Work Life Quiz: Adam Morallee, Mishcon de Reya
What was your first-ever job? Working on the phones in sales for my dad’s business.
Adam Morallee
What was your worst experience as a trainee?
Having a due diligence report thrown at my head by a corporate partner. I don’t think he considered it sufficiently detailed.
Where’s the best place to go if you want to find out what’s really going on in the office?
The smokers’ yard.
What time do you usually leave the office?
6:30ish.
What do you do at weekends?
Negotiate with a two-year-old on the chocolate/ behaviour axes.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
Fryer’s Delight on Theobalds Road, London.
If you weren’t a lawyer what would you have been?
In my dreams, an airline pilot. In reality, a pub chef.
What’s your favourite film?
Robocop.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Fantastic Day by Haircut 100.
Who’s your hero and why?
Eckhart Tolle. He made me realise that past form counts for nothing (unless you’re in court or arguing with other football fans).
What’s the best thing about your job?
The people you meet are really smart.
What’s the toughest thing about your job?
You’re always on.
What’s your biggest work/career mistake and what did you learn from it?
Pressing ’send’ on an email before the predictive address in the ’to’ box was fully formed. I now check every email several times before I send it.
What car do you drive?
VW Golf.
What book are you currently reading?
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
What’s your favourite children’s book?
The Twits by Roald Dahl.
What’s the most exciting case you’ve worked on and why?
As a newly qualified lawyer I represented a journalist being charged with contempt of court on the Bowyer-Woodgate assault case. Having only £2.50 and five minutes to make photocopies (at 20p per page) of a skeleton argument in a crowded newsagent’s certainly makes you feel queasy.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what two luxury items would you take?
An iPod and speakers.
What’s the worst partner conference location you’ve attended and why?
The downstairs boardroom at Mishcon. On a Sunday. In November.
What’s the longest you’ve worked without sleep?
Not very long. On my first and only all-nighter I fell asleep at 3am while proofreading a document. My fellow proofreader just thought the documents were consistent until he looked up from the page.
If a movie was being made about your life, which actor would play you and why?
Zachary Quinto (Sylar from Heroes). For the eyebrows.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with?
Kelvin McKenzie. One-on-one I imagine his opinions might be rather partial.
Tell us two truths and one lie about yourself (in any order)
I’ve beaten Tiger Woods at golf; I’m one of 25 grandchildren; I’ve played Trivial Pursuit with Barack Obama, whose favourite category was Entertainment.
- CV
Name: Adam Morallee
Firm: Mishcon de Reya
Title: Litigation partner and head of the sports group
Lives: Chislehurst, Kent
Education:
1994-97: LLB, University of Liverpool
1998-99: LPC, College of Law, Store Street
Work history:
1999-2001: Trainee, Nicholson Graham & Jones (now K&L Gates)
2001-03: Solicitor, Nicholson Graham & Jones
2003: Solicitor-advocate, Nicholson Graham & Jones
2004-09: Solicitor-advocate, Mishcon de Reya
2009-present: Partner, Mishcon
