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Are you an overstretched, hardworking, ambitious GC, Legal Function with no time to...create the impact or strategy you want?
Maybe you don't know where to start to develop your strategy?
Are you an ambitious lawyer who wants leadership / impact, to be valued, but you don't know how?
Maybe you just want some time back to do the things that are important.
If you're done playing small and ready to lead with impact, you're in the right place.
Hi, I’m Donna
I help General Counsel and In-House Legal Teams build and implement the right Legal Strategy — one that moves them from reactive and overloaded to strategic, confident, and commercially valued.
Using my BOLD Framework and my Accredited Leadership Programme for In-House Lawyers, I combine strategy design with leadership development — helping lawyers gain the mindset, identity, and skills to lead and deliver that strategy effectively.
This approach unlocks talent — so the right people stay, the function performs at a higher level, and you get the clarity and time to lead strategically.
The result?
For Legal: a team that operates as a strategic enterprise leader — shaping business strategy, driving proactive value, and staying ahead of risk.
For the organisation: a Legal function that contributes directly to revenue, resilience, and commercial advantage.
I don’t just help you think strategically — I help you build and embed the systems, skills, and leadership behaviours that make it happen.
When you move from reactive to strategic, that's when clients and exes start to see you as a leader.
The only way to do that is to build a robust strategy!
What My Clients Say...
Janis Acosta - GC - TI Fluids Plc
"What sets Donna apart is her ability to synthesize high-level strategy into clear, actionable plans, positioning legal teams as strategic leaders within the organization.
With a strong focus on people management and performance optimization, she ensures teams stay focused and productive..."
Peter Ho - GC - Tyman Plc
"Donna's Leadership Program helped me move from "execution" to strategic leadership.
My board / exec started to listen and give me the budget and investment to create a team.
Donna helped me shape and craft my career strategy and significantly impacted my professional journey. Winning the GC of the Year 2024 award, “The Lawyer,” was an honor I attribute largely to Donna's transformative coaching."
Nathalie Geary - Port of Dover
Donna helped me shape my career and business strategy to go from GC to Partner at CMS.
She has one of those incredible minds that naturally challenges convention and entrenched thinking. She was able to skillfully question and challenge me, as well as to encourage and invigorate, to ensure I was consistently moving forwards and building confidence during this process of personal development.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Donna as leadership and strategy development a coach.
How to Work With Me
Leadership & Team Consulting
Build Leadership and Develop your In-House Legal Team
Build - Reshape Your Strategy for Greater Impact and Value
Develop Your KPI's and Framework for Implementation Success
Training — Workshops — Coaching — Team Away Days on essential In-House Legal Business, Mindset, Leadership Skills - Wellness - Winning Attitude - Enterprise Mindset
In-House Lawyers Legal Leadership Programme
(Certified Signature Programme)
Unlock Your Leadership Potential Your Team's Talent & Impact
Develop Leadership, Business, Mindset Skills & Strategies to demonstrate your value
Command a Seat at the Top Table
Take back control over your time.
Retaining High Standards — UK's only Accredited Leadership Programme for In-House Lawyers
B.O.L.D Career Clarity Programme
B - Get Brave - Get Clear on what you want & Confidence in go for it.
0 - Own Your Shit. Overcome self-doubt. Orient & Opportunity in the marketplace.
L - Learn to Sell / Position yourself for the next step.
D - Deliver with Strategy Co-create your strategy and delivery support.
Unsure How You want to Work
Join GC - In House Lawyers BOLD Network
Welcome to the space where in-house lawyers go to lead — with strategy, influence, and edge and develop executive presence - and enterprise
What you get:
📍 Early Access -Lunch & Learns that cut through the noise — sharp insights, zero fluff
📍 Leadership Masterclasses with experts who’ve walked the walk
📍 B.O.L.D. Framework in action — real stories, real results
📍 Curated intel from across the legal and business landscape
📍 High-level conversations that elevate how you show up.
This isn’t just access — it’s an advantage.
If you're done playing small and ready to lead with impact, you're in the right place.
Why work with me
A former FTSE 100 and Private Practice Solicitor — a Specialist Leadership Coach & Strategist for In-House Leaders & Teams — Best Selling Author
💫 About Donna McGrath
Hi, I’m Donna McGrath — a former solicitor of 16 years and now the UK’s only accredited Leadership Coach & Mentor dedicated to In-House Lawyers.
I’m also an author and specialist in In-House Legal Psychology, helping Legal leaders balance regulatory obligations with commercial value. I teach In-House Lawyers how to sell objectivity, articulate impact, and position Legal as a strategic asset.
I’ve been there. I’ve faced the pressure, the overwhelm, the late nights, and the impossible balance between protecting the business and enabling it. I know what it’s like to feel exhausted, reactive, and out of control — while still being expected to deliver clarity and calm.
With over 20 years in the legal industry — spanning Private Practice, FTSE 100–250 In-House roles, and Head of Legal positions — I understand the challenges from the inside.
My turning point came when I invested in my own leadership, qualified as a Master Coach through the IAPC&M, and realised that the systems and structures I’d created to survive high-pressure roles were actually my strengths.
A later ADHD diagnosis helped me understand why — my neurodivergent way of thinking was what allowed me to design frameworks that bring clarity, focus, and resilience under pressure.
I’ve since combined my business acumen, LPC teaching experience, and coaching expertise to develop the In-House Lawyers Leadership Programme — the UK’s only accredited programme of its kind. It blends strategy, mindset, and structure to give lawyers the tools to lead with confidence, influence at executive level, and build teams that thrive.
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💫 My Mission & Vision
My mission is to remove unnecessary stress from the In-House role — giving lawyers the clarity, structure, and confidence to thrive.
I help Legal leaders build resilience through simple frameworks that are easy to adopt and practical to apply in fast-moving environments.
I’ve learnt — and now teach — how to speak up with impact, influence with authority, and lead with calm conviction under pressure.
My vision is a legal ecosystem where In-House teams are recognised as strategic enterprise leaders — empowered, commercially confident, and equipped with the mindset, systems, and identity to shape the business, not just serve it.
💼 Why Work With Me
I’m not just a coach — I’ve lived your world.
As a former FTSE 100 solicitor and Head of Legal, I understand the tension between being a business partner and a legal guardian — the very conflict that inspired my work today.
I bring a unique blend of practical experience, strategic intelligence, and contagious energy. I know what drives you, what drains you, and what it takes to turn Legal into a confident, high-performing business partner.
I work 1:1 with General Counsel and senior lawyers, and in group settings with In-House teams to build capability, connection, and momentum across the function.
You’ll work with someone who is:
Results-focused and pragmatic — I build strategies that actually work in real business conditions.
Vivacious, energetic, and fun — I bring energy, belief, and momentum back into your team.
Strategic-minded with an ADHD edge — I see patterns, connections, and commercial opportunities others miss.
Deeply networked across FTSE organisations — always abreast of current thinking and emerging challenges.
A published, best-selling author and keynote specialist on In-House Legal Psychology and enterprise leadership.
I combine commercial acumen with compassion — helping lawyers perform at their best, rediscover their confidence, and lead with purpose and impact.
TESTIMONIALS
Don't just take my word for it. See what my clients have to say...
Daniel Kaufman
Partner at CMS
"Donna guided me through a process of deep and introspective reflection to more clearly define my personal and professional values. We identified my strengths and weaknesses and together developed my understanding of how and why I make an impact. Having completed this process, I could align my career direction with my own value set and the things that are most important to me. This made the career change I was going through at the time, and the decisions I needed to make along the way, so much easier to navigate. With her help, I sharpened my pitch and could better articulate the value I bring to an organisation.
Donna has one of those incredible minds that naturally challenges convention and entrenched thinking. She was able to skillfully question and disagree with me, as well as to encourage and invigorate, to ensure I was consistently moving forwards and building confidence during this process of personal development. I would wholeheartedly recommend Donna as a coach.
James Green
Innova Ltd - Head of Property Legal Jan 2024
"Donna's ability to challenge assumptions and reframe beliefs is a standout feature of the programme. This approach, coupled with her wealth of experience and perceptive insights, has been instrumental in breaking through barriers and unlocking new levels of strategic thinking. The balance between support and firm guidance has been a key factor in my personal breakthroughs.
If you are an in-house lawyer seeking a transformative leadership programme, I cannot recommend Donna’s programme enough. The programme has exceeded my expectations and has been a tremendously valuable investment in personal and professional growth."
Vicki Shaw
Wirral Council - Head of Legal Services Jan 2024
" The In-House Lawyers Leadership Programme (ILLP) has transformed my leadership and influencing abilities. Initially feeling lost and disengaged, Donna's coaching provided me with the clarity, confidence, and tools to redefine my role. Her guidance improved my communication, emotional resilience, and relationships, helping me approach my work with renewed purpose. I now experience greater professional satisfaction, a healthier work-life balance, and stronger connections with colleagues, all of which have enhanced my leadership effectiveness. I’m confident these skills will continue to drive my growth and success. "."
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