Harrison Drury expands commercial offering with legal director appointment

Harrison Drury has expanded its commercial team with the appointment of Nicola O’Donoghue as a legal director.

Nicola started her legal career with Slaughter and May before joining Speechly Bircham (now Charles Russell Speechlys) and embarking on an MBA at the University of Cambridge. She has since held senior positions at international organisations including Ernst & Young, LexisNexis and HSBC, and founded a tech-enabled start-up alongside her own business and leadership consultancy.

Her career to date combines over six years in legal practice with fifteen years in organisational design and development and change management consulting.

At Harrison Drury, she will focus on supporting businesses in their day-to-day operations providing guidance on commercial contracts, IP protection and strategy, technology and SaaS agreements, as well as offering strategic advice around risk management and legal strategy.

Based at our Manchester office, Nicola will work alongside partner Rory O’Hare to grow our commercial team and support clients across the region.

Nicola O’Donoghue and Rory O’Hare.

Rory O’Hare, partner and head of our commercial team, said: “Nicola’s mix of legal expertise and entrepreneurial experience make her a perfect addition to our growing commercial team.

“Having founded two businesses, Nicola understands the journey of many of our clients and is well placed to guide them through complex commercial issues with clarity and confidence. As we strengthen our commercial offering in Manchester and the wider region, she will be instrumental in helping us build a team that can meet the evolving needs of our clients across both markets.”

Nicola added: “Harrison Drury is a firm with a clear growth plan focused on great people and outstanding client service. I’m happy to be joining at such an exciting stage in its journey. Having worked with Rory before, I knew this would be a team where my experience could make a meaningful contribution to the commercial work we deliver.

“I’ve worked with organisations at various stages of their growth, and I know how important the right support can be. I’m keen to bring that understanding to Harrison Drury’s clients, offering straightforward advice that helps them move forward with confidence.”

Nicola is also an accredited coach and a member of the International Coaching Federation, as well as a member of the Law Society.