Robert Crothers, Partner

Position: Partner, Corporate Finance
Education: PPE, Oxford University; GDL, City University; LPC, College of Law, London
Joined Clifford Chance: 1998
Qualified: 2000 Corporate Finance
Joined the partnership: 2008

I think the best piece of advice I could offer is to 'go where you like the people'. I did and the reality of my career here has surpassed my expectations. In large part, it is the people around me that make Clifford Chance a great place to work. The fact that I'm still enjoying myself here 10 years on speaks volumes.

Corporate finance transactions offer a huge diversity of interesting work. Early in a deal I might be helping to structure the transaction, or to decide whether there is a deal to be done at all. Later I'll be helping my client achieve the best possible outcome ­ - for example by helping them identify potential problems with the target business, by advising on a negotiation strategy, or by negotiating on their behalf. In addition to working with clients on specific transactions, I also advise them on day-to-day matters. Recently, I helped a client draft an announcement to its shareholders about a piece of litigation it was involved in.

One thing that Clifford Chance does really well is to give you the exposure and support to grow and develop your skills and career. I can remember being given challenging tasks to do from the very beginning. Six months after qualification I was asked to negotiate a deal myself. The partner thought that I could handle it ­ he was right and I learned a lot. That attitude extends to the way we develop our trainees too.