Nicki, Group General Counsel at Reach, joins Scott Brown to share lessons from a career spent at the heart of media, publishing and broadcasting law.
In this episode of Lessons I Learned in Law, Nicki reflects on her role leading legal at Reach, the UK’s largest newspaper publishing group, home to titles including The Daily Mirror, The Daily Express, The Daily Star, OK Magazine, regional titles, and publications across Ireland and the US. She discusses what it means to be “a newspaper lawyer through and through”, and how her career has taken her from private practice into broadcasting, global media, and ultimately into the Group GC role at Reach.
Her first lesson is that the law is only interesting to other lawyers. For the business, law is a tool: a way of getting from A to B quickly, practically and with the least aggravation possible. Nicki explains why in-house lawyers need to avoid getting lost in the weeds and focus instead on translating legal complexity into clear, commercial guidance.
Her second lesson is that it’s all about the people. Whether handling litigation, negotiating contracts or advising internal stakeholders, success depends on understanding how people communicate, react and make decisions. Nicki shares why lawyers should be approachable, easy to talk to, and trusted before a problem becomes a crisis.
Her final lesson is about being comfortable saying “leave that with me”. Stepping into the GC role meant learning quickly that nobody knows everything — and that guessing is far more dangerous than taking time to find the right answer. She also reflects on returning to work after a ten-year career break, encouraging others not to apologise for the time they’ve taken away from practice.
This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wordsmith AI — the legal AI platform built specifically for in-house teams.
Guest Recommendations
- Network: Eagle Club
- Returner support mentioned: Obelisk and the Law Society
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
Listen to the Podcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/4
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/
Connect with Heriot Brown
About Heriot Brown:
At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Lessons I Learned in Law, leave a review, and share it with someone building their career in legal leadership.
