Jason Nottage recently sat down with East Midlands Employment Partner, LinkedIn Influencer, and Trusted HR advisor Nic Elliott. Nic is partner and head of Employment Law at Acton’s based in Nottingham. Alongside Nic’s legal work he is one of LinkedIn’s most popular faces and powerful voices. He has recently been voted *2 Independent Legal Influencer on LinkedIn and has been voted one of HR Magazine’s most influential individuals in 2025. Nic also hosts the HRD Talks podcast – He is certainly the employment lawyer of the moment and is “that guy” everyone needs to follow for HR and employment content.

Nic, I remember clearly your phone call out of the blue in spring 2012 to tell me you would like to find a position closer to home in Nottingham. I recall we found plenty of potential options but at the time what made you decide to join Actons?

Yes, we’d just started a family and I was commuting between Nottingham, London and Birmingham.  Honestly, I never thought I’d leave Wragge and Co (now Gowling) it was such a good firm but location was more of an issue back then.  You’re right, you found me lots of great offers at big firm, but I was really intrigued by something smaller and different.  It turned out to be an amazing decision!  I appreciated your wise counsel on the options I had at the time.

I recall at Wragge and Co (now Gowling) in Birmingham you were on lots of business development boards and committees at a young age. Do you think that early flair and enthusiasm for marketing has helped you achieve all you have today?

Yes I was very fortunate as an associate to be mentored by a number of the “sales partners” at Wragges and had the opportunity to join the UK sales team, supporting the Senior Partner at the time.  I guess my enthusiasm for BD was probably recognised and I was really fortunate to be given that opportunity and experience.  It’s been invaluable in building the employment practice at Actons over the last decade.

What would be your message to young lawyers who are currently thinking about trying to do more in terms of business development but don’t really know where to start and maybe lack some confidence to go out and do it?

Go for it!  Use LinkedIn. Build a network of people to support you and your clients.  Hang out with people who are already doing it well and learn from them.

Nic, I recall us having lunch around 5 or 6 years ago and I clearly remember you talking to me about your ideas and plans for LinkedIn. You shared with me a creator map, so for me it has been incredible to watch your profile grow and grow. What would be the top 3 thing you would recommend to become a successful creator on LinkedIn?

1. Be prepared to put yourself out there and share something of yourself – clients are looking for a professional, yes, but also someone relatable who they’d like to work with. Show some personality.
2. Use your posts to demonstrate how you help clients and how you can help those you don’t work with yet
3. Be consistent. You do have to put effort in to posting regularly and coming up with ideas!

I know you have openly posted on LinkedIn that your ideas for posts are authentic and non-AI generated. Where do you get your ideas from to create so much engaging, well-connected content. Do you ever get creators block?

I probably think about LinkedIn too much. My wife tells me so anyway! I’m always thinking about what my audience might be interested in or what’s going on in the world that is relevant or helpful to them. I do sometimes get a block on what to post, but a friend of mine who is super successful on LinkedIn once said “you’re alive aren’t you? Just post what you’re up to”

I know Actons are pro-social media and have supported and encouraged you in your creator journey. Do you believe all firms are the same or do some firms try to control lawyer content on social media?

I think some firms are much tighter on it than we are, but we trust our people and give them the freedom to be themselves!  We’re really seeing the benefit with lots of clients and contacts noticing how much more visible we are.

Nic, you created and host ‘HRD Talks Podcast’ can you tell us more about it, who would it appeal to and how do people follow get involved?

Yes I love hosting the HRD Talks podcast. I think it’s relevant to anyone who is interested in the world of work and the management of people.  We’ve had some great guests and some lovely feedback from people about how much they enjoy it.  If there are any HRDs or CPOs out there who fancy sharing their story and advice to the profession I’d love to hear from them!  We have some great new guests lined up.

Finally, Nic, like me you have a busy family life with lots of children and a dog!! How do you manage your time so effectively given you have done so much in a very successful career?

Yes it’s full on at home and at work.  Mrs Elliott and I don’t really do things by halves so we have lots of capacity for all that we’re involved with.  As we’re getting older we’re having to slow down a little bit.  I suspect we’re similar to a lot of people with kids and ageing parents where time is tight and you have to make the most of the time you have!