Our people

Give a brief overview of your role at the firm now when you joined and your background before joining.

Before joining Clifford Chance, I worked at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. It was a short stint with Vrije Universiteit, and this was the time wherein I was evaluating the type of firm I would like to join after LLM.

I decided to join Clifford Chance and it proved to be a rewarding decision. I was a new starter here but soon received responsibilities on matters from the management. I found the work environment supportive and collaborative.

At Clifford Chance, I share a great bond with my colleagues. Currently, I am working as an Associate- Corporate (AMS). In a very short span, I am training the trainees and that boosts my confidence and I still manage deals.

Why did you become a lawyer (please relate this to your practice area) – what prompted and sustained your pursuit?

Since the beginning I was inclined to becoming a lawyer. To me it has been a fulfilling journey. I like to make connections with people and solve their problems. I think law, is one of the few professions which creates an opportunity to serve people and see them content. I believe my negotiation and communications skills are great, hence I thought of taking up this profession. I like going in depth and understanding the argument to uncover solutions cracking a deal. 

What motivates you in your role?

In my current role, I get lot of opportunities to connect with people. I love to become part of people's journey by helping them grow and finding their true potential. And that keeps me motivated. I help my colleagues through training. I feel that the firm gives immense opportunities to think out pf the box and get out of the comfort zone which in turn contribute to my development and growth.

What was your biggest assumption before becoming a lawyer?

That most lawyers would be very conservative and boring.

How would you describe the culture and atmosphere at Clifford Chance?

The culture is welcoming and it's an open-door policy. I can be my true self at Clifford Chance. It does not matter how you dress, what kind of hobbies you have, what your musical taste is?

What are the key skills you have developed here which have been invaluable to your career?

Getting to understand people better and putting across right questions and finding solutions to meet client needs are some of the learnings I have gained at Clifford Chance. I feel for organizational success, empathy and compassion are key ingredients. I learnt compassion and I understood how empathy can add value in connecting with colleagues and client better. Any deal, dealt with compassion and empathy proved to be successful for all the parties.

What do you like most about your job?

The people! Not only the AMS colleagues, but meeting new people within the Clifford Chance network, building good relationships with clients and wonderful encounters with lawyers from counterparties.

What do you value most about the people and the firm?

Nobody will judge you. You can be vulnerable at times. Honesty, mutual respect, and freedom to express myself are things I love the most in my association with Clifford Chance.

What is your key advice for anyone considering a career at Clifford Chance?

I would suggest the potential candidates to come and experience the atmosphere at our office. For me, I knew it instantly after my first conversations that this would be the office for me. Networking and connecting with right people are utmost important. I would also suggest being ready to get out of your comfort zone and keep yourself open to learning.

What's the best piece of advice you've received since joining/ OR your best lesson in the industry so far?

Don't try to do everything on your own – this was the best advice I have ever received.

As a person I am ambitious and in the endeavour to excellence I try to do everything alone. I am afraid to make mistakes and I don’t get into asking questions. However, it is perfectly ok to make mistake – a mistake doesn’t define you and we all make mistakes. Furthermore, it is ok to ask questions. That doesn’t make you weak, it shows that you can work together and aren't afraid to ask for guidance in matters you need guidance.

What is the most exciting deal/matter/project you have worked on recently?

I have worked on many interesting deals. One of the deals I worked was where, Clifford Chance advised its long-standing client and leading European private equity investor Rivean Capital, on an agreement with Blackstone to strengthen the shareholder base of Esdec Solar Group, the global market leader in rooftop solar mounting systems, with a significant strategic investment from funds managed by Blackstone Energy Partners and Blackstone private equity. This deal gave me the opportunity to take the lead on the notarial workstreams. It concerned very complex workstreams for which we had to come up with innovative legal solutions.  In the year 2022, I worked on the public offer by our client KKR on Accell Group B.V. This was my first-time public M&A and combining corporate workstreams with more regulatory workstreams. It felt like a battle in which we should convince all stakeholders to get onboard. In the end, the thresholds for the public offer were met resulting in an assenting outcome for our client.