Tell us a bit about your background: what was your university background, when did you join Ashurst Perkins Coie?
I did English Literature, Economics, and Psychology in sixth form. I then went to the University of Warwick to read Law (where I got my Ashurst Perkins Coie training contract). I then went and did an LLM in Litigation and Dispute Resolution at University College London, and an LLM in Legal Practice at the University of Law.
Why did you choose Ashurst Perkins Coie?
The culture at Ashurst Perkins Coie is world-class. There is really a no-blame culture and a doors-open feel to the workplace. But beyond that, the work we do is market-leading, you will have significant client exposure from day-one in most seats (for transactional seats, disputes unlikely), and you will generally have your bank holidays and annual leave respected.
What is the most interesting piece of work you have been involved to date? (Maybe only mention the tasks you did rather than the actual matter)
I worked with a defence communications contractor on fixing a significant number of historical share allocation issues. I took the deal on as a discrete, one-off matter, which subsequently turned into re-drafting and re-filing all capital allocation statements for the past 3-4 years, and filing a new confirmatory statement with Companies House. I was given significant responsibility to run this matter, but was also supervised by a very kind associate who mentored me throughout. One thing that exemplified how well Ashurst Perkins Coie teams work together is that the supervising associate was based out of Abu Dhabi. We maintained very good communication throughout, and it felt as if we were working in the same office.
I also worked with a major oil and gas exploration company looking to purchase a floating oil processing vessel. That deal led to a very hectic two weeks, but I learnt a lot about independently managing competing priorities and workstreams. I also had direct contact with said company's CEO and CFO, who was incredibly kind and involved with the deal. This goes to show how much trust and responsibility is placed with trainees at Ashurst.
What are your top 3 tips for someone wanting to go into commercial law?
My top tip is to build your community. Law is a people business, and often who you know matters just as much as what you know. Attend events to build your legal community, and make sure to socialise at University to build your wider community.
Tip 2: Build up your 'core' skills. These have nothing to do with the law, so don't worry if you did not read Law at University! Instead, start by building up your confidence in communicating - especially if you are shy and take a while to get comfortable speaking with new people. Then, build up a strong calendaring and to-do workflow. This will get you so much further as a trainee.
Tip 3: Know that this is what you want to do. If you're reading this, it is likely that you are at least considering a career in Law. That's great, but know that each firm is very different in what they specialise in. A lot of firms you hear about (that comes with terms like 'commercial law firms', 'city law firms', 'corporate law firms') are City-based firms that specialise in high-value transactions or disputes work. Take the time to understand what sets each firm apart. And if you're at an early stage in your academic journey, have a think about whether law is a path you really wish to pursue - do this by speaking widely with your network and with solicitors/barristers you know.
What does a typical workday look like?
I always say that the typical workday starts the evening before. This means that before logging off every evening, a good trainee should map out their priorities for the following day. A great trainee may even get a head start on some tasks the evening before.
In general, there are no typical days in Corporate Transactions. I start my day by reviewing and filing my emails, flagging any that I need to action. I then action priority 1 tasks (such as allocating documents to specialist teams and running a comparison of virtual data room documents). After that, I tend to grab breakfast in our brilliant Exchange breakfast bar, and see where the day takes me.
What is the single most important thing you have learned so far as a trainee?
Communication is everything. As a trainee, you are not expected to produce ground-breaking or perfect work, but the onus is always on you to communicate with the team. I quickly learnt to message our matter deal teams before logging off for the evening, and to communicate plans early. Pro tip: Always send a holding email (something along the lines of: 'well received with thanks, I'm actioning this now') - this is common courtesy as a lawyer. Also, keep on top of your emails!
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