Name: Ed Fiddick
Firm: TLT
Position: Partner and Training Principal
Degree: Modern Languages
University: Oxford
Hobbies: Music; supporting Liverpool FC
Area of practice: Litigation and Dispute Resolution
When and why did you decide to train as a solicitor?
I had always been interested in doing law at university but followed (very good) advice from others to do a degree in something else and then the law conversion. I deny any suggestion that I was influenced by Ally McBeal, but will admit to being a fan of This Life, a drama involving trainee solicitors, which was also on TV at the time!
What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job?
It’s very varied – commercial litigators have to learn about different aspects of our clients’ businesses quickly, which keeps things really interesting. I also enjoy helping to build a case for the client, gathering the relevant facts and then considering what legal arguments we can run, before determining the best strategy for the particular client. Ultimately, achieving the best outcome for a client by settlement or at trial, and knowing you helped put something right for them, is a great feeling.
What are the worst aspects of your job?
You occasionally get decisions from the courts which are unexpected, unhelpful or simply wrong. It can sometimes be hard to explain those to clients.
What’s the main issue that lawyers in your field are thinking about at the moment?
As you’d expect, there’s a lot of discussion going on around Brexit and its impact in terms of cross-border litigation and as a potential source of new disputes. The cost of litigating and steps to reduce that cost (whether technology or cost capping) also remains a big source of debate.
If you weren’t in your current field, what other area of law would you like to work in?
The sports field (pun intended). As a sports fan, I’m interested in how sports’ governing bodies are run. The increasing commerciality of most sports also means that it’s a really diverse and constantly developing area.
What’s the biggest misconception that students have about life as a lawyer?
That it’s going to be like The Good Wife or Suits! Being a lawyer can be a lot of fun, but it would rarely make good TV.
Tell us two truths and one lie about yourself (in any order).
- I spent six months working as an au pair.
- I played rugby at Twickenham.
- One of my proudest moments was meeting Prince.
In one sentence, what’s the one key thing that students should understand about your firm?
TLT is a modern firm driven by ambitious and enthusiastic people trying to do things a little bit differently – it’s a great place to work.
What was the oddest thing you were asked to do as a trainee?
It didn’t seem odd at the time but may now. Before software came to the rescue, groups of trainees regularly sat in rooms reading through different copies of leases together to ensure they were the same. And we had fun doing it!
What’s your best friend from law school doing now?
Everyone ended up doing very different things, underlining how useful a law qualification can be in different fields. My two best friends are still lawyers, however. One is a partner in private practice, the other a successful in-house solicitor.
