As someone who has always wanted teamwork, stimulating work, and a global outlook to be part of their future career, Clifford Chance seemed to be the natural choice. Having now worked at the firm for a little over a year, I can confirm my gut instinct was correct and my time at Clifford Chance has been everything I wanted it to be and more!
My journey to 10 Upper Bank Street was definitely a little unusual. While Clifford Chance was very well known to me during my time in university, my first practical exposure to the Firm was during my time working a fin-tech start-up where they actually happened to be representing the other side! It was an incredible experience and made resolve to one day join the firm on a full-time basis. Luckily it didn't take too long and I was accepted for a Training Contract the next year!
The thing I like most about my job is the relationships you build with the Firm's clients. Being a lawyer is a client-facing role and I've come to appreciate the role played by the Firm's lawyers in helping grow these relationships and assisting clients achieve their goals – and it's no different for Trainees. In both my seats, I've been encouraged to build a rapport with clients and to take an active role in delivering the service they expect of a firm like Clifford Chance. That being said, if someone had told me before joining that I would have the C-suite of a FTSE 100 company calling me, I definitely would not have believed them.
I was involved in the amendment of a securitisation for a multinational energy renewables corporation. What made this interesting was that the deal involved offices in three different continents, and I was encouraged to take a leading role in managing the transaction. From running client calls to producing final draft documents, it was an incredible experience.
Before the start of each seat, I have received a thorough week of training in that specific area, followed-up by further specialised sessions throughout the seat itself. My favourite piece of training was the corporate case study, where, during my time in M&A, we entered into a mock transaction and had to produce a mock Sale and Purchase Agreement before negotiating the key points with the other side.
The way Clifford Chance invests in its people, especially Trainees. Since arriving a year ago, I've been amazed, not only by the level of training we receive, but the kind of opportunities the Firm offers its lawyers to ensure they develop in the best way possible. With my next seat being a client secondment to a major private equity firm, I can personally say that the opportunities you get here are unrivalled and really add a sense of adventure to your Training Contract.
Adaptability. Whether you are a Trainee changing seats or a Senior Associate working on a deal that has never been done before, adaptability is central to what makes lawyers successful in the long-term. During my own experiences, I have found that no two days are the same and that you will often consistently be asked to place yourself outside your comfort zone – which is part of the fun!
