Meet the Team: Abi Lutey

Can you briefly describe what your role involves?

I am a partner, and head of the Commercial Disputes and Employment team. I also handle my own case load.

As part of my management role, I oversee the legal work delivered by my amazing team (10 soon to be 12). That involves things like looking at our strategy for future growth, training, compliance and much more. My team work on a variety of different commercial disputes as well as representing employers and employees in tribunals. I personally like to specialise in property litigation, but work on a variety of commercial disputes.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Working with my colleagues at Coodes, problem solving for our clients and helping to make a positive impact on the lives of others when I can.

Covid-19 has transformed the way in which many of us work. How have you adapted and what do you now do differently?

I work from home more now although balance that with time in our offices.

Whilst as an organisation we had already started to migrate across to using Microsoft Teams for our day-to-day communication prior to the pandemic, lockdown for us meant that using Teams to its full was a necessity and is probably the biggest positive change, particularly for our busy clients. It is nice to be able to see who you are talking with at a distance, and this helps to reduce the impact on the environment by cutting travel.

What do you enjoy most about living and working in Cornwall?

Being able to finish work and within 30 minutes or so of being in a complex mediation or court hearing I can be riding my horse, walking my dog, or swimming at one of the many lovely beaches on the south coast. Cornwall’s beauty will never stop blowing my mind!

What skills and character traits do you think are most important for someone doing your job?

Legal knowledge is a given, but it goes without saying that you must have a logical analytical approach to problem solving along with a great deal of empathy.

Tell us something about yourself that your clients may not know

I once appeared in a film with Sir Laurence Olivier (Clash of the Titans – where the opening scenes were filmed at Kynance Cove, the Lizard where I was fortunate to grow up!).

What would you not want to be without as you go about your daily work and why?

My super dog Rufus. He’s energetic, intelligent, can growl when needed, but always dependable. He would make a good litigation lawyer.

What’s your superpower?

Multi-tasking.

What, in your opinion, does Coodes do particularly well? Is there anything it does differently from other law firms?

I think what stands us apart is the way in which we make a real, tangible difference to the lives of many of our clients. Because we are the longest established legal firm in the South West, with 275 years of experience, this gives clients the reassurance that we are dependable and reliable and that we are there to look after their needs. We are there for them when they need us most and I think we are really approachable and accessible to help guide them through complex issues they face.

As well as this, we excel at compliance. We operate in a highly regulated profession which is a good thing in the challenging world we live in. I think clients appreciate our commitment to delivering the highest standards through compliance and can be assured we always act to protect our clients’ best interests.

Who or what inspires you in your life and work?

I work with some pretty inspirational people at Coodes. It sounds like a cliché but we are a team and I count myself very lucky to be surrounded by a support network of colleagues who demonstrate brilliance, expertise, compassion and professionalism on another level. Outside of work I like to read biographies of people that fascinate me with a view to learning something from each one. I have two on the go at the moment, randomly, Ant Middleton of SAS fame and Maria Callas, opera legend