This month’s Member Spotlight features Paul Pia WS. Paul joined the WS Society in 1971. Thank you to Paul for taking the time to tell us about pursuing a career in law to combine his interest in people, society, and business and what the WS Society means to him.
WHAT MADE ME CONSIDER LAW AS A CAREER
The life world of my early, childhood and adolescent years was one of that of a closely knit primary family of Italian origin, albeit both of my parents were Scots born. And my father was a successful businessman who had built up his company from scratch. Indeed my whole family history was one of private enterprise. That meant growing up in a large Victorian house in Edinburgh’s Newington area.
My engagement with a large extended family and friendship network, combined with rich relationships across the neighbourhood, my local church and schools not only developed my social skills but aroused in me a fascination with human nature. And my social “finishing school” was the University of Edinburgh - from the age of seventeen to twenty-one - where I interacted and leisured with a wide range of students from earls’ to miners’ sons, and from all parts of the world.
My interest in people and society drew me to the study of social science and my high regard for business made my subject choice economics. It came to my attention that this could be combined with law and that made an honours degree in law and economics the obvious choice.
I found both of these subjects of social science interesting and compelling and had the good fortune to excel in both.
But I chose the path of legal practice over that of the economist because I felt a vocation to be working with people, in a career that also gave promise of economic security both for myself and the family that I aspired to have. After an “apprenticeship” with Lindsays WS I joined the then W & J Burness WS in 1970 and the rest is history…
MY LAW CAREER AND ITS HIGHLIGHTS
In my early days, both with Lindsays and with Burness, I had the pleasure of involvement of all areas of the law, from private client to business and from third sector to litigation. That gave me an awareness of the broad interactions of all branches of the law: constitutional; contractual; regulatory; property protective; taxation managerial; civil disputational and the criminal law - an awareness that endured for the whole of my career. Specialisation is essential - but all the better, in conjunction with an appreciation of the “big picture”.
But my interest in economics drew me to corporate and commercial law and most of my career was spent in those areas. My practice was enormously varied - extending from listed companies to private and family enterprises; to the third sector, where many charities and housing associations operate like many a large business and to the public and civic sectors - my biggest client of my entire career was US Department of the Navy!
That said, I never lost contact with my personal clients - many of whom were business clients and I served them in conjunction with my private client colleagues.
I loved the work that I did for family businesses some of which were multinational.
And one of the highlights of my career was my work with the Corporate Governance Code which is relevant for all business and which I condensed for the benefit of smaller clients. I also served on the Institute of Directors Scotland’s Corporate Governance Unit.
Another highlight was my involvement with hundreds of overseas corporations: from Japan and the Far East, to the Middle East and from Continental and Scandinavian Europe to North America. It was a delight to introduce such companies - with such diverse business cultures - to the challenges of business operation in Scotland, in the UK and - for most of my career - the EU.
That led to much travel overseas and offices such as Chairmanship of the Japan Society of Scotland and a Directorship of the Scottish North American Business Council. I was also an Associate Member of the American Bar Association for many years.
The final highlight was my involvement with the third and charitable sector.
For most of my career, I advised the Scottish Arts Council/ Creative Scotland which led to a plethora of involvement with orchestras, theatres and art galleries. I was involved in projects that brought the late Duke Ellington and Bing Crosby to the Usher Hall.
I also advised the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations which led to letters of engagement with many leading housing association. My work in the fields of charities and social housing received recognition in law firm appraisals.
I consider myself fortunate to have enjoyed a career that combined my fascination with the rule of law and my love of engaging with people - not to mention the challenges of complex transaction management.
My partnership at Burness - now Burness Paull - spanned the years from 1974 until 2010 when I retired.
But my retirement was to prove to be a semi-retirement only: experience gained as a pension trustee for corporate clients led to my appointment as an independent pension trustee for, at its peak, seven DB Pension Schemes together with other trusteeships and consultancy work on corporate governance for private and family businesses, leading me to remain a frequent visitor to the Signet Library!
As a lawyer, my enduring aim was to provide an empathic approach to clients that got things done, proportionately in a way that delivered value to them and not only to serve but to delight the client in question.
WHY I WANTED TO BE A WS
I first came to hear about the WS Society because the firm with which I was indentured - whose partners were my “masters” - were members of it. Although not compulsory, a green and young Paul Pia in his salad days felt that becoming a member was the right thing to do.
I was also bowled over by the magnificent neo-classical architectural masterpiece of Robert Reid and William Stark that is The Signet Library and its astonishing collection of law books and others and manuscripts - one of the most remarkable in Scotland.
And I was impressed by its “mission statement” of the promotion of excellence and the highest possible standards, in both legal knowledge and understanding and in the practice of the law, for public benefit.
That fired my wish to acquire the post-nominal letters of “WS”.
I duly signed the oath of membership, mindful of the fact that the Society had survived the Unlawful Societies Act of 1799!
The Society has played a very meaningful role in the course of my legal career: providing a marvellous environment for research and legal consideration not to mention the many splendid dinners and other events there.
And it has proved to be a wonderful location for my part time work, post-retirement.
It has also during the 54 years of my membership embraced significant change - all, in my view, for the better. In 1971, not only was it all male but the Society was - dare I say it - rather inward looking.
Now it is a vibrant society with a much more diverse membership - including a female Keeper - and one that looks out: its membership now permits Associate membership and extends to the international. It has its own in house legal team that supports our members; operates a first rate programme of legal education; has done much to systematise its library and collections, in collaboration with the National Library of Scotland; has opened its doors not only for a superb afternoon tea experience in its exquisite surroundings but for private dinners, weddings and even funerals and has recently - and quite rightly - obtained charitable status, operating as it does pro bono publico.
I would also like to pay tribute to all of those who direct and manage the Society at this time. Any organisation is as good as its people. And the people that have been resourced to provide the services of the Signet Library are not only of the highest possible standards of quality and professionalism but constitute a friendly and charming team, one that is second to none.
Joining the WS Society was one of the best decisions of my life and I am very proud to be a small part of it.
MY ADVICE TO A LAWYER CONSIDERING MEMBERSHIP
What I would say to any lawyer considering membership of the WS Society:
My advice is to take immediate steps to join for the following reasons:
1) Your membership will give you access to a legal resource, that is truly unique in Scotland: one that provides excellent legal input from a first class legal team; a first rate programme of legal education; and a rich and extensive collection of books and other manuscripts for use in conjunction with virtual sources;
2) As a member, you will join a Society that has existed since 1594 and which makes available to you a magnificent neo-classical Library that was completed in 1822 and opened by King George IV, at Sir Walter Scott’s invitation: a place not only of exquisite beauty and one of richness in history, heritage and culture.
3) Members of the Society also enjoy the benefits of a range of other events: dinners, addresses from public figures and Christmas carol concerts to which friends and associates may be invited
4) Membership also provides opportunities to connect and engage with fellow lawyers of all ages and of other nationalities, who visit the Library, and attend and particulate in the Society’s events there.
5) Membership also gives you the benefit of playing a part in a unique Scottish charity, that promotes the highest standards of legal education and legal practice in Scotland, for the benefit of the public.