If you weren’t a lawyer what would you have been?
A male version of Kate Adie.
Gerard Khoshnaw
What was your first-ever job?
Managing pea slush that was destined for pigswill at a frozen pea factory.
What was your worstexperience as a trainee?
Sitting behind counsel representing a client who was being accused of drink driving at the Magistrate’s Court and allowing counsel to forget to apply for bail. The client ended up in jail for the weekend.
Where’s the best place to go if you want to find out what’s really going on in the office?
Ask the trainees.
What time do you usually leave the office?
About 6.30pm (usually with some homework).
What do you do at weekends?
Watch my son play rugby or cricket, play golf myself or watch Leeds United.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
The Three Acres, Emley, near Huddersfield – it’s a hidden gem.
If you weren’t a lawyer what would you have been?
A male version of Kate Adie.
What is your favourite film?
Dances with Wolves.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John.
Who’s your hero and why?
Lance Armstrong and Billy Bremner – both have/had a never-say-die attitude.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Working in a collegiate but driven environment with pleasant colleagues, the variety of challenges thrown up by different cases, and devising strategy and tactics to achieve the best results for clients.
What’s the toughest thing about your job?
The hours and dealing with the increasing speed of email traffic.
What’s your biggest work/career mistake and what did you learn from it?
As a trainee, being asked to move the senior partner’s car from a tight car park. Being unused to it, I failed to recognise the car was in reverse. The car’s behind was not a pretty sight. I learnt that, on occasion, pretending not to be a good driver can actually be a good move.
What car do you drive?
Audi A5.
What book are you currently reading?
Direct Red by Gabrielle Weston.
What’s your favourite children’s book?
Harry Potter or The Famous Five.
What’s the most exciting deal/case you’ve worked on and why?
Defending a class action of 98 against a developer who was also involved in a claim for £17m over intricate geotechnical issues with a piling contractor. The case took place in the Technology and Construction Court in London and we successfully obtained judgment against the contractor for the full amount.
If you were stranded on a desert island what two luxury items would you take?
A BlackBerry and a radio.
What is the worst partner conference location you’ve attended and why?
Arden Hotel, Birmingham. It reminded me of an old TV programme called Crossroads.
What’s the longest you’ve worked without sleep?
I’d say about 30 hours during a disclosure exercise for High Court litigation as a trainee.
If a movie was being made about your life, which actor would play you and why?
Sean Bean because he is better looking.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with?
Peter Mandelson.
What’s on your iPod at the moment?
I don’t have one, but if I did it would be either Bruce Springsteen or Elbow.
CV
Name: Gerard Khoshnaw
Firm: Nabarro
Title: Head of commercial dispute resolution (North)
Lives: Leeds
Education:
1970-77: Leeds Grammar School
1978-82: University of Hull
1983: Leeds School of Law
Work history:
1984-87: Ford & Warren
1988-93: Solicitor, DLA
1993-99: Partner, DLA
2000-present: Partner, Nabarro
