Hannah Fynn is the Real Estate partner at Aaron & Partners. She joined the law firm in 2019 and became a partner in 2024.
IN ONE SENTENCE, WHAT DOES YOUR JOB INVOLVE? Legal advice and support for businesses and individuals on commercial property, mines and minerals.
HOW IS YOUR JOB IMPACTED BY FLUCTUATIONS IN THE ECONOMY? What we’re seeing more of is clients getting creative with how they structure deals. For example, when borrowing becomes less attractive, we’re seeing more uses of staged payments to fund transactions, rather than traditional lending.
On the investment side, clients with established portfolios are still keen to invest, but they’re diversifying into different kinds of property. While investors are still putting money into office space, the change to hybrid or remote working means garden centres and caravan park sites have actually become popular to invest in! To me, this reflects how investments mirror wider society shifts in interests.
WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON HYBRID AND FLEXIBLE WORKING – IS IT STILL NEEDED, OR PRACTICAL? Flexibility is key. If you want to attract and retain the best people, hybrid working is now an expectation rather than a nice perk to have. I enjoy being in the office, as for me, the social and collaborative side is important for building relationships, but the option to work from home provides some balance. It doesn’t suit everyone in the same way and some roles require a full-time office-based or lend themselves more to remote working. It can be very role-specific.
HOW DO YOU VIEW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – AND HOW MIGHT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS USE IT? AI presents real opportunities for improving efficiency and service delivery, but it also comes with data and regulatory risks. Until the UK regulatory framework is more developed in this area and AI is more secure, we have to be cautious. There have already been cases of AI misuse in the courts, which highlights the importance of checking sources and relying on factual information.
HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD DESCRIBE YOU? I’d like to think they would say I’m approachable, a team player and someone they can come to for help - a good sounding board when they need one and always up for a lunchtime walk, whatever the weather!
YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH IN THE WORKPLACE? Problem-solving, outside-the-box thinking and being able to support colleagues and clients with practical, proactive, considered advice.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN YOUR JOB? Getting the balance right, both professionally and personally.
YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS? Becoming a partner and getting to where I am today. I took an unconventional route into law, studying part-time while working and raising my children which meant juggling a lot at times. Being listed in The Legal 500 is also something I'm very proud of.
HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK? I love trail running, and often go with friends on weekend adventures. I’m also currently training for the London Marathon, which I’m running for Young Lives v Cancer. Outside of running, it’s about spending time with friends and family or escaping into a good book.
FAVOURITE THING ABOUT SHROPSHIRE? The countryside. We’re incredibly lucky to have such beautiful hills and landscapes, while still being close enough to cities when you need them.
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM OF CHOICE? Instagram
FAVOURITE MOVIE AND/OR TV SHOW? I’ve just finished Landman on Paramount. It’s really fun and light-hearted, following a land agent navigating the West Texas oil boom. I’m also a big fan of Slow Horses; Gary Oldman is just brilliant in it and Shrinking with Jason Segel and Harrison Ford.
EARLY BIRD, OR NIGHT OWL? Night Owl.
DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE? Rowan Atkinson, Trevor Noah, Roy Keane and Barack Obama - for a mixture of hilarity, witty conversations and storytelling.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN’T KNOW. I spent some time living in South Africa following my now husband around with his cricket career and enjoyed fishing on the beach, catching (and releasing) all kinds of wonderful sea creatures, including sharks and fly fishing in their beautiful inland lakes - a very different lifestyle!
I was also living in South Africa when America appointed Barack Obama as their first black president - it was so special to witness how a place on the other side of the world could have such a wonderful, positive effect and bring together South Africa, known as the rainbow nation, in celebration.
AND FINALLY . . . WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT 12 MONTHS HAS IN STORE FOR YOU, PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY? Personally, running the London Marathon and raising money for a charity that’s very close to my heart. Professionally, I’m looking forward to growing our future energy sector at Aaron & Partners, including all things renewables like wind turbines, solar energy and mines and minerals.
