Work Life Quiz: Edward Wanambwa, CM Murray
What do you do at weekends? Walk the dog, see a film, go to a jazz gig, plan the next holiday – nothing too exciting.
Edward Wanambwa
What was your first-ever job?
I spent a summer working for a bank, but quickly lost interest in that line of work.
What was your worst experience as a trainee?
I was very lucky at Bryan Cave, so no shockers to report. Probably proofreading
a horrendously long document late at night.
Where’s the best place to go if you want to find out what’s really going on in the office?
Our legal PA Nicki would be a good starting point.
What time do you usually leave the office?
6pm-7pm.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
A restaurant in Montreal called Amelio’s – a brilliant Canadian wholesome slant on classic Italian dishes.
If you weren’t a lawyer what would you have been?
Fantasy world: professional golfer. Real world: teacher.
What’s your favourite film?
Hard to choose between the various Godfather and Alien films, but if I had to pick one, it would be The Godfather: Part II.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Would have been something by George Benson.
Who’s your hero and why?
George Benson, for being one of the most accomplished and rounded jazz guitarists
ever and having a 40-year career, not to mention being a fantastic singer/songwriter.
What’s the best thing about your job?
That I’ve been lucky to have worked with so many fantastic colleagues and clients and that employment law is ultimately all about people.
What’s the toughest thing about your job?
Keeping difficult clients happy.
What’s your biggest work/career mistake and what did you learn from it?
When I was a trainee, thinking I was doing a client a favour by rushing a job. Don’t rush and clients will thank you for it in the long run.
What car do you drive?
A BMW 530i estate.
What book are you currently reading?
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
What’s your favourite children’s book?
The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton.
What’s the most exciting deal/case you’ve worked on and why?
Probably my first advocacy in the Employment Tribunal. I was newly qualified and it was a full hearing with a senior barrister on the other side. Excitement was one of the better emotions.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what two luxury items would you take?
My iPhone and a Sky TV-enabled high-definition television.
What’s the worst partner conference location you’ve attended and why?
No bad ones to report, but the least glamorous would probably be a business immigration conference in Holborn.
What’s the longest you’ve worked without sleep?
No more than 20 hours. I consider myself to have got off lightly.
If a movie was being made about your life, which actor would play you and why?
Denzel Washington. Not because there’s even a slight resemblance, but because he’s my favourite actor.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?
Having studied modern history, I couldn’t possibly choose between the plethora of history’s villains.
Tell us two truths and one lie about yourself (in any order)
I hold dual citizenship and am eligible for four citizenships; I’m a huge Arsenal fan;
I’m half-decent at golf.
CV
Name: Edward Wanambwa
Firm: CM Murray
Title: Partner
Lives: Wanstead, London
Education:
1994-97: BA in Modern History, Queen Mary, University of London
1998-99: GDL, City University
1999-2000: LPC, College of Law, London
2000-01: LLM, Queen Mary, University of London
Work history:
2001-03: Trainee, Bryan Cave
2003-07: Employment associate, Bryan Cave
2007- 09: Senior employment associate, Clifford Chance
2009-present: Partner, CM Murray
