Name: Darren Roiser
Firm: King & Wood Mallesons
Position: London office managing partner
Trained at: Slaughter and May
In Hot 100 for: Decency in the face of the King & Wood Mallesons collapse. Read his full Hot 100 profile.
What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee?
As a trainee at Slaughter and May I was involved in a number of vast disclosure exercises. No recollection what they were about but what I do remember was the mid-morning selection of mini-cakes followed by the mid-afternoon cheese board. I kid you not, kumquats and quince jelly.
At the other end of the culinary spectrum was going across town to search out a goat curry and roti for a witness from Trinidad. A truly rounded training experience.
Who has been the most influential person in your career? Why, and how have they helped you?
Three people. Jonny Cotton and Sarah Lee for showing me how to manage, win and celebrate good cases. Craig Pollack for teaching me how to fight literally any case.
What was the best career decision you ever made, and why?
Being one of the founding partners of KWM Europe, their relaunched platform in 2017. The most challenging, rewarding and exciting experience of my working life (kumquats aside).
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get to where you are/do the job you do?
Work hard, enjoy it and, even when super stressed, stay calm and be nice to people.
What work or career-related project or activity would you really like to do, but don’t have time for?
Go back to schools in my home town of Croydon and explain how the City works to young people. They live 20 minutes away but it is a different world and that is just crazy. There is so much talent out there.
