Karen Clayton, National Grid's UK GC and company secretary, qualified in 1999 after training at Herbert Smith and subsequently worked in the dispute resolution teams at Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Melbourne and Osborne Clarke. She joined National Grid in December 2003 and became GC in 2009. She is also company secretary of National Grid's two main UK operating companies – National Grid Gas and National Grid Electricity Transmission.

WORK

What's the best part of your job? The constant challenge.

What is currently the biggest challenge in your job? Working out the true value of my in-house legal team.

Who/what has been the biggest influence on your career? Jo Cameron, partner in charge of King & Wood Mallesons' Melbourne office.

What are your best and worst traits? Best: commitment, drive, loyalty and judgement. Worst: control freakishness, perfectionism.

What would you do if you weren't a lawyer? Either a news reporter or a female Steve Backshall!

LIFE

Who are your top three fantasy dinner party guests? Steve Backshall, Margaret Thatcher and Ghandi.

If you had to choose one song to be the soundtrack to your life, what would it be? Eye of the Tiger.

If you were ruler of the world for a day what would you do? Ban the use of BlackBerrys etc at social events.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? The ability to read people's minds and magic up an extra hour a day just for me!

Karen is speaking at the Legal Week Corporate Counsel Forum 2013 later this month – click here for more information and click here for table bookings.