10 Years with Vario
A lot can change in 10 years. Just think about what the world was like in 2015.
Uptown Funk was declared song of the year according to Billboard's Hot 100, Eddie Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Britta Spachtholz joined our Vario Legal Team in Germany.
Now celebrating her 10-year anniversary with us, Britta sat down with us to reflect on a decade of growth, development and plenty of personal milestones.
Why did you choose to move to Vario Legal?
I have to start two years earlier for that one! Back in 2013, I was working in Munich for a Dutch company that also specialized in placing legal professionals with clients. Before that, I already worked in recruitment with a focus on engineers, but then I transitioned into the legal market.
When the company decided to pull out of the German market, I suddenly found myself without a job. However, during my time there, I had been in contact with a freelance lawyer who was collaborating with a newly founded start-up called Xenion Legal GmbH. We had a great rapport, and when we talked about my job search and his new partnership with Xenion, my curiosity was piqued.
Not long after that conversation, I got in touch with Stephan Schumacher and Carsten Reimann. They crunched some numbers and eventually made me an offer that just felt right: exciting work, home office, flexible part-time hours – perfect for spending enough time with my daughter.
At the beginning, it was really just the two founders activating their own networks to get things moving. Then I joined, and from that point on, things really started to gain momentum. The three of us slowly became a real team: we coordinated regularly, exchanged ideas, and motivated each other. It was a truly fantastic time!
Xenion was later acquired by Pinsent Masons in 2019 and that's when it became Vario Legal.
Do you remember your very first day?
I arrived in Frankfurt a day early to sign my contract in a slightly bleak, run of the mill office. To mark the occasion, we went out for lunch right after signing… and got completely lost on the way to the restaurant for a whole hour!
The next day, I headed straight back home to celebrate my daughter’s eighth birthday – which happened to fall exactly on my first official day. And then it all began. Laptop, new email address, onboarding. I supported the founders closely, expanded the database for our freelance lawyers, and brought in my first clients. I wore a lot of hats and just pitched in wherever I was needed.
I love seeing the impact of my work right away. Standing still just isn’t for me. I always need to keep things moving!
What was it like starting in such a small team?
It was all pretty wild back then and things moved really quickly! Not long after I started, I landed our first major client, a DAX-listed corporation. From there, things really took off: many more mandates followed. Some of the freelance lawyers who still work with us today actually joined during that time.
These days, my focus as a Senior Account Manager is clearly on our clients, but back then, I was involved in everything. That’s also how I met Christian Stölzle. He was one of our freelance lawyers at the time, and now he’s Head of Managed Legal Services for Germany. Many of the contacts I made back then have been with me for nearly ten years now!
How do you think the perception of alternative legal services has changed within the German market?
ALSPs are unfortunately still a niche. In Germany, they haven’t really taken off at full speed yet. Ten years ago, people thought we were crazy for pursuing this idea! But clients who gave our model a try were always convinced afterwards – and our re-engagement rate is high. Still, there's quite a way to go before we're considered mainstream in the wider market.
Acceptance is growing, but there’s still a certain hesitation. Many legal departments are so overloaded that they simply don’t have the time to explore new solutions. I often hear: “If only I had known about you five years ago. It would have made things so much easier!” That’s fantastic feedback, of course, but it also shows how much potential for growth there still is.
How has Vario Legal changed in your eyes over the past 10 years?
Our processes have become much slicker and much more professional, but they're still evolving by the day. The many colleagues who have joined us over the years have all contributed to that development.
What hasn’t changed is that the team remains the heart of Vario Legal. Everyone has grown both professionally and personally, carving out a role that brings out the best in them.
A recent highlight was our first appearance as a supporting partner at the Corporate Counsel Congress hosted by the German Association of In-house Counsels (Bundesverband der Unternehmensjuristinnen und Unternehmensjuristen). We’ve never had so many people approach us proactively. That really showed how far we’ve come and how much perceptions have shifted.
What has kept you motivated all this time?
What drives me is, without a doubt, the human connection. I couldn’t do this job without it.
I’m a people person. I love how working in recruitment gives me insights into so many different companies, products and services. At the end of the day, I’m a matchmaker. I bring the right people together. Every time someone feels understood and well-represented by me, it motivates me. It’s like my own personal perpetual motion machine.
What have been your biggest milestones?
The first big milestone for me was still back in Xenion times. It was the first time we really made a name for ourselves as an ALSP. With our small setup, we managed to win over major listed clients. That was amazing.
The second was the move to Pinsent Masons, when Xenion became Vario Legal. Being part of a large international firm makes us a true one-stop shop for clients. The integration has created highly beneficial synergies for us. On a personal level, it was fantastic as well to suddenly have many new colleagues around the globe. I love the exchange, the coffee catchups and the international perspectives from different jurisdictions.
On that note, the third milestone was my secondment in Dubai. From the early Xenion days, I still knew exactly what needed to be done to get Vario running in Dubai. I already had the plan in my head. In Dubai, I had to wear many hats again. That meant recruiting, business development and even a bit of marketing all at once. I just love seeing the direct impact of my work and I would love to do something like that again!
What are the little things you're especially proud of?
The BUJ partnership is a real highlight for me. I’ve been a member myself for twelve years and being able to formally bring that connection over to Vario means a lot. It shows how far we’ve come. Actually… that’s probably more of a major milestone for me!
Besides, what I value most over these years is the long-standing collaboration with Stephan Schumacher. Through all the ups and downs, he has been a constant companion during my career the past ten years. I used to say, “If you ever leave, I’ll leave too.” But now I’m genuinely excited that we’ve brought Ralf Lachmann on board as Head of Flexible Legal Services. We’ve known each other for eight years, and with his instinct for the business and his empathetic nature, he’s a real asset to the team.
I’m definitely curious to see where the journey with Ralf will take us. In general, my many small highlights are connections like these. People I’ve had the chance to meet and work with over the years, whose paths keep crossing with mine in unexpected ways. For me, the thread that ties everything together is the relationships with others.
How have you changed personally over the past ten years?
Today, I feel much more grounded in my views and in how I see myself. I know exactly where my strengths lie and where I want to grow. I’ve also become much clearer and more authentic in how I communicate.
In the past, I would often try to please everyone. I don’t do that anymore. I set clear boundaries and speak up when expectations aren’t realistic. I’ve become more uncompromising, and I believe that clients benefit from that.
I still approach every new challenge with a strong can-do attitude, but now I also know my limits. That clarity gives me confidence and I think it makes my work more effective.