High-flying corporate lawyer with the luck of the Irish

Carmel Byrne

Director, KPMG Legal


What makes your day at work?

The satisfaction of working through and resolving a difficult problem for a client. My focus is to give our clients clear, practical advice. I often have the advantage of working on a problem with advisers from other divisions, such as the Tax Division. This gives me a unique advantage as a business lawyer to view legal issues in the context of my client's business as a whole.

Just before Christmas I was working on an job for a major client. We urgently needed consent from a government body and this happened on the Friday evening before Christmas. By burning the midnight oil and being prepared for all eventualities, we did manage to achieve the impossible and gain the consent we needed by 11 am on the following Monday - to the relief and amazement of our major client!


How did you get to where you are today?


From the time I qualified as a lawyer in Ireland I have focused on corporate and commercial law, as this is an area of law which I find exciting and interesting. I welcomed the opportunity to join this firm because it offers a fresh approach to business law compared with traditional legal practices.

I was particularly attracted to KPMG as it is a global organisation with huge resources and it offered the opportunity to work closely with a wide range of business advisers. My own background is international. I worked in London at a time when the opportunities there were excellent for commercial lawyers.

The work there was sometimes glamorous. I particularly enjoyed the chance to act for a Saudi prince with a stable of beautiful racehorses. And, something even closer to my heart, I acted for several of the European fashion houses which meant I had to view the goods at every opportunity.

I came to New Zealand in 1991 for an intended stay of two years. I am still here nine years later, but enjoy the links I have with other legal offices throughout the world.


What is your management style?


I favour a very informal, open-door policy and believe that good communication and a sense of humour is essential for a healthy working environment.


What is your advice to someone starting out in your field today?


Enjoy what you do. If you want to be a business lawyer you should be excited by the cut and thrust of the corporate world. My job is very challenging and exciting, but at times can be stressful. The fact that I really enjoy what I do brings me through those stressful periods.


What was your biggest career break?


Forming a working relationship in a previous law firm with David Lewis and Nicholas Scott, the founding partners of KPMG Legal. This gave me the opportunity to be invited to be part of the start-up team. I have long been aware that business lawyers often have to offer advice in a sort of vacuum - without really getting a full picture of the other business consequences of our advice. Working for clients within a multi-disciplinary environment gives me an opportunity to complete that picture.


Who is your most important mentor?


A very clever corporate tax lawyer I worked with in London called Roger Berner. Roger had a great ability to quickly absorb facts, discard the irrelevancies and cut to the chase. He taught me a lot and I am still trying to emulate his style!


What is the biggest challenge for your organisation?


Not losing sight of our core principles as we experience further significant growth. Having virtually tripled in size in our first year and with plans for further significant expansion, we need to continue to focus on our aim to provide innovative practical advice drawing on the benefits of our multi-disciplinary environment.


What skill would you like to have?


I frequently wish my keyboard skills were better, but they are improving slowly but surely. Apart from that, I really must get around to learning to speak French one of these days.


How do you relax?


By spending time with my husband, John Lyon, and my two wonderful daughters, Francesca and Genevieve. I enjoy going to the gym and pumping iron a few days a week. I also find that boxing with a fitness trainer is great for relaxation, though exhausting.


How important is it to keep a sense of humour in your job?


Vital. The job can be stressful and having a fun environment to work in is essential to me. Without that, working life could be grim at times!


* Carmel Byrne talked to Susan Jennison