“Tom Lyas is an award-winning leader in legal recruitment and social mobility, recognised for building talent strategies that are both commercially sharp and genuinely inclusive. Through his influential work on widening access, including the creation of the FAIRE programme, he has helped open doors for people from all backgrounds and set a benchmark for how the legal sector can attract, develop and support diverse potential.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial, 2026

Tom Lyas, Head of Resourcing & Social Mobility

Tom Lyas is Head of Resourcing & Social Mobility, based in Nottingham, and a senior member of the People team. With more than 20 years’ experience, Tom leads the firm’s recruitment, onboarding and social mobility functions, playing a central role in shaping how talent is attracted, selected and supported across the business.

What Tom Does

Tom’s remit is broad and strategic, covering talent and resourcing strategy, selection methodologies, employer brand development, onboarding and new joiner integration. His teams are responsible for ensuring the firm attracts and embeds the very best and most diverse talent the market has to offer.

In addition to his experience within the legal profession, Tom has worked across retail, leisure and real estate, giving him a commercially grounded and people-focused perspective on recruitment and organisational culture.

Leadership in Social Mobility

Tom has been instrumental in driving Browne Jacobson’s impact on social mobility within the legal profession and beyond. In 2019, he created the firm’s FAIRE programme, a now multi-award-winning initiative focused on improving socioeconomic inclusion and widening access to legal careers.

Under Tom’s leadership, this work has helped the firm achieve the number one ranking in The Social Mobility Foundation’s Employer Index on four separate occasions.

Advocacy and Impact

Tom is a passionate and influential advocate for social mobility. He regularly speaks to schools, universities, government bodies, local councils and private sector organisations, encouraging institutions and individuals to “do more” to remove barriers to entry and progression in the legal profession.

He is widely respected for his energy, clarity and commitment to ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of background.

Contact Tom Lyas

Tel: +44 (0)115 934 2031