Emma Ruiz

Emma joined us in 2006 and works as a senior receptionist/facilities assistant in our London office. She discusses her experiences and how Mills & Reeve has evolved over the years.

illustration for Emma Ruiz

Can you tell us about your early career and how you ended up joining Mills & Reeve?

I started working at Fountain House on Fenchurch Street in London as a receptionist, and was working there when Mills & Reeve took an office space in the building (the team was very different and a lot smaller then). I built a great rapport with everyone in the Mills & Reeve team, seeing them going in and out every day. After a while, one of the partners approached me and said that my talent was being wasted and that I should apply to work for Mills & Reeve instead - they were on the lookout for receptionists at the time. I applied, and was interviewed alongside 6 other people, so didn’t think I’d get the job, but I was successful...and the rest is history. I got to know everyone very well as the office was right next to our reception desk, and I also had to manage our meeting rooms and catering at the same time.

Can you tell us about your time at Mills & Reeve?

I’ve been here a long time now (since February 2006), have worked in all three of our London offices and have had to find different ways of working as we’ve moved and expanded over the years. Our current office is absolutely fantastic, and the view from the balcony is definitely worth seeing if you’re ever visiting us! Over the years I’ve really enjoyed watching the firm grow and change. The culture has just got stronger and is absolutely the best. It’s wonderful being able to see people come and go. As we’re based in London we get an awful lot of visitors from other offices, and I’ve loved getting to know people across the firm over the years. Sometimes I might not see someone for months or years at a time, but I always welcome them with open arms when they come to visit (and quite often manage to persuade them to take a selfie on the balcony with me).

What’s your favourite memory from working at Mills & Reeve?

I helped to organise a firmwide summer party. These were in the days when we were small enough for the whole firm to meet up. We ended up taking people on the London eye and had dinner on a river boat. One of the biggest challenges, other than deciding which office to be in, was to arrange coaches, sort where people were staying, deal with everyone’s questions, and make sure that everyone was in the right place at the right time. Though it was hard work, it ended up being the best summer party ever, and an amazing experience for me personally!

How has Mills & Reeve supported you over the years?

Honestly, they’ve been like a second family to me. They've always been incredibly supportive whenever I’ve had any personal problems going on. Hopefully I'll be there for a long time to come.

How has the firm changed over your time here?

As we’ve gone through the years we’ve expanded an awful lot, both with staff and our number and range of clients. Mills & Reeve has really built a good name for itself, something which I try to contribute to, always being a cheerful and welcoming face for whoever visits our London office. I make a particular effort to try to remember people who’ve visited in the past and make them feel like old friends. It helps that I've been at the firm for a number of years, as I’ve met everyone who has come through our doors over the years.