Our People

Can you tell us about your journey to Clifford Chance and how you secured a Training Contract with the firm?

I studied History at university and heard about corporate law at a careers event. Subsequently, I attended an open day at Clifford Chance, where a talk from one of the partners left an impression on me. I saw many similarities in us, which inspired me to apply for an internship. Consequently, I applied for and was offered a Training Contract.

What were the highlights of your Training Contract and which aspects did you enjoy the most?

I enjoyed all four seats of my Training Contract for different reasons. I began in the Private Funds Group, which is where I sit now. I then spent six months in Amsterdam sitting with the English banking team, experiencing a different office and city. Afterwards, I spent three months at the Howard League for Penal Reform, working towards a charitable cause that is close to my heart and then three months in litigation, working on a high-profile and complex insolvency case that culminated in a High Court trial. I ended my Training Contract in tax, honing my legal research skills and delving into some of the most legal and technical aspects of work within the Firm. Looking back, what I enjoyed the most was the time spent with my colleagues, from whom I learned so much and many of whom I still work with today.

How did your responsibilities evolve during your Training Contract?

At the start of my Training Contract, I focused on implementing associate comments verbatim. Over time, as I demonstrated competence, I handled more high-level, less prescriptive comments, allowing me to refine specific drafting. Later, I prepared first drafts of simple documents, contributed to project management, and occasionally addressed investor negotiations. By my second seat, I was liaising with law firms, service providers, and clients, playing a key role in progressing transactions. In Litigation, I managed trial bundles, reviewed disclosures, and supported trial logistics, gaining client-facing experience. My tax seat emphasised research over client interaction, offering a refreshing shift in focus.

Can you share an example of a challenging task you handled during your Training Contract?

The Finance Bill 2017 introduced new "Interest Barrier Rules" as part of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting initiative (BEPS). I was asked to produce a summary, which turned out to be much more challenging than I had expected due to the complexity and interconnected nature of the defined terms and how they were used.

How did your Training Contract prepare you for the transition to becoming a newly qualified lawyer?

As my responsibilities increased, alongside my experience and capabilities during the course of the four seats, I was accumulating the relevant skills and experience that I would need as an newly qualified lawyer - whether it be an understanding of the specific work in my qualification group of Funds, getting comfortable with project management and picking up the phone to speak to different people and teams globally and outside the Firm in finance to getting a better understanding of the importance of drafting and allocation of legal risk in litigation or tax matters. The combination meant that it didn't feel like a "jump" upon qualification so much as the continuation of a relatively linear progression.

What is your current role at Clifford Chance, and what type of work do you focus on?

I am a Senior Associate in the London Private Funds group, focussing on the establishment of private equity funds, Africa focussed funds and "secondary transactions" which are effectively M&A transactions where the underlying assets are existing interests in funds.

What advice would you give to junior lawyers about specialisation and gaining experience in different areas?

Much of the firm's work is interconnected, and the experience and contacts you build in one area will undoubtedly support your career, regardless of your final qualification area.

What is one of the most fulfilling aspects of your work at Clifford Chance?

My relationships with the people I work with.