Kathrine Lacey, left, and Allison Ambrose, co-managing directors (Courtesy photo)
Allison Ambrose and Kathrine Lacey made history at their 95-year-old law firm by becoming the first women to be named managing partner.
Ambrose worked as an international business liaison for State Street Global Advisors in Boston before moving to the Lakes Region to figure out her next career move, almost going into hospitality. Instead, she pursued a career in law, joined Wescott Law in 2011 and within five years was named managing partner.
Lacey was a mother and paralegal in her 30s when she decided to go to law school. She joined the firm as a legal intern in 2013. “Kathrine was absolutely fantastic, and we made an offer as soon as she graduated,” Ambrose says. Lacey quickly built up the firm’s family law practice. By 2019 was named co-managing partner of the firm. “Allison has been a wonderful role model for me,” she says.
Business increased during the pandemic with a lot of tenant-landlord work and family law. “In family law cases, it was ‘do I have to bring my kids back to other parent if there is risk going home to home?” Lacey says. Communication was critical during that turbulent time, so the firm instituted a requirement that clients receive a response within 24 hours, says Ambrose.
Ambrose serves as a corporator of Bank of NH, a CASA volunteer and is secretary of the Belknap Economic Development Council. Lacey serves on the board for the Boys & Girls Club of Central NH as well as Collaborative Divorce NH.
Together they lead a firm founded in 1927 that merged with another Lakes Region firm in 2009 and now has offices in Laconia, Meredith and Plymouth as well as 14 full-time and 12 part-time employees, including nine attorneys. With some recent retirements, the firm was able to hire four new attorneys and launch a mentorship program. They are preparing for the firm’s 100th anniversary in five years; expect some big announcements then.
Current Issue - April 2024