Emily Windsor, barrister at Falcon Chambers, specialises in all aspects of property litigation, with particular emphasis on commercial property disputes and agriculture. She has extensive litigation experience at all levels and in the past few years has appeared in cases concerning restrictive covenants, easements, adverse possession, proprietary estoppel, rectification, break clauses, development agreements, rent review, nuisance and agricultural holdings. Emily also has experience of personal and corporate insolvency litigation.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
One of the joys of the bar is that there is no such thing as a typical day. Some days involve meetings with clients, others involve advising in writing, and others involve appearing in court (either virtually or in person). And the work itself is full of variety, even in a specialist area.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Law is all about strategy. A client comes to you with a problem, and you work together to identify the best possible outcome that can realistically be achieved, and a strategy that should get you there. As you get more experienced, you get better at this. A particularly proud moment in recent years was when a long-time hospice client invited me to become a trustee – it felt like the ultimate seal of approval, to be offered such an important role, and I was very touched.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The recent rapid expansion in online meetings and online court hearings. Virtual platforms have transformed the way that barristers can engage with their clients and the courts. They allow much greater flexibility in work practices than previously, which can only be for the good of the profession and our clients. For example, in long-running cases, I can now meet my clients in virtual meetings on a regular basis, in a way which did not happen previously. This increase in contact has proved hugely beneficial in terms of building relationships and planning.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Being disciplined with email management.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Have confidence in yourself, and go for it.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Gender equality has yet to be achieved.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Stay true to yourself.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Exercise! I cycle to and from work, which helps.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Embracing mentorship. Being a barrister is a job which involves infrequent feedback unless you look for it. But if you actively seek it out, you can get invaluable advice and guidance from people who have been in your shoes, and sometimes have a clearer perspective than you do.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
As a lawyer, you can’t win every case. When you win cases, especially those you didn’t expect to win, you get quite a confidence boost. But the flip side is that when you lose, it is really painful. With every case, the important thing to do is reflect on the lessons that can be learned. I am certainly a lot wiser than I was at the start of my career!
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Creating a legal resource platform specifically for agricultural law. The goal would be to make legal guidance more accessible and practical for farmers, landowners, and rural professionals. For some reason, it is especially difficult to access past decisions of the First Tier Tribunal at present, and I’m sure that many in the sector would appreciate a case law database as exists in other spheres. The site could also cover things like tenancy agreements, succession planning, and environmental compliance, all in a way that’s easy to understand.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
PDF annotation software has been a game-changer. Back in the day, you would prepare trials surrounded by heavy lever arch files stuffed with post-it notes. Now I can do all that digitally. I can highlight important passages, add notes in the margins, and bookmark crucial sections – it’s transformed how I prepare for cases. When you are in court and the judge asks about paragraph 47 of the third witness statement, you can find it in seconds rather than rearranging piles of lever arches. An added bonus in property law is that you can expand plans to actually be able to read them!
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
An afternoon boat trip on the Hudson River with my daughter. Neither of us had been to New York for a long time, and the skyline in the sunshine was just as magical as I remembered it.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I recently read East West Street by Philippe Sands, a gripping memoir of his own family history, which serves as a timely reminder of the lessons to be learned from the last century.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The Diplomat. It is a smart political drama, which is very well written and acted. And I enjoyed all the footage of Regent’s Park, London, as I live near there myself.
Key learnings
- Believe in yourself.
- Embrace mentorship.
- Stay you.