The work-life quiz Tim Gee
Name: Tim Gee
Firm: Baker & McKenzie
Title: Global head of M&A
Lives: Chelsea
Education: Bedford School; Worcester College, Oxford
Work history: 1984-86: Articled clerk, Baker & McKenzie, London
1986-88: Associate, London 1989-90: Associate, Hong Kong 1991-92: Associate, Budapest 1992-2000: Partner, London 2000-present: Global head of M&A
What was your first-ever job? This is it.
What was your worst experience as a trainee?Throwing up at my first Christmas party - and the second.
Where's the best place to go if you want to find out what's really going on in the office?The bottom of the first bottle.
What time do you usually leave the office?8.00pm.
What do you do at weekends?Cuddle up to my wife and play with the children. One requires more tactical planning than the other.
What's your favourite restaurant?Aubergine in Park Walk, London.
If you weren't a lawyer what would you have been?Admiral or bishop.
Who's your hero and why?David 'Piggy' Powell, who played prop for Northampton RFC and the British Lions and ended his career in the club's third XV.
What's the best thing about your job?Having friends in 70 offices in 36 countries.
What's the toughest thing about your job?Taking criticism.
What's your biggest work/career mistake and what did you learn from it?Continuing to think I'm right about everything.
What car do you drive?Volvo.
What are you currently reading?One of Arthur Bryant's books on the history of England. He writes with such evident enjoyment for his subject.
What's on your iPod at the moment?Dust.
What's your favourite children's book?The Adventures of Tintin: The Black Island by Hergé.
What's the most exciting deal/case you've worked on and why?A take-private that I did some time ago. The client showed an integrity and resolve that I've not seen equalled.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what two luxury items would you take?Claret and Burgundy.
What's the worst partner conference location you've attended and why?London: when you have the whole of the Bakers world to choose from, it's disappointing when London comes up.
What's the longest you've worked without sleep?We've all done two nights, but I've never met anyone who did three without a quick kip. At the end of one leveraged buyout, I actually managed to fall asleep in mid-sentence.
If a movie was being made about your life, which actor would play you and why?Stanley Baxter.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?Someone smelly.
