Maria Blohm - Keele University

Keele Law People: Maria Blohm

Maria Blohm Maria Blohm (nee Byrne), graduated 1987.

My name is Maria Blohm (nee Byrne). I am a solicitor, working as a senior associate at Hammonds LLP, a national top 20 commercial law firm, specialising in international arbitration and litigation.

I graduated in Law and Psychology (with subsidiaries in Maths and French) in 1987. After graduation I took a graduate training scheme placement at Oracle, a software company for 3 years before going back to law. I worked at Eversheds in the commercial litigation department as a legal executive (completing the ILEX course by correspondence and becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives). I then moved to Hammonds where I did the LPC part-time and qualified in January 2000 as a solicitor. From 2001-2004 I worked for a US firm, Vinson & Elkins LLP specialising in arbitration, before a move back to Hammonds.

As you see from my less than usual career path, I believe all experiences are good ones, and both the teaching and time at Keele gave me the confidence to direct my energies to try various options before going back to a career in the law. I would recommend the format for teaching at Keele and the experience to anyone who will listen!