Alison Eddy

Alison is the Managing Partner for the Irwin Mitchell London office.

Having opened the London office in 1995, Alison set up and until recently led the medical negligence team in London.
As a medical negligence lawyer, Alison has been a passionate advocate for patient safety and for safe, compassionate healthcare for women and have been committed to raising awareness of inequalities in healthcare, particularly in maternity services.
Alison has championed diversity and inclusion and social mobility in the legal profession. In 2008 Alison helped set up the Diversity & Inclusion Board and led the gender equality group for many years. Irwin Mitchell is currently the only top 50 law firm where over 50% of our partners are women.
Alison co-leads our new initiative ‘The Female Voice’ which provides a platform for women from across our networks to be empowered and inspired, to connect, collaborate and share ideas.

Alison is a Trustee for Group B Srep Support and a Business Ambassador for Meningitis Now.
In 2012 Alison featured in The Lawyer’s Hot 100. In 2019 Alison was awarded Champion of the Year at The First 100 Years’ Inspirational Women in Law awards and featured in “In Her voice” and in the “Women Who Will “ report 2020 featuring 30 women leaders in law. In 2020 Alisonwas awarded Legal 500 UK Insurance Individual of the Year (London), and was also a Women, Influence & Power in Law Honouree. in 2024 Alisonwas awarded the Legal 500 ESG Lifetime Achievement Award- Women in Law.

 

What does “paving the way” for future generations mean to Alison?

“One of the joys of being in a leadership role is being able to elevate others and we often underestimate the impact we have. Whether it’s as role models, mentors, coaches, by sharing our networks or providing opportunities to shine, we can make a massive difference.
As leaders our role to inspire and motivate the next generation of lawyers to believe that with hard work, self-belief, and some luck, they can achieve their dreams. That doesn’t mean it will be easy and combining a busy career with raising children is going to mean the balls come tumbling down occasionally. With increased longevity we’re at a cross roads. Careers will no longer be linear, priorities will shift and I’m conscious of the need to make no assumptions based on gender or age but to listen and support colleagues in their career aspirations whatever stage they’re at.”