Goughs Partner: ‘A career without barriers – let’s make it the norm’

As she reflects on her personal journey ahead of International Women’s Day, Goughs Solicitors’ Gemma Broadbent highlights what genuine inclusion looks like in practice, why it remains far from universal, and how the legal sector can move closer to making opportunity the rule rather than the exception…

By Gemma Broadbent

I feel incredibly fortunate to be a practising lawyer in a firm where women are genuinely valued equally to men, and where there are no unspoken barriers to growth or success. At Goughs Solicitors, 109 of our 130 lawyers are female, a statistic that goes against the grain of a profession that has historically been, and largely remains, male-dominated.

Not once in my career have I felt I needed to fight my corner because I am a woman, nor have I felt less respected for the work I do. I have progressed quickly and naturally through the ranks to become an Equity Partner, and I have never questioned whether that journey would have been easier had I been a man.

I also have the privilege of being Head of HR at Goughs, which allows me to actively ensure that women within our firm have access to opportunity, flexibility, and support at every stage of their careers.

Recognising that things aren’t the same everywhere

I am acutely aware that my experience is not the norm. The legal profession has long been shaped by patriarchal structures, particularly in larger city firms where progress towards gender balance at senior levels has been painfully slow.

When I was looking for work after graduating, I approached interviews with an open mind. What immediately stood out about Goughs was how personal the process was. The partners were far less interested in my academic results and far more interested in who I was, what mattered to me, and how I saw my future.

That authenticity mattered. I felt confident that I would be valued as an individual, with as much to offer and with equal opportunities to any male counterpart.

Building a career at Goughs

I joined Goughs in 2006 as a trainee and have built my entire career here. From trainee to Equity Partner and Head of Corporate & Commercial. That progression would not have been possible, or at least not as achievable or as fast, in a traditional large and male-dominated, city firm environment.

In my role as Head of HR for solicitors at Goughs, a key part of my focus is supporting other solicitors as they come up through the ranks, helping them succeed to the very best of their ability. That support is about sharing experience, championing potential, and creating space for others to grow. This year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘give to gain’, resonates strongly with me. When we give time, guidance, trust, and opportunity to those around us, we all gain stronger teams, better leaders, and a more sustainable profession. Progress is not a finite resource; it multiplies when it is shared.

Balancing career and parenthood

Alongside my career, I am also a working mum, having had my daughter later in life. Parenthood, particularly in demanding professions such as law, brings a unique set of challenges. Taking time out can be daunting, accompanied by worries about whether your role will still exist when you return, whether your career momentum will have stalled, and whether you can truly be present both at work and at home.

Returning to work brought its own anxieties: ‘Would I still be accepted as a leader by my team?’ ‘Would I be behind in a fast-moving market, and could I juggle everything? ’The fact that I was supported to return to a four-day work week, with genuine flexibility, is exceptional in the legal profession. Even so, the mental load and self-doubt that many women experience at this stage should not be underestimated or ignored.

Seeing the wider business landscape

Through my work advising businesses across sectors, from construction and farming to tech and retail, I see daily just how male-dominated the wider business landscape remains. The conversations we have about equality often do not reflect reality. The balance is still far from right.

In fact, I have only one client whose business is led by a woman. She is the managing director of a construction company, and the barriers she has faced to be taken seriously, trusted, and given equal opportunity have been immense. There were moments where she nearly gave up altogether. She persevered, while also raising a family, and her resilience is extraordinary, but it should not have been this hard.

Celebrating progress and pushing for change

International Women’s Day is a moment not only to celebrate progress, but to acknowledge what still needs to change: acceptance, opportunity, and recognition of the skills women bring beyond strong business acumen:  empathy, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and an exceptional ability to manage complexity. These qualities are not “soft skills”; they are leadership skills, and when we actively support and give others space to succeed, we all build stronger teams, better leaders, and a more inclusive profession. That is how lasting change happens, not just on International Women’s Day, but every day.

Pictured above: Gemma Broadbent, Partner and Head of Corporate & Commercial at Goughs Solicitors