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Emma Gaudern, EMG Solicitors

When Emma Gaudern joined the Scale-up Leaders’ Academy (SULA), she was already leading one of the North East’s most admired independent law firms. EMG Solicitors had grown steadily from a bold idea – founded on flexibility, trust and values – into a thriving, award-winning business. But Emma knew that to take the next step, both she and her leadership team needed the structure, confidence and clarity to scale.

Her story began a decade earlier. In 2013, seven months pregnant with her second child, Emma found herself at a crossroads. Balancing a demanding legal career with family life, she realised she wanted to create something different – a law firm where people could thrive professionally without sacrificing their personal lives. So she made the bold decision to hand in her notice.

Emma joined forces with fellow solicitor Jemma Morland, then a specialist in Court of Protection work, and once her maternity leave was complete, they founded EMG Solicitors. Their vision was clear from the start: to build a firm where family and career could coexist.

“Jemma also wanted to have a family, and that shaped the way we formed the business,” Emma explains. “We designed EMG around flexibility. No desks tied to PCs, no clock-watching – just laptops, remote access and trust.”

That family-friendly ethos became EMG’s foundation. Long before hybrid working became mainstream, EMG was already living it, attracting talented working parents and building a culture free from presenteeism. When COVID-19 arrived, the firm didn’t need to scramble. “We already had the IT systems, the culture, and the confidence,” says Emma. “Our people transitioned to home working smoothly – and many still choose that balance today.”

As EMG grew, so did the importance of culture. Emma and her team formalised five core values – co-operation, courage, excellence, integrity and kindness – making them the backbone of every decision. “Our culture governs how EMG interacts with people, our relationships with clients and each other and how we achieve results in a competitive environment, helping set EMG apart,” she says. “Without clearly defined values, growth can dilute who you are. With them, we’ve built a team that goes the extra mile.”

But as demand and headcount grew, Emma recognised that running a larger business required a different kind of leadership. That’s when she turned to the Scale-up Leaders’ Academy, delivered by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

“The SULA programme was exactly what we needed,” she says. “It helped us structure our next phase of growth and gave us the confidence to open our second office. The timing couldn’t have been better.”

For Emma, SULA provided the missing link between ambition and execution. The combination of strategic coaching, peer learning and practical frameworks helped her refine EMG’s approach to leadership, communication and culture – ensuring that as the business scaled, its values remained intact.

“Keeping everyone updated is vital,” she says. “There were times when we were so busy that communication slipped – and that’s when challenges arise. Now, it’s front and centre in everything we do.”

Emma continues to build on the lessons learned through SULA. She’s since completed the Help to Grow: Management programme and remains an active part of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum community, sharing her experiences and learning from others. She has just finished serving as a Non-Executive Director at the North East Chamber of Commerce and is currently a board member at Durham Cricket Foundation, bringing her insight and values-led leadership to new arenas.

Her advice to other business leaders echoes the mindset fostered in the Scale-up Leaders’ Academy: “Don’t be afraid! Give things a try and keep learning.”

Today, EMG Solicitors is an award-winning Legal 500 firm with offices across the North of England as well as Reading, and a national client base. For Emma, scaling hasn’t meant compromising on what matters – it’s meant strengthening it.

“SULA helped me understand that scaling is about more than numbers – it’s about people, culture and courage,” she says. “Those lessons continue to shape how we grow, every single day.”

The Scale-up Leaders’ Academy equips ambitious North East entrepreneurs with the tools, peer support and leadership confidence to grow with purpose.

If you’re ready to take your next step and scale sustainably, join the next cohort of the Scale-up Leaders’ Academy and apply online today.

"SULA helped me understand that scaling is about more than numbers – it’s about people, culture and courage."

EMMA GAUDERN

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