Cleo Diedrick
Midland Heart
Head of Legal
My name is Cleo Diedrick. I am the Head of Legal at Midland Heart Limited, a social housing association that has a portfolio of over 33,000 properties and 70,000 customers. My role is therefore diverse as it includes overseeing this extensive portfolio in respect of property and commercial contractual legally related matters that affect the company. Previously, I worked in private law firms before moving in-house within the energy sector supporting a company in land acquisition, other commercial property and development matters to assist in with the creation of fast ramping gas powered engines that produces electricity to trade on the stock market as well as support the UK’s National Grid electricity programme.
I absolutely enjoy working in house particular for the vast amount of commercial insights gained from working alongside the operational and strategic elements of transactions, adding value to organisation’s corporate strategies and objectives. My greatest conundrum is having to work creatively with various other non-legal professionals as well the challenge it brings with applying of the law in areas that have a direct effect on my colleagues and the way the organisation works.
I have a profound appreciation of the benefits of in-house working opportunities. Equally, I am also aware that these benefits and opportunities are often oblivious to the wider legal profession and students. I am therefore happy to be a part of the law Society’s in-house committee to further promote the work of in-house lawyers and highlights its benefits within the legal sector.