Meet our members: Naomi Pryde
Joining a movement like Look Up and Beyond, we each have our own “why”. In this Meet Our Members series, our members share their own motivations for joining LUAB, and why they have chosen to dedicate themselves to achieving better gender balance in the legal profession and beyond. First up, meet Naomi Pryde.
Meet Naomi Pryde
Current role/position in law
Partner, Head of Litigation, Arbitration and Regulation at DLA Piper and Global Co-Chair Space Exploration and Innovation
Where in Scotland are you based?
Edinburgh
One sentence that captures who you are (personally or professionally)
I'm a mum, a lawyer and a leader, committed to showing that empathy and ambition can go hand in hand and that the only definition of success that matters is your own.
Naomi’s Journey in Law
What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was eight years old and never wavered from that ambition. While I can’t quite recall what first drew me to the profession (especially when before that I had a brief stint wanting to be a singer, despite not being able to sing!)as I grew older, I realised law was absolutely the right path for me. I always knew I wanted to be a litigator. I’ve long been driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, to ensure that power is met with accountability, and to help people navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in the legal profession?
Throughout the course of my career, I have been underestimated or criticised for traits that are celebrated in male colleagues. I find being a present mum and the leader I want to be a delicate balancing act. But it is possible to lead, raise a family, and define success on your own terms.
What has been one of your proudest moments so far in your career?
People often expect me to name one of the high-profile cases I’ve worked on, and I’ve been fortunate to be involved in some truly remarkable ones throughout my career. But what I’m most proud of is being a founding council member of the LawScot Foundation, which champions accessibility into the legal profession, and co-authoring the Mindful Business Charter’s Litigation Charter, which promotes greater mindfulness and compassion in how we litigate. Of course being a founding member of Look Up and Beyond! I’ve always said that I want to leave the legal profession in a better (and more inclusive!) shape than I found it and all of these initiatives contribute to doing just that!
Why Look Up and Beyond?
What inspired you to co-found Look Up and Beyond?
Look Up and Beyond was born from a shared desire to challenge the barriers that prevent women from reaching leadership positions in the legal profession. All of us have navigated those challenges and we felt a strong pull to create something to help others and to do our bit to make a difference.
What does advancing female talent in Scottish law mean to you personally?
I remember years ago, before I was a partner or a mum, reading a comment in the Law Society of Scotland’s profile of the profession where someone said, ‘It’s impossible to be a law firm partner and have children.’ I remember feeling utterly determined to prove that wrong and that you could do both and do both well. For me, advancing female talent in Scottish law means showing women that they can achieve whatever they want to - whether that’s becoming a partner, being a mum, doing both at the same time, or choosing a completely different path. For me, it’s about choice, visibility, and support. It’s about dismantling outdated narratives, tackling unconscious bias and building a profession where women are empowered to define success on their own terms.
What do you hope LUAB will achieve for women in law?
I hope it helps women to define success on their own terms.
What advice would you give to young women entering the profession today?
Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Embrace imposter syndrome – absolutely everyone has it but don't let it stop you from achieving your professional goals.
Beyond the legal profession
What do you do outside of law that keeps you grounded or inspired?
I have a 5-year-old who is my daily inspiration - he keeps me laughing, keeps me learning, and keeps me very much on my toes! When I'm not working, sitting on advisory boards, or doing pro-bono, my time is spent in soft-plays or scrambling about adventure parks. My mum, husband, and best friend (we've been friends since primary school) are all also wonderfully grounding influences - they’d never let me get above my station, and I wouldn’t want it any other way!
A fun fact or little-known detail about you.
I can't wink with my left eye. It's not that interesting, but my five-year-old is absolutely fascinated by it and utterly delighted that he can do something I can’t. Oh well, we all have our limitations!! I was a bit of a tomboy when I was younger, and I was also the only girl who was allowed to play football with the boys in primary school, and I was actually pretty good! My son was chuffed when I was very reluctantly allowed to join one of his football games with his friends and the dads (only to make up the numbers, mind!), and I could actually play! I think Naeema was also pretty handy on the pitch when she was younger - maybe it’s time we started a Look Up and Beyond football team!
What’s one “look up and beyond” dream you have for yourself or for women in law?
I remember years ago being featured in all women's talent lists and winning a "best female disputes lawyer" award, and thinking that I look forward to the day when we don't need these lists. When a woman in senior leadership is an everyday occurrence and isn't award-winning. My dream for women in law is that they achieve equity and equality – not just in the workplace, but in the home. My dream for the next generation of women, not just in law, is that leadership ambition, balance, and parenthood are not gendered concepts and that their path is theirs to define.
Connect with Naomi
Mindful Business Litigation Charter | Re-humanising the workplace