Susan Glenholme is the managing partner of Debenhams Ottaway, where she has led the firm since 2018 with a clear growth strategy centred on people, purpose and doing things differently.

Her leadership approach combines ambitious goals with a strong focus on culture, creating an environment where lawyers and business services professionals feel supported, heard and accountable. She has strengthened the firm’s business support capabilities and championed the use of technology, data and insight to help teams make better decisions and deliver sustainable change.

Leading a firm with a long history, Susan understands the importance of balancing legacy with the need to evolve. She is passionate about the human side of transformation: bringing people with you, adapting leadership behaviours and responding to the changing expectations of a multigenerational workforce.

Having joined Debenhams Ottaway as a paralegal 28 years ago, Susan progressed through the firm to become a partner in 2006 and, ultimately, Managing Partner. This journey has shaped her belief in developing talent from within and creating opportunities for people to build fulfilling and successful careers.

Susan is President of the St Albans District Chamber of Commerce and a regular contributor to law firm leadership and management discussions. Her distinctive, people-first approach has been recognised with national and regional leadership awards. She previously led Debenhams Ottaway’s award-winning private wealth team.