Lynda Greenwood’s impact on her daughter and the law firm she built, Greenwoods Solicitors, will continue long into the future
Neighbours, not competitors,’ is a phrase that Camilla Greenwood, director of Greenwoods Solicitors in the market town of Knaresborough, favours. Borrowed from a colleague at another firm similarly inclined, it captures the spirit of her own firm and the legacy of her mother, the late Lynda Greenwood.
Camilla took over and completed the incorporation of Greenwoods Solicitors into a limited company last year, after her mother tragically died in a house fire at the age of 67. Today (02 April) is the first anniversary of her death and the impact Lynda Greenwood had on clients, colleagues and, of course, Camilla is still being felt.
That impact can be seen in how Camilla is positioning Greenwoods, a local law firm well-known for conveyancing but also with a burgeoning reputation for private client work.
Camilla, who left a promising career at Irwin Mitchell in Leeds to take over Greenwoods, maintains an excellent relationship with her former colleagues, who all supported her decision. Lynda made a similar move in her career, inspiring Camilla to take a similar view. It is the reason why the phrase, ‘neighbours, not competitors’, resonated with her so much.
It comes down the kind of person her mother was, Camilla says. Lynda set up Greenwoods in 1991 after working for firms in London and locally, because she wanted more flexibility as a single parent and to serve the local community where she grew up.
“My mum used to say that all she had when she set up Greenwoods was a computer and a phone in a little room. When I was little, I would do my homework at her desk and the school bus would drop me off outside the office.”
Lynda also wanted independence and, because of her compassion and kindness, to make a difference locally.
Camilla is maintaining Greenwoods as a high street firm where residents can pop in to make an appointment and have a friendly chat, in order to keep the high street alive.
There is also a desire on Camilla’s part to continue building a local network of businesses—not just law but also other professional services firms—that can rely on and support one another with referrals, advice and partnerships.
Camilla says: “Like every high street in the UK, shops were closing and the high street in Knaresborough was not looking as healthy as it used to, so it was important for her, both with her own business and other businesses in Knaresborough, to keep the high street alive.”
This a view that Camilla shares and is continuing as a director of Greenwoods: “It’s important for towns and local high streets to keep commerce local.
“I also think that instructing a solicitor can be quite daunting, particularly if the setting is a large high-rise office. Having a law firm on a high street that a person can visit, perhaps after completing other errands in town, makes the whole process that little bit more approachable, especially for people who may be putting off writing a Will or taking some legal advice.”
There is also the accessibility question to consider. Visiting the office of a local firm such as Greenwoods for a Knaresborough resident, for example, is far easier than driving into the city—and finding a parking space!
While arguably more efficient, only speaking to clients over the phone or corresponding via email can take the personal approach out of legal services, which many clients dislike. Camilla continues: “This is particularly true of the older generation in a market town. They like to be able to see and speak to their solicitor and know that they’re being heard straight away.”
As a firm, Greenwoods is continuing Lynda’s commitment to various charitable causes. Lynda was the founder of The Roofie Foundation in the 90s to support victims of date rape drugs. Camilla says: “She had a real sense of justice and wanted to support and help people.”
Lynda, who loved dogs, also supported Miss Mollies Rescue in Harrogate and rescued a dog from Romania.
Camilla says: “My mum was kind and resourceful—and that combination made her well liked. One of the condolence cards read: ‘Lynda, you made a difference.’
“That’s how my mum tried to live her life; making the world a better place, helping those who needed help, and ensuring fairness and justice. Those were the things that shone through in her professional as well as her personal life.”
The firm selected The Fire Fighters Charity as its charity of the year, in Lynda’s memory. Rather than accepting cash for swears and certifying documents, Greenwoods are encouraging clients to make voluntary donations instead.
Lynda’s impact extends to Greenwoods’s returning clients, who welcome the firm’s continuing independence and family feel. Many colleagues also took to LinkedIn to share their memories of Lynda with Camilla, giving her new insight into her mother’s career and professional life.
Camilla says: “I posted on LinkedIn about my mum’s death and taking over the firm and the response was overwhelming—from people who had met her, even done work experience with her and gone on to become partners at other firms.
Lynda and Camilla Greenwood
“One person sent me a personal message that Lynda was everything a solicitor should be. I thought that was a really lovely thing to say.
“I never knew Mum professionally, so it feels like I’m learning about her more and more. It’s been wonderful to get to know another part of her life outside of being her daughter.”
Find your calling
Greenwoods is now under Camilla’s stewardship, along with co-director and head of conveyancing Dawn Hudson, who has been with the firm for more than 20 years. The move to incorporate Greenwoods, a process Lynda began, ensures firm is future-proofed in a way it wasn’t before.
Greenwoods has since rebranded to freshen up its look and feel, and Camilla is pursuing a new paper-light way of working to reduce its carbon footprint while streamlining processes. she specialises in private client work, including powers of attorney, wills and probate, so the firm is actively looking to expand in this practice area, alongside its solid foundation in conveyancing.
Camilla has found that the two go hand in hand and she is the second private client practitioner at the firm, alongside Stuart Hudson.
She says: “Greenwoods has always been known as a conveyancing firm. We are consistently recommended online, have excellent reviews and have won awards. The private client work we have carried out has generally been cross-referral from conveyancing, so someone who has bought a property then needs a will drawing up.”
Camilla continues: “We want to start marketing the firm as conveyancing and private client, and grow that second offering. This goes with being approachable and compassionate, finding ways to help people further beyond that initial reason. Our presence on the high street also ties into this.”
A particular passion of Camilla’s is representing the elderly and vulnerable, a specialism she cultivated at Irwin Mitchell through work on lasting powers of attorney, helping with decision making and ensuring the presence of a disabled person’s trust in a will where they would be a beneficiary.
Camilla says: “This work was my niche and I would really like to grow that area in Knaresborough.”
It’s clear that Lynda’s impact on her daughter, the law firm she built and everyone whose lives she touched, personally and professionally will continue long into the future, with her compassion, sense of justice, and community focus enduring qualities.
Lynda’s legacy can still influence anyone looking to enter the legal profession in Yorkshire and beyond.
Why did Lynda become a lawyer in the first place? Camilla says: “My mum said she didn’t really enjoy school and she didn’t go to university until she was 26.
“However, my mum said that as soon she put her foot through the door at law school, she knew she was in the right place. Having not known what she was going to do with her life, she went to law school as a mature student and absolutely loved it. She knew that was her calling.”
To find out more about Greenwoods Solicitors, visit the firm’s website. You can also find Camilla Greenwood on LinkedIn.
