Michelle O’Hara

Michelle is Head of the Commercial Services Division. She joined Thursfields in 2007, having previously worked for 9 years at international law firm Eversheds Sutherland. She was admitted as a Solicitor in 1999.

Michelle specialises in employment and HR law with particular expertise in strategic HR advice, workforce restructuring and advising on employee share option and incentive schemes. Michelle is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association and also an Associate CIPD member (having a post-graduate diploma in HR Management).

In the Legal 500 2017 edition, Michelle is described as ‘professional and knowledgeable’. She now combines client work with executive responsibilities leading Thursfields’ Commercial Services Division which has achieved significant growth under her leadership over the past 6 years. The Commercial Services Division incorporates a wide range of legal disciplines including Corporate, Commercial, Employment and HR, Commercial Property and Dispute Resolution.

Responsible for the Firm’s HR strategy, in 2018 Michelle focused on improving learning and development opportunities at Thursfields. She devised a Learning Agility programme, designed to equip lawyers with often overlooked skills vital to working in a legal practice. The Firm’s goal is to deliver distinguishing excellence in customer service by encouraging colleagues to be self-aware, reflective of their interaction with others and capable of building great rapport with clients.

Thursfields has recently been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2018 Law Society Excellence Awards in the category of “Learning and Development”.