Position: Associate, Capital Markets
Education: Economics, Politics and International Studies, Warwick University; LPC, College of Law
Experience: Clifford Chance vacation scheme
Joined Clifford Chance: 2007
International secondment to Dubai: 2009
Qualified: 2009

What made Clifford Chance stand out for me was its people. Even when we're busy, there’s still a light atmosphere and no-one’s weighed down by their work, which is a preconception I think a lot of people have from the outside. Capital Markets, in particular, is also a very international group and I think that adds a different dimension to your experience. In terms of the work we do, in a very short space of time, I've been fortunate enough to be part of the core team on a wide variety of deals from the headline-hitting Kraft takeover of Cadbury to two Turkish loan participation note issuances with two due diligence trips to Turkey within a few months of qualifying. I'm working on another major takeover at the moment and though the pace is fast and the work intense, it's exciting to be learning about new and interesting businesses. I look back over the past eight months or so and am still amazed at the learning curve. To have this kind of exposure so early on in your career is really something.

It’s true, you do have some very long days when deals are going through. But the time you put in is appreciated and recognised and you’re working as part of a team. That team dynamic is very important - it’s what gets the work done and it’s what makes it enjoyable. It may sound odd but even when you’re working hard there’s a lot of good banter to soften the edges of the night ahead. And the firm does a lot to make things easier for you in a practical sense – dinner on site if you need it, including good vegetarian food, which is important to me, and the opportunity to hit the gym. The airy offices and spectaculour skyline views over London from your desk are not bad either.

I think working for a big law firm means that there will be long hours at times – and it’s important to remember that it’s not every day – and that will be the case at any of the major firms. What's different between firms is the people you work with and the kind of environment and culture the firm encourages. In the case of Clifford Chance it’s very professional but also relaxed and informal, and the people are interesting and diverse. It makes for a great place to work and develop a career.

There is also a strong emphasis on pro bono work. During my training contract, I did a split seat in Litigation with a three month secondment to Law for All. Though the learning curve was steep, it was very rewarding to work on grassroots issues from housing law and welfare benefits to debt management and employment disputes. I even had the opportunity to run regular one-to-one drop-in advice clinics and to represent clients at the disabilities tribunal around twice a week. I also had the opportunity to do my fourth and final seat in Capital Markets Dubai. It was a busy time for the team – the work was good and the people fantastic. The Dubai office has developed a cutting edge Islamic Finance practice with a top quality client base and strong regional expertise. It was an exciting time to have joined and eye-opening to be part of such an experienced and internationally diverse team with lawyers from Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, South Africa and the US.  

What I’ve always found interesting is the creative approach to problem-solving. I spend a lot of my time sitting with partners and associates who are looking at new problems and saying 'Is this possible? What if we do it this way?' There’s a real emphasis here on understanding the context of what we are doing, the bigger picture. Of course, we are providing legal advice but a lot of what we are doing is really straight business – understanding our clients' businesses, the industries in which they operate and the risks they face and helping them to achieve their goals.

I've always felt part of the team here, and colleagues at all levels are very positive about giving feedback and encouraging and inspiring me. It’s a great environment in which to learn and you know that you are working on deals that will make the headlines, but you’re also having a good time. I think that’s pretty important too.  It worked for me – I did a vacation placement in Capital Markets while I was at university. Five years on, I’ve qualified into the department.