International Women’s Day 2026 – A conversation with Hayley Goodwin

For International Women’s Day this year, the theme ‘Give to Gain’ is all about encouraging individuals and organisations to share knowledge, inspiration and champion each other so that women at all levels thrive.

This year, we spoke to colleagues across the firm about the experiences and insights that have shaped their careers and the support they have received along the way. Hayley Goodwin, partner in our corporate team, shares her thoughts.

Tell us a little about yourself and your role at Harrison Drury

I have been working at Harrison Drury for almost two years as a partner in the corporate team. My role involves M&A transactions, governance matters, drafting articles, restructures and reorganisations, and shareholder agreements.

I also do something slightly unusual within a corporate practice, advising charities, primarily corporate-style charities, on various legal matters.

I qualified into the commercial law team in 2007, but I soon found myself doing more corporate work. That early experience gave me a strong grounding because I learned a lot during that period.

What made you want to pursue a career in law? Did you decide gradually or was there a single moment that sparked your interest?

Originally, I wanted to join the army, but for various reasons that wasn’t possible. At that point I realised I needed to decide what else I wanted to do.

I didn’t initially want to study law, so I completed a degree in environmental science and geography, but I still felt that I needed something more afterwards. A career in law seemed like as good an option as any, and I think deep down I probably always knew that I would end up doing it eventually.

That said, I certainly never imagined that I would become a corporate lawyer. I often tell people not to plan their careers in too much detail, as you never know what opportunities might come your way.

What gives you the most satisfaction about the work you do at Harrison Drury?

It might sound like a cliché but working as part of a team. Being part of that collective effort and seeing the result at the end is something I find particularly rewarding.

What’s a tip or technique that’s helped you build confidence in your professional voice?

Confidence develops over time, and a big part of that comes from listening, learning, and observing the people around you.

Role modelling is particularly important. You can learn a great deal by observing how other people approach situations, communicate, and solve problems.

Even now, I sometimes open and close emails using the same wording that one of my supervisors used when I was a trainee. It’s about taking the best elements from the people around you and applying them to your own style, and that approach can be valuable in any career, not just law.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in law, especially young women?

Gain as much experience as possible and ask as many questions as you need to. I also wish someone had told me earlier to back myself. It’s important to think carefully about what you’re going to do or say in different situations and to give yourself the time to think things through.

However, you also need to have confidence in your own abilities, there will be times in your career when nobody else will do that for you. Without self-confidence, it can be difficult to build trust with the people around you. whether that’s clients who need to believe in your advice, or colleagues who need to know they can rely on you.

Being diligent and knowledgeable about your work is essential, but when you know what you’re talking about, you should feel confident in using the knowledge you’ve developed.

Sometimes, particularly for women, it can be easy to remain in the background and simply observe, but having the confidence to step forward and contribute is incredibly important.