Emma Havas, Travers Smith, made partner: 2017

Key deals: Advising the Access Group on eight bolt-on acquisitions during the past 12 months, and advising PureGym on its acquisition of Soho Gyms.

What has been your career-defining moment? This may sound like a strange response, but probably the decision a few years ago not to go for partnership at that stage. I took an alternative career path in the interim and coming through to partnership on a different timeframe and in a different way worked really well for me for a number of reasons. I was senior counsel for a while and then went through the promotion process while on my second period of maternity leave.