Navigating the Pathway to Managing Partner with Stephen Millar, Managing Partner at CMS | Black Lawyers Matter Podcast, Series 2 Episode 2

Welcome back to another series of the Black Lawyers Matter Podcast, brought to you by The Stephen James Partnership and Black Lawyers Matter!

 

In the second episode of Series 2, your host Samuel Clague, CEO and Founder of The Stephen James Partnership, speaks to Stephen Millar, Managing Partner at CMS. Stephen is responsible for the management of the firm across the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as being a member of the CMS UK LLP board

 

Join him and Sam to discuss Stephen’s life and career, from his farming family background to becoming Managing Partner at the UK’s 6th largest law firm by revenue, and the world’s sixth largest by revenue.

 

Gain an insight into the key moments, choices and challenges that have shaped Stephen into the legal leader he is today. This includes why he chose to specialise in oil and gas, the obstacles he faced as a junior leader on his way up, a defining moment in his past that helped set him on his path and his biggest career highlight from a leadership perspective.

 

Stephen also shares his thoughts on leadership, such as how his leadership style has evolved over the years, the value of mentors and how having a compelling story and vision as a leader can help to engage others. It’s safe to say there are plenty of lessons to be learnt for any inspiring leader in law!

 

Timestamped guide:

 

00:02 - Introduction to Stephen

01:07 - What was family life like for you?

01:56 - How did you realise that a career in law was for you?

03:17 - What piqued your interest in oil and gas as a specialist industry?

19:44 - The transition from associate, to senior associate, to partner

05:46 - Challenges as a junior leader on the way up

06:28 - The defining moment that set Stephen on his path

07:35 - Stephen’s biggest career highlight to date

11:04 - How has your leadership style evolved over the years?

14:06 - The greatest challenges for current and future leaders within the legal sector

16:01 - What leadership and development tools have aided your progression

18:32 - Stephen’s advice on enjoying the “art of law”

Connect with your host, Samuel Clague: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-clague-32911723/ 

 

Connect with your guest, Stephen Millar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millarstephen/ 

 

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Explore more about The Stephen James Partnership here: https://thesjp.co.uk/

 

Learn about the Black Lawyers Matter mission here: https://thesjp.co.uk/diversity-programmes 

And discover SJP's Search and Advisory arm here: https://stephenandjames.co.uk/