Episode 4: Success. What does it look like?

In episode 4, we're talking to Kirsty McShannon, founder of Azorra, a law firm specialising in the live events, festivals and venues industry, with the aim of making legal services accessible to the wider industry and providing niche legal support. Kirsty is also a trustee of The G-A-Y Foundation and a recently-appointed founding trustee of Live Trust, a new funding initiative launched following consultation with DCMS to provide financial support to grassroots music.

Kirsty has an incredible story to share that will not only resonate with so many lawyers, but we hope will also show them that, even with things get really tough, when it feels as though you can't see a path forward, you can change the direction of travel and create something very special

Important Themes In This Episode

• Finding your place beyond traditional legal paths
• Serving a niche and speaking the client’s language
• Redefining success beyond financial metrics
• Reclaiming control of your mental and physical health
• The power of value-based pricing and building a strong team

Memorable Quotes

• “I just thought, I need help, I’m going to have to change something, I can’t sustain feeling like this, and it really flipped on its head for me what success was.”
• “The turnover was the highest turnover we’d had, and that year was the record profit year we’d had, but mental health wise, physical health wise it was just totally non-sustainable”
• “I just felt like I need to be somewhere where I feel like me because I'm finding out all these things about me sort of all at the same time.”
• “Don't worry if you don't fit the mould.”
• “Clients couldn't care less about documents and time. What we do is so much more.” Important Insights & Actionable Insights

• Don’t feel pressured to follow the traditional ladder (associate → partner) — there are many ways to define success in law.
• Focus on finding the right niche and the people you resonate with, not just the legal discipline.
• Embrace value-based pricing to align better with client needs and reduce stress.
• Understand your clients deeply: their industry, pressures, and what truly matters to them.
• Prioritise your health and build a business model that supports your life, not the other way around. You can connect with Kirsty here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-mcshannon-live-events-lawyer/