office, Laura shares sharp insights on the legal, political, and personal challenges shaping the UK’s next chapter.🎙️

 

🔥 What's included:

• Corporate aspirations to public impact: Hear how Laura found purpose in public law, and why it’s now one of the most politically charged and rewarding legal areas.
• The next decade of Public Law: Laura explains why public lawyers are about to be very busy, and how devolution, reorganisation, and funding gaps will collide across the UK.
• Behind the headlines: What really goes into creating a Combined County Authority? Laura breaks down the legal, political, and operational side that most never see.
• The legal side of devolution: Understand the pressure facing councils, governments, and legal teams trying to implement sweeping reforms without resources.
• Opening Cardiff: Discover what it’s like to lead a firm’s expansion into a new region, and why Browne Jacobson’s Welsh office was more than just a postcode.
• Hot 100 recognition: Laura reflects on being named in The Lawyer’s Hot 100. What it means to be recognised as a leader, and how she balances big ambition with mentorship and team culture.
• Legal heroes & real-world impact: Why Ruth Bader Ginsburg still influences Laura’s leadership style, and how she brings that same focus on equality and clarity to the boardrooms of public institutions.

🎧 Why you should listen: If you want to understand where the UK’s legal and political systems are heading, and what lawyers will need to do to keep up, this episode is essential. Laura brings experience, honesty, and real insight into how big decisions get made behind closed doors.

 

👉 Subscribe now and be part of the conversation that’s changing up the UK legal sector!

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👉 Follow Laura Hughes

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-hughes-solicitor/
Profile: https://www.brownejacobson.com/people/laura-hughes

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👉 Follow Simon Marshall

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonpaulmarshall/  
Website: www.tbdmarketing.co.uk