Rob Jonckheer

After practising for 38 years, Rob Jonckheer wasn’t quite ready for retirement. This is what he did next:

“I was coming to the end of a happy 24 years at Manches, where I was a corporate partner. I knew I didn’t want to retire – I had way too much energy and passion for my work to start drawing my pension.

It made me think about the options, including going back to an in-house solicitor post. But the recession meant the opportunities were few and far between. I also looked at the possibility of setting up as a sole practitioner, although that was short-lived when an accountant friend of mine reminded me about the professional indemnity costs and associated run-off costs involved when closing.

It was at a wedding in Croatia where I met a solicitor who was part of a ‘virtual’ law firm. When I returned home I investigated this different way of practising law with, it is fair to say, some scepticism. As a devout office-worker, I didn’t quite see how working from home would work for me.

My internet search brought up Everyman Legal and much to my surprise, I saw James Hunt – a former colleague from Clifford Chance (it was called Clifford Turner in those days) – was at the helm. I had confidence in James and upon hearing more immediately felt that the Everyman Legal model was ideal for me.

Naturally I had some reservations. Change is always a big challenge (as well as an opportunity). I thought that the downside woud be working from home with limited resources.  Also I’ve worked in an office environment for so long it’s hard to break the habit of 38 years!  However, I need not have worried about the resource issue. The back office support is excellent and not at all remote.  It’s true that I live fairly close to the Witney office, so I often work from there where I can also give some support to the running of the office. So I have a great sense of freedom each morning.  I have total flexibility to decide where and when I work. And wherever I am, I know i have the back up from the office-based team.

I’m currently working on a multi-jurisdictional transaction for a client I last worked for seven years ago. I’m actually buying back the company I helped them sell. Other work has come through referrals and contacts, including one rather enjoyable piece of work converting the tourist information centre in Oxford into a not-for-profit company.

Responsibility for generating work lies with me. Client instructions are typically relationship-driven but Everyman provides a very sound and credible platform from which to drive business.

I had imagined that I probably wouldn’t have much to do with the other solicitors in the network but on the contrary I’ve been surprised at how easy it has been to get to know my colleagues. As well as occasional gatherings in Witney, I have worked with almost all of the solicitors across the network in the short amount of time I’ve been with the firm.

It’s great to be able to offer clients a breadth of legal expertise. Everyman has the benefit of mature and experienced solicitors spanning corporate, commercial, property, regulatory and employment law, with rapid plans to expand across other areas.

I know now that it really wouldn’t be the same if I was working on my own. So here I am in retirement, working as hard as ever and getting a real buzz from it. I intend to carry on until I get bored or when I turn into a Victor Meldrew character – whichever comes first! This is an exciting time in my professional life; there’s no space for boredom or Victor.”