I am London Head of Corporate CMD and the Global Lead for the TMT sector. I joined Clifford Chance in August 2014, having previously spent eight years in a variety of marketing and business development roles both in legal, retail and advertising.
My most rewarding experience was, and continues to be, leading a high performing, collegiate and driven team. They really are an exceptional bunch! As a manager, watching my team flourish and achieve their goals is wonderful. Knowing I have done the best by my team, led by example and encouraged them to think outside of the box, gives me immense pride. Over the past five years, I have countless examples of leading new and exciting projects which help to develop opportunities across practice areas and regions. The Firm embraces new ideas and thinking – constantly challenging us to think differently. Everything we do is global and inclusive, whilst we may identify with a particular team, most of what we do is far broader.
For me, there are three key reasons as to why I stay loyal to Clifford Chance: the people, the leadership and the continuous learning and development. Firstly, it really is an inclusive culture. You genuinely feel part of a team, working with the brightest minds in the market. Given the size and scale of our network, you have the chance to travel and interact with so many different cultures and people from a variety of different backgrounds. Being part of the CMD function, means we interact with most parts of the organisation – you will build an excellent network of colleagues, whether local or virtual.
Secondly, the CMD leadership really is exemplary. We have a well-established competency matrix which ensures the team understands the roles and expectations at each level, wherever you are in the world. This parity and clarity is something which I think is a real point of differential for our team. Thirdly, The Firm is committed to providing us with continuous learning throughout our careers. The Academy (our global learning and development platform) provides business skills courses led by external consultants and advisors, who are among the best in the market and who understand the culture of Clifford Chance. The courses are high quality, frequent and available to all.
My advice to someone considering a career at Clifford Chance would be to really be prepared at the interview stage. Do your homework; research the Firm, our key people, the strategy and the award-winning matters we have acted on. Be prepared to demonstrate your understanding; a small point, but one that I will always explore with a candidate at the interview stage.
Be prepared to work hard and embrace all the opportunities that are available to you. You really will have a fantastic career at Clifford Chance.
