Our People

Can you tell us about your background and what led you to join Clifford Chance as an associate?

I studied History at Bristol University before pursuing the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) conversion course and the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the College of Law in Moorgate. I then completed my Training Contract at a US-based firm, which I enjoyed. Eventually, I realised that to grow as a corporate/M&A lawyer, I needed to work at a firm with a bigger corporate practice in the UK – one that would offer exposure to high-profile transactions. Hence, when the opportunity to join Clifford Chance came up, I jumped at it. I joined Clifford Chance when I was around 1 year post-qualified.

What attracted you to Clifford Chance?

I have always regarded Clifford Chance as a great firm. The breadth and quality of its lawyers and practice groups are impressive. What stood out for me, though, was the firm’s potential to offer the best opportunity for my growth as a lawyer – both technically and commercially. As an enthusiastic and ambitious junior associate, I believed Clifford Chance would provide me with a platform to fulfil those ambitions given the quality of the training that the firm offers as well as the quality of the work and clients that I would be exposed to. Six years on, I still have that view.

How did Clifford Chance support your integration into the firm’s culture and building of relationships with colleagues?

Everyone was very welcoming. It felt relatively easy and natural to integrate into the culture and build relationships with people in my team and the wider firm. I attended a couple of the corporate European immersion courses early on, which all junior corporate associates are invited to – including one in Amsterdam – which was great for meeting other junior associates.

What role has mentorship played in your development at Clifford Chance?

I believe, mentorship is absolutely critical. In order to develop as a lawyer, I needed the advice and guidance of mentors and senior lawyers. They will support you in your ambitions and explain what you need to do to gain the requisite skills and experiences in order to achieve those ambitions.

Can you share an example of a time when collaboration at Clifford Chance led to a successful outcome on a project or deal?

Every M&A deal or corporate transaction that I have worked on at Clifford Chance required extensive collaboration to achieve a successful outcome. As a corporate/M&A lawyer, you will typically run a transaction and spearhead the advice. However, inevitably, as a corporate lawyer, you will need to collaborate and work closely with other teams and practice areas within Clifford Chance London. More often than not, colleagues in other Clifford Chance offices will advise on local law issues. You may also need to work closely with other local law firms on some transactions. Without collaboration, it wouldn’t be possible to do the deals that we do as a firm.

What professional development opportunities have you found at Clifford Chance that have helped you grow since joining the firm?

A client secondment to Swiss Re stands out. Client secondments give you an unparalleled insight into what working life is like for our clients. You get a real appreciation for the pressures and demands that they are under and therefore, what you can do as an external law firm, to assist them and make their lives easier.

In what ways have you been able to contribute to the mentorship and development of more junior lawyers at Clifford Chance?

I have been a trainee supervisor for many years, which has been extremely rewarding. I have also been a mentor in the corporate mentoring scheme programme.