Transcript
Please note this transcript is an automatically generated summary and may contain inaccuracies.
James Modley:
Thank you for joining us, and welcome to Higgs in conversation with. This podcast is designed to dive into the minds of some of the most successful individuals who are in senior positions within leading businesses in the UK, providing a peek into their life both personally and professionally. My name is James Modley, and I will be your host. I am a partner in the Commercial Dispute Resolution team at Higgs LLP.
We have something really special for you today. I am delighted to welcome Fiona Meany, Global Head of Litigation for Jones Lang LaSalle, also known as JLL, a global commercial real estate firm providing services for buying, building, occupying, managing and investing in property, with offices in 80 countries. While we’re celebrating our 150th anniversary at Higgs this year, JLL is 222 years old, founded in 1783 in London—what an amazing achievement. Fiona, welcome and thank you for joining me.
Fiona Meany:
Thank you, James. If you could see me close up, you’d see I’m blushing a little; that’s quite an introduction. I’m really excited to be here, and it’s a privilege to work for a company with such a history. Thank you for the chance to have a chat.
Fiona’s role and daily life at JLL
James Modley:
I've briefly mentioned your job role, but it sounds super interesting. What do you do on a daily basis, and how does all that fit into your company?
Fiona Meany:
I’m the Global Head of Litigation at JLL, but I also wear several other hats. I lead our centre of excellence for ethics investigators and am also the General Counsel for our Value and Risk Advisory business. I keep lots of plates spinning! On the litigation side, I provide strategic leadership and lead a team of litigators based in the US, UK and Australia. Our goal is always to resolve matters in JLL’s best interest, whatever that means for each case.
Day to day, I speak with colleagues around the world—Asia in the morning, moving across Europe and over to the Americas later in the day. It’s all about connecting, addressing whatever issues arise, finding solutions and drawing lessons for the future.
Managing across time zones and global teams
James Modley:
How do you find the time to do all your roles across so many regions?
Fiona Meany:
It sometimes feels like having a Time Turner from Harry Potter! But honestly, I’m very lucky to work with fantastic colleagues. My job is about connecting with people doing the hard work and making sure we’re moving in the right direction. The time zone challenge is real, but we manage it by being sensible and respecting everyone’s personal time—including mine. At pinch points, we work hard, but that balances out, and we’re mindful about people’s time.
Teamwork and communication at JLL
James Modley:
You touched on the importance of a strong team. The people around you are vital for success, aren’t they?
Fiona Meany:
Absolutely. I work with exceptional people, not just in my team but across the business. A lot of my job is about connecting the dots. I might put someone in the UK in touch with a colleague in Australia who’s dealt with a similar issue. That’s often where I can add the most value.
James Modley:
People make the business and culture. Communication is important but surprisingly hard to get right, especially on a global scale. What’s your top communication tip?
Fiona Meany:
I agree, most issues stem from some sort of breakdown in communication. My main tip is: do it early and often. Sharing bad news early is good news because you can plan, make provisions and avoid surprises. If you hoard information, that harms the team. Teamwork—one of JLL’s core values—relies on good communication and helps build trust.
Building teams and harnessing strengths
James Modley:
We all have different strengths, so assembling a team that brings out the best in everyone is a huge skill in itself.
Fiona Meany:
Yes, and it would be awful if my whole team was just clones of me! Everyone is exceptional, and each person excels at something unique. As a leader, you need to spot gaps and look to fill them through recruitment and training. Teamwork means having that mix and willingness to learn from each other.
Defining optimal performance
James Modley:
What do you class as optimal performance or being exceptional?
Fiona Meany:
It depends on circumstances, but for me, optimal performance means being proactive, thinking three steps ahead and having a clear strategy. I like to boil down our approach to two lines: what is this case, and what’s our position? If you can articulate that briefly, everything else should flow from it. Coordinated decision-making follows from that clarity.
Fiona’s non-negotiables for success
James Modley:
What are your three non-negotiables for success?
Fiona Meany:
Enthusiasm, communication, and teamwork. Enthusiasm is a real differentiator, especially for juniors—you don’t need to know everything straight away but being eager to learn will take you far. Communication is a skill you can work at, and authenticity is key: be yourself, build genuine relationships. Teamwork is absolutely central—no one achieves anything alone.
Where did those values come from?
James Modley:
What are those values driven by? Did you have a mentor or role model, or was it built within you?
Fiona Meany:
I come from a non-traditional background for law: single parent, first in my family to go to university. Early on, I realised I didn’t have the same institutional knowledge, but I learned to lean into enthusiasm for learning—and received great mentorship encouraging me to be authentic and enthusiastic. Those characteristics have shaped my approach and have been noticed (and rewarded) by leaders throughout my career.
The value of authenticity
James Modley:
Bringing your authentic self is powerful. It’s not always easy, but important.
Fiona Meany:
Absolutely. Clients and colleagues expect ability, but what builds lasting working relationships is authenticity. You won't click with everyone, but different perspectives and backgrounds make teams and outcomes better.
Lessons from mistakes
James Modley:
How do you view mistakes?
Fiona Meany:
Mistakes are inevitable, but as long as they’re made in good faith and you take responsibility, they are learning opportunities. I want people to own up so we can fix things and learn how to avoid repeating them. On a personal level, mistakes mean you’re growing—just don’t make the same one repeatedly!
Leadership and the “secret sauce”
James Modley:
What’s your secret sauce for pulling global teams together?
Fiona Meany:
There isn't a secret sauce, but my key ingredients would be empathy, pragmatism, communication and teamwork. You need clear red lines and open discussion. Empowering your team is crucial—it’s about everyone working together, not just me solving every problem. Sometimes that means parking your own ego and letting others lead.
Leaders
James Modley:
Are leaders born or self-taught?
Fiona Meany:
Mostly self-taught. Certain characteristics help, but you learn as you go—mainly by observing what works (and what doesn’t) from other leaders.
Who inspires Fiona?
James Modley:
Who inspires you?
Fiona Meany:
I've always loved football, so sports stories inspire me. Watching people overcome significant hurdles—like Olympic athletes who train so hard for their one shot—shows the power of determination and resilience. That kind of dedication is endlessly inspiring.
Great achievements
James Modley:
What’s your greatest achievement in your role at JLL?
Fiona Meany:
Leaving aside confidential cases, what gives me most joy is seeing people I’ve mentored, formally or informally, grow into senior roles. Passing knowledge and watching others take up the baton is a true legacy.
Bringing teams along on the journey
James Modley:
When a big decision is made in the business, how do you bring everyone along for the journey?
Fiona Meany:
Establish clear frameworks for communication and stakeholder management. Everyone who needs to be involved stays informed with regular updates—no surprises. Clear communication cadence and building strong relationships are essential.
The role of AI and technology
James Modley:
How are you and JLL using AI?
Fiona Meany:
AI is part of the world and brings new opportunities—especially in proptech, optimising property use. At JLL, we use an internal AI tool, “JLL GPT”, which assists the legal team with data management, translation, and making sense of complex information. It saves time on repetitive tasks, but all outputs are checked—AI doesn’t replace us, it enables us to focus on higher-value work.
What sets external lawyers apart
James Modley:
What do you look for in external lawyers?
Fiona Meany:
It’s about relationship-building, understanding our business, and being proactive. Effective collaboration, sharing information and taking a view (not just lengthy legal memos)—that’s where real value lies. Deliver advice in a way that saves our time and gives us practical options, not just a summary of the law.
This information is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We recommend you seek legal advice before acting on any information given.
