3rd Apr 2026
Meet the Member – Barbara (Babs) Neilan, Jamieson Law
Name, business name
Barbara (Babs) Neilan, Jamieson Law
Tell us about your businesses, the inspiration behind it and when you launched it?
I’m one of the co-founders of Jamieson Law — we’re a corporate and commercial law firm working with founders and growing businesses. I trained in big law and spent some time in-house, and what I saw consistently was that legal advice was often overcomplicated, slow and not that helpful in practice. Clients would either not fully understand what they’d been told, or they’d think they were covered… and then find out later they weren’t. So we set up Jamieson Law to do things differently — clearer advice, quicker responses, more transparency around pricing, and a much more commercial approach. We launched the firm to fix those gaps, and that’s still very much what drives how we work now.
Best piece of advice you were given at the start of your business journey?
Probably that you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. It’s very easy to overthink things at the beginning — structure, branding, messaging — and delay actually getting going. In reality, a lot of it becomes clearer once you’re working with real clients and seeing what they actually need. So starting before everything feels “perfect” was important.
What has been your biggest lesson/ challenge faced so far and how did you overcome it?
Letting go of the idea that everything needs to be done perfectly. Coming from a legal background, you’re trained to be precise, thorough and careful — which is important, but in a business context it can slow you down. The biggest shift was becoming more comfortable with moving quickly, making decisions and refining as we go. That’s probably still a work in progress, but it’s made a big difference.
What is your number 1 business tip for success?
Keep things clear. That applies to:
- how you communicate
- how your business is structured
- and how you make decisions
A lot of problems come from things being unclear — not discussed properly, not documented properly, or just assumed. Clarity solves more than people think.
What are the big business goals for the next year?
Continuing to grow the firm, but in a way that stays consistent with how we work. So that means:
- building out the team
- developing more scalable products and resources
- and continuing to support founders through key stages like investment and exit
The focus is really on growing without losing what makes the firm different.
How can the GGC Business membership help?
Having access to a network of businesses that are at similar stages or going through similar challenges is always valuable. A lot of what founders deal with isn’t unique — it’s just not always openly talked about. So having that shared experience, alongside access to support and opportunities, can make a real difference.
What’s the dream?
To build a firm that people are really excited to work with. Where clients feel like they understand what’s going on, trust the advice they’re getting and see legal as something that supports their business rather than slows it down. And internally, building a team and environment that reflects that as well.
Fave mantra to get you buzzed up for business!
Probably: “Keep it simple.” It sounds basic, but it applies to almost everything — and it’s very easy to lose sight of.
Three fun facts about you!
- I find it quite hard to switch off — my brain is usually still running through things, even when I’m meant to be relaxing
- I like things to be straightforward — overcomplication is probably one of my biggest frustrations
- I’m obsessed with competing – I compete in Hyrox events and running events regularly. I’m taking on my first marathon at the end of April (the London Marathon), and I can’t wait till that one’s over!
