Our People

I am currently a Senior Associate in Clifford Chance's Litigation and Dispute Resolution team. I joined the Hong Kong office as a trainee and qualified into the team in 2020. I have also been on secondment to Clifford Chance's London office.

What led you to specialise in your practice area and what keeps you passionate?

After rotating through different teams at Clifford Chance, I realised I enjoyed advisory work, specifically looking into complex legal issues and formulating a succinct view or argument for the client. The fact that every case raises different legal questions and requires a different approach is what keeps the work interesting and challenging for me.

How did your initial assumptions about being a lawyer change as your career progressed?

As a law student, I assumed that a lawyer should be technically excellent and well-versed in legal principles. While that is true for your area of practice, it is equally important for a lawyer to develop soft skills to understand the client's demands, manage a team and win business for the firm.

How would you describe the culture at the firm?

Clifford Chance has a collaborative and collegiate culture. I have worked with colleagues across the network – from our offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Paris, Amsterdam and London. They have all been great to work with, and the ability to be an email or phone call away from the answer you are looking for in another jurisdiction is very valuable.

What key skills have you developed so far?

I have developed the ability to digest a large volume of information quickly. It is important to be able to break down complex legal arguments for the client and provide a succinct explanation of possible options. I have also learnt to appreciate that different legal systems may have different approaches to litigation procedures, e.g. disclosure of documents. In addition to that, working with clients and professionals in different jurisdictions has been a great experience.

What aspect of the work brings you the greatest satisfaction?

The matters that we work on are often high-profile, complex and interesting. I also got the opportunity to work in the London office on secondment as an associate, which broadened my exposure to large-scale disputes and helped develop my network in the London office.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career at Clifford Chance?

Interested candidates should attend events hosted by Clifford Chance to learn more about the firm and speak to people working here to get a sense of what the day-to-day life as a commercial lawyer is like. It is also helpful to think about a "problem question" scenario from multiple perspectives – who are the stakeholders involved? What are the legal, commercial and reputational risks for the client? How can we mitigate them?

What is the best career advice you have received?

When I was considering qualification options as a trainee, a senior lawyer said to me: "It is not about what I think are the correct options, it is about what you would like to do for your career". This has stuck with me as a reminder that your legal career is not just a linear path, instead, it is up to you to find your area of interest and to build your profile in that area.

How do you maintain a work-life balance?

I always make time for my family and friends who have supported me throughout my career and we have shared many fun and relaxing times together.