Celebrating thirty years of success

From trainee solicitor to co-leader of CooperBurnett, Victoria Sampson has had a remarkable career. As she celebrates her 30th anniversary at the esteemed law firm she tells Eileen Leahy about leadership, loyalty and legacy making…

Victoria Sampson, co-leader of CooperBurnett LLP, celebrates a major career milestone on April 23rd this year: 30 years at the successful law firm.

“When I think about it I feel quite humbled,” she says when we meet to talk about this impressive professional achievement. “It almost doesn’t feel like it’s me that’s about to mark this anniversary.”

We’re sitting in Victoria’s office at the firm’s HQ, Napier House, right in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.

She is head of CooperBurnett’s Corporate and Commercial Services, advising on all aspects of corporate and commercial law, including mergers and acquisitions, and has co-led the company with Joseph Oates since 2018.

“It’s only when someone says to me ‘Wow 30 years!’ I have to check they are talking about me because I don’t feel I have changed – but yet everything around me has.”

Victoria, who has been President of West Kent Chamber of Commerce and Industry on two occasions, President of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & District Law Society and co-founder of the business networking forum enTWine, tells me she can remember her first day at the firm very clearly.

“I had just come back from travelling after having graduated law school and suddenly I was crossing the threshold at CooperBurnett to do two years of training to become a solicitor. There were feelings of excitement and anticipation.

“You quickly realise that this is a real-world moment and you are going to be dealing with genuine cases and people. But another overriding feeling I remember is one of naivety.

“I turned up on my first day at 9.15am and was sitting in reception waiting to be received by the practice manager. I had been told my working hours were 9.30am to 5.30pm. The office was in full flow, and I thought maybe trainees had a different schedule.

“After a few days, another trainee told me everyone actually started at 9am. The practice manager realised my offer letter had been wrong and immediately took responsibility. Straight away I learned the importance of ownership of that.”

Reflecting further, Victoria reveals another key moment was the day she qualified as a solicitor in 1998.

“You go to bed as a trainee and wake up as a qualified solicitor. That’s when you think – this is all real now.”

In 2001 she was made a salaried partner. “It was such an active and energetic time back then. Banks were very keen to lend money to businesses so we were doing so many transactions and deals and I was leading an emerging team.”

In 2003 she took equity in the firm.

“I remember taking a deep breath and thinking, ‘I am now a part of this.’”

Victoria tells me she could have worked elsewhere but chose to stay. “For me, loyalty is such a key attribute and it felt great working here. I’ve had the support of my PA, Paula Armstrong, for the past 12 years, and her presence and that continuity is what TeamCB is all about.”

Over the three decades Victoria has been at CooperBurnett, she has helped shape a more transparent and supportive firm culture, championing different routes into law, prioritising mental health and supporting working parents.

“We are very much a family-first firm.”

Considering big changes that have happened, she says: “The most seismic shift has come from technology and how it’s changed communication. But having said that we do say, especially to our trainees, that it’s not about who emails the most or shouts the loudest. Things have to be ordered and considered. We are still very much people focused.”

One of the things Victoria is most proud of is the firm’s charity work.

The catalyst came when she became an ambassador for children’s charity CHYPS (now known as ellenor).

“I relished that role and learned such a lot.”

Since then, CooperBurnett has supported numerous charities through fundraising challenges such as walking marathons, cycling to Paris in 24 hours and trekking up mountains. Some of the charities who have benefited include Jigsaw South East, Brain Tumour Research, Demelza and Hospice in the Weald.

“I am really proud of our charity links. Our equity partners match every pound raised and carry out pro bono work for local causes including The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre and Taylor-Made Dreams.”

Before I leave, Victoria shares with me that she sends a motivational message to her team every Friday evening.

“It’s a light-hearted way of saying thank you. I love the camaraderie in my team just as I did all those years ago – and still do.”

She adds that long-standing client relationships remain hugely important.

So what’s next?

“Joseph and I will continue leading the firm and building it strategically. We’re working on two major projects: embracing AI and developing a strategic marketing plan, both with local independent businesses. It’s all part of our legacy making for the firm. I have a genuine passion for what I do and feel very lucky.”