Why I left a City law firm partnership to become a teacher
Khasruz Zaman trained at Slaughters, also working at Barclays and Simmons & Simmons before quitting the profession to become a teacher.
My Pride Story: “The Pride March isn’t redundant, and this year I’ll be there for the very first time”
“Pride is not about making a statement for someone else, it’s about celebrating victories in the battle for love and acceptance,” says Bakers’ Rachel Mullan Lipman.
Hot 100 career quiz: Ardonagh Group chief counsel Frances Coats
Name: Frances Coats Organisation: The Ardonagh Group Role: Chief Counsel – Corporate & Commercial Trained at: White & Case Year qualified: 2007 Read her Hot 100 profile What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee? Almost as soon as I’d started my training contract, I was sent to Vienna on a few hours’ notice […]
Hot 100 career quiz: HSF’s Caroline Rae
Name: Caroline Rae Organisation: Herbert Smith Freehills Role: Partner Trained at: Herbert Smith Freehills Year qualified: 2007 Read her Hot 100 profile What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee? I had a wonderful six month secondment to Hong Kong as a trainee and I remember my first completion there as if it were […]
My Pride Story: “I have no problem being mistaken for a lesbian or a straight woman, but the fact is I am neither”
Dentons’ Natasha Manning on some of the specific challenges bi people face.
Hot 100 career quiz: CMS partner Clare Thomas
Name: Clare Thomas Organisation: CMS Role: Partner Year qualified: 2000 Read her Hot 100 profile What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee? Arriving for my final seat in real estate, expecting to sit in open plan but being guided to a desk in the corner of a senior partner’s office. Keen to impress, […]
Hot 100 career quiz: Trowers & Hamlins’ Amanda Hanmore
In Amanda Hanmore’s first week in Oxford City Council, she was tasked with reviewing hundreds of ancient byelaws from management of allotments to dogs rights.
Hot 100 career quiz: Kirkland partner Kirsteen Nicol
“I always thought I’d qualify into a corporate team, and was surprised how much I enjoyed my finance seat,” says Kirkland debt finance partner Kirsteen Nicol.
Hot 100 career quiz: Simmons employment partner Vicky Wickremeratne
As a trainee, Simmons partner Vicky Wickremeratne remembers her supervisor “sashaying” into the High Court wearing a velvet top hat.
Hot 100 career quiz: Squire Patton Boggs’ employment head Caroline Noblet
My most memorable experience as a trainee? Looking after Jason Donovan.
Hot 100 career quiz: The Bank of England’s Tess Kelly
Two years ago, former A&O lawyer Tess Kelly applied for a legal head role in another part of the Bank of England, advising on financial stability The risk paid off.
Hot 100 career quiz: Stephenson Harwood’s Alexandra Pygall
Moving from Clifford Chance to Stephenson Harwood gave IP lawyer Alexandra Pygall the opportunity to build a more focussed practice.
Hot 100 career quiz: Latham’s Fiona Maclean
When Fiona Maclean journeyed to London from Edinburgh, she planned to stay for three years. Nine years later, she is a partner at Latham & Watkins.
Hot 100 career quiz: White & Case’s Gareth Eagles
Sunderland AFC, career choices and hairdressing tips feature in White & Case partner Gareth Eagles’s Hot 100 career quiz.
Hot 100 career quiz: Morton Fraser chair Maggie Moodie
“The job’s full of tough decisions. You need to listen to people, be fair and transparent, and just get on with it,” says Morton Fraser’s Maggie Moodie.
Hot 100 career quiz: Weil Gotshal’s Jamie Maples
Weil Gotshal’s Jamie Maples’ legal career began with a pupillage at One Essex Court. Realising the Bar wasn’t for him, he moved into private practice.
Hot 100 career quiz: Mishcon’s Jennifer Millins
“Lisa Mayhew, my supervisor at Lovells (now co-chair of BCLP) opened my eyes to employment litigation when I had no clue what sort of lawyer I wanted to be.”
Hot 100 career quiz: DLA Piper’s Richard Obank
“Seeing Leicester win the 2015-16 Premier League title left me feeling proud to have played a part in a phenomenal corporate turnaround.”
Women Against Adversity: From the rules of war to the rule of law
Aged six, Bosnian-born King & Spalding associate Ema Vidak Gojkovic was sent to a refugee camp in Croatia: “It did not dampen my desire to succeed.”
Hot 100 career quiz: McLaren GC Laura Brunker
“My most vivid trainee memory is running through an airport to meet a client between connecting flights to sign a notice of intention to appointment administrators.”
Hot 100 career quiz: infected blood inquiry lawyer Des Collins
Name: Des Collins Organisation: Collins Solicitors Role: Senior Partner Trained at: Nabarro Year qualified: 1975 Read his Hot 100 profile What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee? Forgetting to brief counsel on a heavily contested half day application and not realising my error until outside the door of the Court facing, to say […]
Hot 100 career quiz: Clifford Chance’s Melissa Fogarty
“When opportunity knocks, say yes wherever possible even if you don’t feel you’re quite ready,” says Clifford Chance’s Melissa Fogarty.
Hot 100 career quiz: Brick Court’s Thomas Plewman QC
“Going back into pupillage in London after 16 years in practice in South Africa was humbling and challenging,” says Brick Court’s Thomas Plewman QC
Hot 100 career quiz: IBB managing partner Joanna DeBiase
“I would advise anyone wanting to become managing partner to take time out to undertake some leadership development training,” says IBB’s Joanna DeBiase.
Hot 100 career quiz: Foot Anstey’s Chris Pritchett
Foot Anstey partner Chris Pritchett’s most vivid memory as a trainee is carrying a load of cymbals onstage in front of 18,000 people.
Hot 100 career quiz: OC’s digital revolution lawyer Catherine Hammon
“I realised fairly early on that I didn’t want to be a partner, so the hardest part of leaving behind fee-earning was finding time to write my CV.”
Hot 100 career quiz: piracy lawyer Richard Neylon
What has been your toughest career decision? For HFW partner Richard Neylon, it was paying ransom to criminals.
Hot 100 career quiz: Gibson Dunn’s Amy Kennedy
“There are always challenges and things that go wrong, but every problem – even seemingly insurmountable ones – will get solved somehow,” says Amy Kennedy.
Hot 100 career quiz: Fulham FC’s Peter Limbert
Peter Limbert, legal chief at Fulham FC, has four pieces of advice for aspiring sports lawyers.
Weightmans’ boss Schorah: We need to be more aggressive
Liverpool headquartered Weightmans has enjoyed a comfortable few years, which has seen it keep hold of its position of as one of the UK’s top 50 firms by revenue.
Ashurst: Overhauling remuneration is not enough
Paul Jenkins was a bold choice for managing partner, and now he’s running the firm during one of the most turbulent periods in its history.
- 15 July: Ashurst partners: ‘We can turn things around’
- 26 July: Ashurst CFO quits
Deloitte Legal: “We want to be the law firm of the future”
The story of the re-entry of the Big Four accountancy firms into legal services has occupied many minds in the last year or so. But in the UK, there is one notable absence – Deloitte. While its rivals EY, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers have all been busy hiring senior lawyers from top private practice firms Deloitte has stayed away from the UK market.
Irwin Mitchell private wealth: Big, but not a threat
Last November Irwin Mitchell announced that it was acquiring southeast firm Thomas Eggar. The deal gave the northern-focused Irwin Mitchell an additional six offices in the south of England and has boosted the firm’s turnover to £250m.
A&O’s new management: turbo-charging strategy
Allen & Overy’s (A&O) new management outlined their strategy to partners last month in the 45-degree Dubai heat. But what were the hot topics on the agenda?
Edmonds Marshall McMahon: The small firm making waves in fraud disputes
Private prosecution boutique Edmonds Marshall McMahon caused a stir earlier this year after it made the biggest lateral hires in its short history.
Orrick’s global boss: Our new strategy to bring London up to scratch
Orrick’s global boss and London head talk about bringing the firm’s base in the capital up to scratch to meet the needs of global clients, Microsoft and Instagram.
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Linklaters’ new boss: I’m reviewing everything
Linklaters’ new managing partner Gideon Moore speaks out about his plans to review everything at the firm to “check that what we’re doing still makes sense”.
Is HSF laying the groundwork for a US merger?
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) launched a new plan of action on Thursday (28 April) that gave an enticing hint at its plans for expansion in the US.
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BLP legal services head: I’ll triple our size in Manchester
Manchester has become a competitive breeding ground for back office-style legal processing centres and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) wants to be one of the city’s biggest players.
Pillsbury chair Rishwain on the firm’s Chinese “hub” strategy
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is among a minority of international firms to have by-passed Hong Kong and entered into Greater China via an office in Shanghai. Six years after its 2006 launch in Shanghai, the firm expanded its mainland China footprint to Beijing and most recently it announced a plan to set up a base in Hong Kong.
KWM bosses: Stability is on the horizon
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has had a turbulent few years. Since the merger with SJ Berwin in 2013 created a global firm made up of three separate partnerships, bosses have struggled to keep a hold on ‘big-hitter’ partners in the UK, keep finances in check and integrate 2,800 lawyers including 600 partners worldwide.
The JLD blog: Age and PQE do not stop you reaching top roles in the profession
Laura Uberoi is a Council Member at the Law Society and, alongside Kayleigh Leonie, represents junior lawyers of 0-5 years PQE. In October Laura was elected as president of her local law society and in doing so became one of the youngest and most junior solicitor to ever hold such a role across the country. […]
MIPIM Asia: Eversheds’ head of real estate feels like an ant on Everest
I feel like a tranquillised hippo. My limbs weigh two tonnes and my brain’s too heavy for my head. It’s November and I have 3,000lb-ungulate jet lag, so I must be at MIPIM Asia. For readers who only know MIPIM Cannes, MIPIM Asia is Cannes’ more refined Hong Kongese cousin. Each year about 900 property […]
Justicetech: Where the innovation is going to happen – and where it won’t
Julia Salasky, CEO of CrowdJustice, the online crowdfunding platform for legal action, spoke at the Law Society’s Future of Law lecture.
In this adapted version she shares her experience using innovative technologies to connect lawyers and clients with funds to take legal action
Access to justice: digitisation of the advice sector is the last hope
While firms are beginning to embrace the opportunities that tech can provide, the advice sector remains underfunded when it comes to digitisation.
The JLD blog: five pieces of advice for vacation schemes
A few weeks ago, I was asked by a paralegal at my firm whether or not they should apply be applying for vacation schemes or if they should go straight to the training contract applications. To be frank, it stumped me, as it’s something I’d not given much thought to since qualifying. It brought to […]
Why e-signatures should be the de facto standard for executing deals
By Richard Oliphant The market for legal services is highly competitive. The recent report by The Lawyer and Intapp (‘Navigating a new reality in the client-empowered’) revealed how law firms are investing heavily in ‘intelligent automation’ technologies and using data analytics to improve client service and stay ahead of the pack. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning […]
More borders, more fees: opportunities for lawyers after Brexit
In the wake of the Brexit vote, there is a need for some clarity on the general subject of globalisation and a law firm’s strategic positioning. First, globalisation is not a decision. It is a force and, for all intents and purposes, a force of nature. It is the movement of people, ideas, products, services, […]
Into the brave, new world: life after Brexit
After last week’s historic decision by the British people to leave the EU many will want know immediately what the implications are.
In-house interview: the rapid rise of McLaren Automotive’s GC
McLaren Automotive’s GC has accelerated through the ranks and assembled a seven-strong team to keep the company on track as it plans global expansion
In-house interview: acting as Three’s legal antenna
With 5G launching and data regulation becoming more complex, Three GC Stephen Lerner and his in-house team have to aim for maximum coverage across the mobile network’s business
In-house interview: Vontobel Asset Management’s legal chief on seeing the world in 3D
Appointed to the role just last year, Vontobel’s Rena Morjaria has spent the past six months getting to grips with her new legal team and home.
In-house interview: from A&O capital markets to fintech start-up
When Richard Cohen left A&O to join start-up Nivaura, he stepped out of his comfort zone. Three years on and the business and his role are both expanding.
In-house interview: Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s voyage to a digital future
As executive VP at one of the world’s biggest travel management firms, Lauren Aste thrives on the challenge of taking CWT into a digital landscape and improving its mobile tech offering.
ITE Group’s Andrew Watkins: the greenfield general counsel
ITE Group’s Andrew Watkins is the events company’s first in-house lawyer – a position he has found himself in twice before.
He says the first 100 days in the role are the most vital
In-house interview: What it’s like being head of legal for hundreds of companies at once
DMA’s Asli Yildiz is taking a proactive stance on data privacy and cybersecurity, helping members to stay one step ahead of regulation.
In-house interview: bringing Cambridge University Press into the digital age
As Cambridge University Press evolves from dusty journals in a vast library to digital print, the publisher’s GC Catie Sheret aims to assist its tech offering.
Hot 100 alumni: Ashley Katz, Fried Frank
At the start of 2016 restructuring partner Ashley Katz became the latest big-hitter to move over to Fried Frank Shriver Harris & Jacobson’s growing London base.
Hot 100 alumni: Shami Chakrabarti
Shami Chakrabarti says she was surprised that the 13 January announcement of her imminent departure from civil rights charity Liberty attracted so much attention. Sandwiched between the deaths of celebrities David Bowie and Alan Rickman, the news still made the front page of several national newspapers, notably left-leaning The Guardian and The Independent
Hot 100 alumni: Tamara Box, Reed Smith
Since appearing in The Lawyer Hot 100 two years ago Reed Smith’s Tamara Box has taken on a new role at the US firm
Hot 100 alumni: John McDonnell QC, Three Stone
John McDonnell QC was named in the Hot 100 in 2005 for his diverse practice, celebrity client roster and the launch of his new chambers, Thirteen Old Square.
Hot 100 alumni: Helen Croke, Travers Smith
Now in her 16th year at Travers Smith, Helen Croke has been key to the success of the firm’s private equity group. One of eight partners in the firm’s dedicated private equity and M&A team, Croke qualified at Travers in 2001 and moved up into partnership seven years later. The team has remained largely unchanged […]
Hot 100 alumni: Cathy Pitt, head of funds, CMS
Cathy Pitt is building CMS’ strength in the ever-changing world of funds
Hot 100 alumni: Jonathan Berger, Harbottle & Lewis
Jonathan Berger has found the ideal place to pursue his media work
Hot 100 alumni: Dan Oates, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson
Dan Oates is helping to build Fried Frank’s London private equity team
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My career story: “I left law to become a poet”
Mona Arshi is a prize-winning poet and former human rights lawyer. She recently won the Forward prize for best first collection. You began your training contract at JR Jones in the same week that Doreen and Neville Lawrence instructed the firm on the murder of their son Stephen. How did that time influence the rest […]
My career story: “I trained at a high street practice and ended up as GC at a legal recruitment company”
Hays general counsel for UK and Ireland Evelyn Styles tells The Lawyer why she chose a role in-house over private practice. Did you start your career in-house? I trained at a small high street practice and it gave me first hand experience of dealing with all aspects of legal maters, such as contract and commercial […]
My career story: Travis Perkins general counsel Deborah Grimason
Travis Perkins general counsel Deborah Grimason grew up around business – though she’d be the first to admit that her father’s bakery delivery business in rural Northern Ireland was a far cry from the FTSE 100 company she now guides through legal minefields. Grimason knew two things growing up: that she wanted to enter a profession […]
My career story: “I left the criminal bar to become a reputation management lawyer”
Natalie Sherborn left the criminal bar and is now a senior associate at defamation and reputation management firm Schillings. She tells us about how and why she made the move. What’s your background? I went to a state comprehensive school in Essex. I don’t know if anyone in our family even knew what a barrister was, […]
My career story: “I moved into private practice after being an in-house GC”
Maclay Murray & Spens partner Jill Reid entered private practice after 25 years in-house with Chevron UK, Shell and Dana Petroleum. Why did you make the move into private practice? I feel that my role [at Dana] as General Counsel and Company Secretary in an oil and gas operating company having assets in multiple jurisdictions with […]
My career story: “I moved into management”
Travers Smith’s David Patient gives his advice for those moving into a management role. Was moving into a management position always a career objective for you? It has certainly not always been a career objective for me, but something that evolved over time. I had the good fortune to have the opportunity to open our […]