[OLD] Position: Associate, Banking and Finance
Education: Law, Cambridge University; LPC, Oxford Institute of Legal Practice
Clifford Chance vacation scheme: 2004
LPC, Oxford Institute of Legal Practice: 2006
Clifford Chance bursary to work in the UK Parliament: 2006
Joined Clifford Chance: 2007
Winner, Guardian/Courvoisier Future 500 Award: 2008
School Governor, Welling Primary School, Tower Hamlets: 2008
Launched new Clifford Chance Foundation across the global office network: 2008
Qualified into Finance: 2009
Appointed Ambassador for Enterprise UK led by Peter Jones from Dragons' Den: 2009
Appointed to Cambridge University Alumni Advisory Board: 2010
Winner, Square Mile 30 Under 30 Young City Lawyer Award: 2010

I think a lot of people considering a career at a City law firm overlook the business aspect and the need to think commercially and globally. A lot of what I do is as much about providing business-focused advice as it is about legal expertise. You’re learning business skills all the time. Budgeting, project management, team working and networking – they are all essential parts of your ‘toolkit’.

You can compare Clifford Chance with other leading international law firms in terms of the work that we do. But, to me, what makes it different is the training, entrepreneurial culture and ambition for success that underpins everything we do. Clifford Chance is a very nurturing place. There’s fantastic support available but also an attitude that encourages you to advance beyond your comfort zone, and understand the commercial environment and international marketplace in which our clients operate. Beginning with my training contract, I've always been trusted to deal with clients and take on responsibility for parts of a transaction straight away, giving me the chance to work on high-profile deals and with colleagues from our international office network. Memorable deal highlights include the refinancing of the group that controls Rangers Football Club and the restructuring of SSP Group who operate food travel concessions like Millie's Cookies, Upper Crust and Caffè Ritazza at airports and rail stations in 32 countries. My experience in Parliament, supported by a CC bursary, also allowed me to contribute to the Firm’s advice to the Bank of England after the Northern Rock nationalisation and our work on the high-profile House of Lords foxhunting ban appeal. Sometimes this has meant some long days but I enjoyed it and it helped me to build up important skills quickly. As a recently qualified lawyer I've used those experiences to build up my international client base and develop my knowledge of the global business environment

There’s so much going on here besides fee earning work. The pro bono side is very extensive - I’ve worked on a number of cases for the National Autistic Society, served as a  governor at a primary school in Tower Hamlets since 2008 and have recently become a trustee of child nutrition charity Magic Breakfast. I helped launch the firm’s charitable foundation, which has now donated over £2m to charities and good causes in communities across the globe and contributes to the firm's work at the World Economic Forum, where we demonstrate our commitment to good corporate citizenship. So, if you are ready to put in the effort over and above what is already a demanding schedule, then the opportunities to reach your potential and fulfil your career ambitions are endless.