22 | Influential Businesswoman Awards 2026 Leading Workplace Mental Health Law Businesswoman 2026 (UK): Jessica Rowson Few solicitors in the field of UK law have had the lasting impact of Jessica Rowson, who went from a paralegal at Oakwood Solicitors to the firm’s Director and Head of Psychiatric Injury in just over seven years. Specialising in personal injury, civil litigation, and employment disputes, Jessica has also done a great deal of work concerning mental health, which is reflected in this award. For more on her wildly impressive journey, we had the pleasure of chatting with Jessica herself. Contact: Jessica Rowson Company: Oakwood Solicitors Web Address: www.oakwoodsolicitors.co.uk Jessica’s journey with Oakwood Solicitors began back in July 2010, when she started as a paralegal. A little over three years later, she had qualified as a solicitor. In the wake of her qualification, Jessica set up a niche department within the firm, dealing primarily with claims relating to stress at work. The purpose here is to support employees as they advocate for justice through litigation. This work continues today, seen through the likes of the firm’s ongoing LGBT Veterans Financial Recognition Scheme. Not long after qualifying as a solicitor, Jessica was again promoted, becoming assistant head of department. Two years later in 2016, she took over as department head, broadening the scope of its services to cover a number of claims focused on psychiatric injury. Her service and dedication were again recognised, leading to a promotion to director in 2017. Jessica has now occupied this coveted position for almost a decade. This is not all, as Jessica explained: “I contribute within the legal field by writing articles and presenting training to fellow legal professionals. I am also the contributing author of ‘A Practical Guide to Valuing Employment Discrimination Claims’ by Hill & Ward.” As mentioned above, alongside her day-today work at the helm of Oakwood Solicitors’ Psychiatric Injury Department, Jessica has pursued a number of qualifications in mental health, including a TQUK Level 2 Certificate and becoming a mental health first aider. More recently, she was even awarded with a certificate from the Institution for Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) for completing ‘Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing’. The expertise Jessica has in these areas has led to her lending her knowledge to two BBC documentaries, the first highlighting workplace interactions and what a group of young people consider to be sexual harassment, and the second a short on how a person can tell if they are being bullied at work. In line with the former, Jessica also volunteers her time at a confidential helpline for callers in need of legal advice around sexual harassment at work, as part of her efforts on the wider issue of violence against women and girls. On the topic of female representation more broadly, Jessica discussed the significant and positive shifts she has seen concerning the visibility of women in this space. All of the directors at Oakwood Solicitors are female, a real source of pride for Jessica. Regarding the highlights of her career specifically, there is no shortage of them for Jessica to choose from, but her quick progression and success in building a team of specialists who genuinely make a positive difference in people’s lives are up there with the best. Jessica told us: “What I’m most proud of is developing expertise in psychiatric injury and workplace stress claims, an area that is still evolving and often misunderstood.” Through this work, Jessica has supported clients and raised awareness around workplace mental health. This work, however, is just beginning, and having spent more than a decade focusing on psychiatric injury and workplace stress claims, across which she has seen the impact poor workplace practice can have on businesses and their individuals, Jessica’s next steps involve helping people recognise the risks early on, improving workplace culture, and putting better systems in place, thus preventing workplace harassment and stress claims. This will mean expanding the firm’s reach, but this is a challenge Jessica is certainly ready for. Leaving us with some tips for women looking to follow in her footsteps, Jessica shared: “My main advice would be to back yourself and your abilities. It’s easy to underestimate your own capability, particularly in a competitive industry like law, but confidence grows with experience. Also, choose your environment carefully. Working in a firm that values its people, supports progression, and recognises talent regardless of background is crucial.” As her career demonstrates, Oakwood Solicitors has certainly done all of this for Jessica, who has blossomed into one of the UK’s most discerning lawyers within her niche. More on the work she and the firm carry out can be found at the web address listed below.
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