Victoria Howarth

Victoria joined Payne Hicks Beach in 2022, having previously worked in both fee-earning and strategic roles for many years at another well-established London law firm. Victoria’s work focuses on knowledge management, training, legal technology and project delivery. She has led a number of firm-wide initiatives, including knowledge sharing, document digitisation and the design and delivery of the firm’s Accelerated Learning Programme, which provides key skills training for junior lawyers across all departments. Victoria’s work is consistently recognised for its impact on firm culture, collaboration and performance.

Victoria regularly advises on operational improvements and risk management strategies and she has developed onboarding programmes and departmental systems and procedures to support the firm’s efficiency, resilience and commitment to the highest standards of client service.

Victoria has extensive experience in private client law. She holds distinctions in all STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) papers and was previously a member of the HMRC General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) Advisory Panel.

Victoria works closely with colleagues across Payne Hicks Beach, including the IT, HR, compliance, marketing and finance teams, and she is a founder member of the firm’s AI committee. She has also chaired the industry-wide Private Client PSL forum and represents Payne Hicks Beach at industry events with a focus on inclusivity, early careers and legal tech.

A graduate of St John’s College, Oxford, she qualified as a solicitor in 2006, became a full STEP member in 2010 and completed her notarial qualification in 2019. Victoria also spends a lot of time cycling happily around East London.