Team Story – George Flanders
Butcher & Barlow seems to hire based on who people are as individuals, not just what they can offer professionally. Everyone can bring something great to the team, but fitting in with the culture and working well together is just as important.
Q. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Butcher & Barlow?
A. My name is George Flanders, and I work across the Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Commercial Property Teams. I’ve been with Butcher & Barlow since September 2022 and qualified as a Solicitor in September 2024.
Q. Are you from the local area?
A. Yes, I grew up in Alsager, just 10 minutes from the Sandbach office. That’s how I first became aware of Butcher & Barlow. Now I’m working for Butcher & Barlow I split my time between our Sandbach and Gadbrook Park offices.
Q. What drew you to Butcher & Barlow?
A. It’s the perfect combination of high-quality work and a good work-life balance. We’re a regional powerhouse, and the Firm is in a really exciting phase of growth.
Q. How would you describe the culture at Butcher & Barlow?
A. The Firm is incredibly collegiate – everyone is genuinely lovely. Butcher & Barlow seems to hire based on who people are as individuals, not just what they can offer professionally. Everyone can bring something great to the team, but fitting in with the culture and working well together is just as important.
Q. What led you to a career in law?
A. I was always very academic, and a law degree is incredibly powerful in terms of career prospects which is why I chose the course. Initially, I kept an open mind about my future, but as I attended open days, researched the profession and gained experience, I realised that being a Solicitor was the perfect fit for me. Law is all about problem-solving and helping people, which I find really rewarding.
Q. Why did you choose to specialise in Agricultural and Commercial Property Law?
A. It actually happened quite naturally. My first seat was in this department, and while I had the opportunity to rotate, I ended up staying. I wasn’t sure about commercial property law at first – I thought it was overly complex – but as I gained experience, I started to appreciate why the system works the way it does. Over time, I found it fascinating.
Agricultural law, in particular, stood out to me because of the people I work with. Farmers are very different from commercial clients – it’s not a business for them; it’s a way of life. Their land isn’t a commodity to be bought and sold, they see themselves as stewards for the next generation. Helping them achieve their objectives feels personal and meaningful.
Q. What does a typical day look like for you?
A. Every day is different, which is one of the things I love about property law. My work involves drafting contracts, leases, tenancy agreements, planning agreements, reviewing titles, conducting searches and reporting on findings, as well as communicating with clients through emails, calls, and meetings.
At the end of each day, I reflect on what I’ve done and create a to-do list for the next day – only to reassess it in the morning when things inevitably change. Property law is broad, and I enjoy the variety. It’s possible to build an entire career just specialising in a single aspect, but I get to work on purchases, sales, leases, Section 106 agreements, planning agreements – lots of different things.
Q. How would you describe your experience of training at Butcher & Barlow?
A. The training experience here is truly unique. The work we do – especially in property – is at the same level as a city firm. We’re often up against top Manchester and London firms, so the quality of work is high.
At the same time, there’s incredible access to Partners. They’re not just names on an email or behind closed doors. As a Trainee, I spent hours in offices with Partners, going through transaction documents and titles, learning directly from them. That kind of hands-on training is invaluable and rare – and is still available to me now even though I am qualified!
Many looking at a career in law think they want to work at a big city firm, but in reality, you don’t always get the same level of experience. Some Trainees spend a year and a half just photocopying. At Butcher & Barlow, you’re involved in real work from day one.
Q. Do you help the trainees now you’re qualified?
A. Yes, especially at the Gadbrook Park office, where we’ve had two commercial property Trainees for the past couple of years. I really enjoy passing on knowledge – just as Partners took the time to train me, I want to do the same for new Trainees.
Trainees here are very hands-on because of the workload, and they often feel comfortable asking me “silly questions” that they might not want to ask a Partner – although, in reality, all our Partners are approachable and happy to help.
Q. What are your ambitions for the future?
A. Can I say Partner as soon as possible? Seriously though, in the short term, I want to continue taking on more responsibility, delivering excellent client service and demonstrating my capabilities to progress through the Firm.
Q. Do you work closely with other departments?
A. Absolutely. We offer a full-service approach, so collaboration between teams is key. We’re a regional firm with a strong presence, but everyone knows each other, making cross-referrals easy. That consistency benefits the client and strengthens the Firm as a whole.
Q. Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?
A. Right now, my main focus is on sleep. I have a four-month-old baby, so I don’t get much of it. I used to play football, but that’s taken a bit of a backseat for now. The baby smiles and giggles are worth it!
Q. How do you manage work-life balance?
A. Running your own caseload means you’re responsible for everything, so managing expectations is key. The good thing is that Butcher & Barlow supports a healthy work-life balance. I set clear boundaries and realistic deadlines, and that makes a huge difference.
The Firm is also flexible when needed. For example, if I’ve had to attend nursery visits during the day I can make up my hours later, it’s not an issue. The culture here recognises that work isn’t life, and that’s a huge benefit.
Q. What advice would you give to aspiring Lawyers?
Be yourself, be conscientious and be driven. Have confidence in your abilities. Attention to detail is particularly important in property law – you can tell straight away when someone doesn’t have it. Also, Trainees in commercial property at Gadbrook Park can work with around six different Partners which can seem daunting but is actually a great way to learn how to prioritise, manage expectations and adapt to different working styles.
My three words to describe Butcher & Barlow are: nurturing, collaborative and diligent.