The People Behind Vincent: Tom Atkinson

As part of our ‘People Behind Vincent’ series, we chat with Commercial Leader and Mentor, Tom Atkinson. With roots in sports management, Tom discusses his diverse path into legal tech, the power of mentorship, and why his love of food makes him an ideal travel companion.

Welcome Tom. So, tell us, as someone who studied sports management, how did you end up in legal tech?

That’s a good question and something I often get asked by the lawyers I meet!

I loved playing rugby and football at school, but I wasn’t good enough to play professionally, so thought coaching may be an option. I liked the idea of a sports management degree as it combined business skills, but when I graduated, I couldn’t find a suitable job.

I got a job in research to save money and then spent a year traveling the world with friends. When I came back, I was recommended a role at Justis Publishing.

A couple of years later, I was asked to run the company’s Australian office in Melbourne. I was responsible for how we went to market across Asia Pacific, while also handling account management. It was a lot of responsibility for someone in their twenties, but the leadership team put their trust in me, and I loved the role.

As a business, we were trying to move lawyers and barristers from books and CD-ROMs to online platforms, which is quite something when you consider where we are now in terms of tech.

And then how did you move from there to where you are now?

While in Australia, I met my now wife. We wanted to move closer to Europe, and around that time, my mentor had moved into financial services consulting. I relocated to London and joined him at a firm that was later acquired by Accenture. After a year, I was asked if I’d like to head up sales for their Canadian practice. Moving again felt like a risk but also an opportunity that I’d regret if I turned down, so we relocated.

I gained permanent residency in Canada and by then Justis had become part of vLex. I’d always kept in touch with the leadership team so in 2021, I joined them again to head up the Canadian practice.

What does your role look like today?

I look after our enterprise corporate practice, working with Fortune 500 legal departments. We help them to use our technology to transform workflows across a wide range of areas such as research, litigation, and transactional work.

What motivates you professionally?

There are two things; the first is the chance to build trust, whether that’s with clients, my team or people within the wider industry. Strengthening those connections is what helps to open up honest and insightful conversations about what’s happening in the legal world.

The second thing is seeing my team succeed. I get a lot of satisfaction from empowering people, giving them the support they need to grow, and watching them thrive in their role.

You mentioned a mentor earlier – how much influence have they had on your career?

The mentor I mentioned still works with me today. It’s been 15 years since we first met, and I’ve learned a lot from him along the way. He always empowered those in sales to invest in themselves and provided them with as much knowledge as possible to succeed. That approach has influenced my own leadership style and how I support my team.

I feel lucky to have built such a strong relationship with someone who began as my manager before becoming a mentor and is now also a friend. Regardless of what industry you’re in, that kind of support and guidance is invaluable as you grow into new roles.

Looking back, what are you most proud of?

Professionally, I’d say building the corporate practice at vLex. To see how far the team has come within just two years is amazing. We’re working with great clients, have strong partners, and a bright future with some fantastic developments in the pipeline over the next 6 – 12 months.

On a personal level, I feel proud of how I’ve adapted across different industries throughout my career. Each transition has brought new challenges and the knowledge I’ve gained has been instrumental in me succeeding in my current role.

And outside of work, how do you switch off?

I have a four-year-old daughter who takes up most of my spare time. I run a small, reliable taxi service to karate classes and football, or wherever else she wants to go!

As a family, food and coffee are also a big part of our lives, influenced by all the various places we’ve lived. We love going out for dinner, visiting cafes and generally taking time out to relax over the weekend.

What do you enjoy most about living in Canada?

We have amazing summers, and I love Toronto. There’s so much to see and do, and we have some great beaches nearby. Living in Canada also means you get to experience the extremes of all four seasons. It’s pretty cool to see such huge shifts in the weather – apart from when the snow is taller than I am!

Is there something your colleagues might be surprised to learn about you?

My wife and I used to write a food blog when we met in Melbourne. That love of food has seen me map out the best food and coffee spots in every city I’ve visited over the past decade. If anyone wants a recommendation, I have all the best places starred on my Google Maps.

What advice would you give to young people starting a career like yours?

Be a great listener. Whether it’s clients or colleagues, take the time to really understand what people are saying. In my experience, that’s what builds trust, and trust builds relationships, which are the key to sustaining a career. People will turn to you as an advisor because you listen, understand, and can articulate thoughtful solutions – not because you can talk a lot.

Finally, where do you see legal tech heading in the next year?

I believe we’re only at the starting point with generative AI. Over the next 12 months, we’ll see more evolution, not just in the tools themselves, but in how organizations define success and drive change.

We have a key role to play in enabling that change to ensure true adoption across all user groups. This is when true ROI is realized.

Join the team

We're always seeking brilliant, talented individuals to join our growing team. If you're interested in being part of our mission, we'd love to hear from you at hello@vlex.com.

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