Trainee Blog

Employment and Pensions

2012-05-24T05:04:00.000-07:00

I am a final-seat trainee and currently sitting in the Employment & Pensions Department, which I am really enjoying.

The team is friendly and supportive and very happy to involve trainees at quite a high level, as well as giving us the more traditional litigation-trainee tasks, such as "bundling". The work is very varied and provides a nice mix of contentious and non-contentious work.

We could find ourselves preparing a complex piece of advice on the TUPE implications of a major business restructuring, drafting Instructions to Counsel in a disability discrimination case, writing a letter to the other side in an attempt to reach a settlement before proceedings are issued against our client in a whistle-blowing matter, and interviewing our client in an equal pay claim prior to drafting her witness statement. And that's just tomorrow's to-do list!

This morning, I arrived in the office for 9.30 and began a review of one of the cases I am working on for the Department of Work & Pensions (Jobcentre Plus), one of our major clients. I prepared a memo of key issues for the solicitor working on the case, which he needs for a Case Management Discussion later this week.

Wednesday lunchtime is a highlight of my week as, along with about 30 colleagues, I take an hour out of my day to visit a local primary school and help the children with their reading. This scheme has been running for over a term now and, with the children having one-on-one attention, we are really seeing improvements. "My" child is very bright and chatty and I always go back to the office with an amusing story or two to tell. It's fantastic to have the chance to give back to the community in the middle of a busy working week.

This afternoon, I left the office with my supervisor to attend a meeting at the offices of another client. They are seeking advice in a redundancy situation to ensure they deal with the matter as fairly as possible and avoid any claims. I have been lucky enough to be taken along to quite a few meetings already, despite having only spent two months in the department. Meetings are a great opportunity for client contact as well as for learning from the partners. The role of a trainee at a meeting is generally to take a note of whatever is discussed and then, often, to have a go at a first draft of any advice or letters that the client is seeking.

Finally I catch up with my supervisor on a letter I have been drafting for him which will be sent by one of our clients to its employees, giving them guidance on TUPE issues affecting their workforce.

Not bad for an ordinary Wednesday!

Rebecca (2nd Year Trainee)

Easter Vacation Scheme in Commercial IP

2012-04-26T02:22:00.000-07:00

I have just begun my second week on the Easter vacation scheme in Field Fisher Waterhouse’s Commercial IP department. As a firm which prides itself on IP work, I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to experience real work in a department which was one of my top preferences. Already, during my short time in the department I have been involved in a number of different projects and activities. As soon as I joined the department I went along with my trainee buddy on a court run. Though a bit of a whirlwind tour, having never been to the Royal Courts of Justice I found this quite exciting! Whilst the friendly atmosphere of the Commercial IP department meant that I was always able to stop and have a chat with members of the team, I was given plenty of work to keep me busy for the week! Being a history undergraduate, part of me did expect that I would be given more administrative tasks. However, I have been proven wrong as the Commercial IP team have let me get stuck into some real legal tasks. Two main projects that I have been working on are practice notes for Lexis Nexis on the advertising of food and medicinal products. In addition, I have proof read a Franchise Sale Agreement, researched the legal restrictions on clinical trials using animals and researched the ways in which one particular business uses social media. On Thursday I am moving to Clinical Negligence, another of FFW’s practices that attracted me to the firm. Though I am a little sad to say goodbye to the Commercial IP team, I very much look forward to experiencing another practice area of the firm.

A Day in the Life of an Easter Vacation Student

2012-04-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

9.00: I arrive a little early so I can get a cup of tea and check my FFW email. Last night the trainees took the vacation schemers out for drinks, nibbles and a magic show. In the kitchenette I bump into one of the trainees and we debate how on earth one of the tricks was done.

9.15: My supervisor and I also have a quick chat and then I get down to looking at my to-do-list for the day. I have been given a High Court judgement on a patents case to read by a Senior Associate. My task is to establish whether the judgement has added anything new to a particular legal test for patent validity and the deadline is in a couple of day’s time. Patent law is something I have a strong interest in as I have a science background but is not something I have studied before, so in addition to reading the judgement I will need to do some research. At the beginning of the scheme we were given training in legal research skills and the resources available to us so I get out my notes and start to put these skills to good use.

10.45: When the firm’s clerk is away one of the jobs of a trainee is to do a “court run”, where claims and documents are filed. My buddy and another trainee will be doing the court run at 11.00 and they have invited me to come along. One of the trainees stops by to fill me in on the particular case he will be dealing with in court and to take me through the procedure for filing a claim.

11.00: The two trainees and I head off to first the Royal Courts of Justice and then the Rolls Building. It is interesting to see the process of filing claims and also two such different judicial buildings with the first looking a little bit like Hogwarts on the inside and the second being a cutting-edge modern building.

12.30: The trainees very kindly take me for lunch and I get an opportunity to talk to them about the seats they have had so far and their experiences at FFW.

1.30: We arrive back at the firm and a partner asks me if I can proof-read a licensing contract draft. He is going to meet his client in 45 minutes so I crack on. It is the first licensing contract I have ever seen so it is a good opportunity to see how one is laid out.

1.50: After handing back the proof-read draft with a couple of small typos identified, I return to my research task.

3.30: The Vacation Schemers have a briefing on the group presentations we will need to do at the end of the scheme. We are given a folder with the details and are talked through some of the key factors we may want to bear in mind.

4.30: My group gathers together to discuss our plans.

5.30: I head back to my desk, finish off my work and reply to a couple of emails.

6.00: There are departmental drinks in the pub across the road from the office. I head over and join the rest of the team.

Legal In House vs Private Practice

2012-04-04T01:36:00.000-07:00

I am two weeks into the fourth seat of my training contract, sitting in the Dispute Resolution department. My third seat was spent on secondment with BP at Canary Wharf and it has taken a week or so for me to find my feet after being away from the office for so long. I had forgotten how to do a lot of things and it took me a couple of hours on my first day back to remember that, oh yes, there's this time recording thing I'm supposed to do…!

My secondment was with the Anti-Bribery and Corruption team at BP, which sits within the BP Legal in‑house function and provides specialist legal advice to the business on bribery and corruption issues. I would always recommend that a trainee take the opportunity to go on secondment to a client as the experience you will gain is invaluable. Not only will you improve your legal knowledge and experience, more importantly you will develop your 'commercial awareness' (something that those of you filling in training contract applications will know all about!).

One of the key differences with in-house work is that a lawyer's status changes from 'fee earner' to 'cost centre'. In simple terms, a lawyer in private practice is called a fee earner i.e. someone who charges out their time and earns fees! This is how law firms make money, so a fee earner is a pretty important person in private practice. By contrast, an in-house lawyer is someone who in fact costs the company money! Profits are generated by other people and it is your job to be an asset, rather than just a burden, while of course protecting the company's interests. In-house work reminds you that lawyers are not the centre of the universe(!) but, on the other hand, that you will be valued as long as you keep your advice commercial and relevant.

Coming back into private practice, the most important question I have learned to ask is 'What's the risk?'. The point here is that commercial clients are unlikely to want or need to hear chapter and verse on the nuances of a sophisticated legal argument. Clients want to understand the actual risks they face, and how those risks can be managed. When a client briefs you on a project, it is vital for you to be able to identify and focus on the key legal risks which are at issue and come up with sensible, commercial solutions.

Naomi (2nd Year trainee)

My Seat Rotation in Brussels

2012-03-30T05:36:00.001-07:00

Food & Play

Brussels is a lively city full of restaurants, bars and cafes. Belgian waffles, Flemish stews, meatballs in tomato sauce, and mussels with fries are staples, but lots of French, Italian and Spanish restaurants also line the streets. There are plenty of cultural events such as concerts, film/art festivals and theatre groups with ticket prices much lower than in London.

For those who enjoyed the social aspects of university life, coming to Brussels as a trainee may feel like a return to those days for a trainee mailing list goes round detailing outings every Wednesday and Thursday night in the same spots where huge groups congregate: Chatelain and Place Luxembourg. These are the ex pat spots and you will meet people from every country in Europe and you overhear all 27 languages spoken. I made some really nice Swedish friends.

The city also hosts a large Arabic population which I loved as I was able to practice my Arabic when shopping for groceries. In the department I work with both Francophone and Flemish Belgians and also integrated into the Belgian community through sport. I am member of The VUB Waterpolo Team and the Brussels Underwater Hockey Team. They are a lot of fun and will teach you about the history of the city and places of interest outside the city like Bruges, Gent, Antwerp. All in all, it is a fantastic experience for a young lawyer.

What about the real work?

The work in the EU Regulatory Team is very varied due to the different areas of expertise individual lawyers in the team possess. One is also given a lot of responsibility early on. A lot of my time is spent on legal research into European case law, legislative measures and European procedural rules. I have had to look closely at parts of REACH, the Detergents Regulation, the General Court Procedural Rules and the EU Directives on Emissions. I have also had to produce case summaries on recent ECJ decisions as well as areas of competition law in anticipation of negotiations conducted on behalf of clients.
I have been contributing substantially to training and business development by writing numerous articles for the EU Regulatory Bulletin which is a bulletin produced once a month destined for clients with updates on recent cases and proposals for new European legislation. I do a substantial amount of translating as well: usually from Italian and French into English. The clients are international so you get the opportunity to use your language skills and travel a bit. In my first month I attended client meetings in Germany where the meetings themselves were held in Spanish while the next month I was attending hearings before the European Courts based in Luxembourg. I think anyone who would enjoy this international dimension will love this secondment.

Finally, while the trainee is sitting in the EU Regulatory department, other departments are made aware of the trainee's presence in the office and they too may call on the trainee. I have really enjoyed this aspect as I have been able to get a feel for different types of work in addition to my main workload.

The buzz around seat choices!

2012-03-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

There's a nervous excitement amongst some of the trainees this morning; it's seat allocation day. We submitted our list of six preferences a few weeks ago and Amelia is expecting to deliver the news this afternoon. My first seat has been in the investment group of the Real Estate department. With two weeks left, I've been trying to complete and close down as many transactions as possible so the new incoming trainee can ease his or her way into the seat rather than having to pick up a dozen matters-in-progress. Easier said than done with a continuing stream of new incoming work! We're in the middle of a development purchase involving more than 40 registered titles and 30 leases. With an anticipated rent of over six million pounds per annum, it isn't the sort of deal which can be hurried along, but exchange is anticipated to be before the end of the week if the bank agrees to lend. However, there are a number of potentially problematic rights of way affecting the development site.

My first choice for my second seat is IP litigation and enforcement. It's a popular seat - the firm prides itself on its IP and technology focus, so many of the trainees apply to the firm in the hope of sitting in one of those departments. Before converting to law, I trained as a Physicist, so fingers crossed that will count in my favour. My aim would be to work with David Knight, whose principal area of practice is patent disputes. He originally studied Electronic Engineering and I've been in touch with him regarding my application - HR encourage us to take charge of our training contracts and speak to the partners we would like to work for. You don't want to be a nuisance though!

Aside from work, it has been a busy month. Another Trainee and I recently took charge of the firm's mixed hockey team. We have upcoming games against Freshfields and Travers Smith, so I have been emailing around to organise the team and book the pitch and food for afterwards. It has been a particularly cold January, but Spring is just trying to break through, so enthusiasm for outdoor sports has returned. Our team is quite competitive, but we were beaten by Slaughter and May before Christmas, so we're keen to get back to winning ways.

Also, my wife and I have just had an offer accepted on a house outside Orpington, which would cut my daily commute by about an hour and a half. The conveyancing process is just kicking off and I'm certain that the experience gained during my first seat will be extremely helpful in understanding and managing the process. It's a listed building, so there are legal issues which I haven't come across in my commercial property work. It will be a big renovation project, but we're excited, if a little apprehensive. Much like the feeling of waiting to hear which department I'll be working in for the next six months.

Adam (First Year Trainee)

That's the way the cookie crumbles!

2011-12-16T03:21:00.000-08:00

I have recently begun my third seat in the Technology and Outsourcing group. I requested Eduardo Ustaran as my supervisor and was lucky enough to be placed with him. Eduardo is a partner in the Data Protection and Privacy team, a sub-group within the Technology and Outsourcing group. My previous seats in Dispute Resolution and Commercial IP were ones in which I worked for the entire team. I thought that, as a second year trainee, it would be interesting to become more deeply involved in one aspect of the group as opposed to broadly involved with all aspects. I feel that this has been a good decision for me as I have developed close relations with the Data Protection team and feel that I am learning a lot about data protection, freedom of information and privacy.

To date I have been involved with collecting local counsels' advise with relation to rolling out whistleblowing schemes globally, researching various countries' exemptions to their data protection regime and assisting in drafting privacy policies. I have also been involved in producing template notification forms to go to particular countries' data protection authorities where they require notification of data processing. Legal research has also featured highly in my tasks, for example, for one client I conducted research into the meaning of "consent" – asking such questions as is a "soft opt-in", that is an opt-out box which by default is checked, enough when it comes to third party advertising?

I have also been keenly following the approaches taken by Member States and by companies to deal with the recent EU Cookies Directive which states that consent must be gained from the user of a website before cookies can be used. Cookies are small text files that store basic information that a website can use to track online traffic flows, recognise repeat visits and record information about your online preferences. This data on your online preferences can be used to target advertising towards particular users. This might, if the Directive is interpreted strictly by Member States, have a huge impact on how we use the internet, especially free sites which rely on targeted advertising to provide their funding, for example Facebook and Wikipedia. The Directive has implications for a lot of our clients as it impacts how their websites must operate, what information must be given to the user and the method of provision of that information.

Alex (2nd Year Trainee)

From Brussels with chocolate and beer!

2011-05-23T04:09:00.000-07:00

I applied to do my second seat in the firm's Brussels office and have recently joined the EU regulatory team, which advises on the EU regulation of chemicals. It was not until I arrived here that the European dimension of the firm sank in. Aside from exposure to EU institutions, the Brussels experience involves collaboration with colleagues from all over Europe, notably Germany, France, Italy, Romania... Working in Brussels is thus enriching in many ways. It has also made me more aware of the culture of the firm: everywhere I go, the people I meet seem diligent, but also approachable and fun!

More on the work undertaken by the EU regulatory team: EU regulation of chemicals involves environmental law, which is a fascinating area of the law because it is very much in the making. The bulk of my work consists in conducting research on various EU and Member State legislations and drafting a memorandum summarising the results. The challenge lies in adopting a macro analysis approach to understand the rationale behind each legislation and the different interests at stake, whilst also paying attention to the details to address clients' specific points of concern. I have also been involved in other types of work, including assisting with REACH consortia management and the preparation of litigation before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Last but not least, we all know the other benefits of a Brussels secondment: life in Brussels is sweet thanks to the endless supply of delicious chocolates and beers!

Mitsuko Akiyama
Trainee

Amelia Goodwin - Graduate Recruitment Manager

2011-02-17T08:06:00.000-08:00

Our Graduate Recruitment Manager, Amelia Goodwin, was recently featured on the Law Careers website in their 'Meet the Recruiter' section. Below is a copy of the Q&A. You can view the original article at the Law Careers website.

What is your job title?
It's very recently become graduate recruitment manager. I was previously an HR officer - a role which had large elements of graduate recruitment within it.

Where do you work (geographically speaking)?
We're in London, very close to the Tower of London.

How did you end up in law?
I've always had an interest in law, but HR was where my heart lay. When I graduated I saw that there was an HR role in a law firm which kind of mixed the two interests and I've stuck with it ever since.

What are your main responsibilities?
This one could be quite long-winded as my role is threefold. First, I deal with graduate recruitment, which includes everything from marketing at universities and running assessment centres through to offering training contracts. The second element is trainee development. That involves arranging events for future trainees and ensuring their maintenance grants are paid, as well as dealing with the trainees when they're on board - seat rotations, secondments and the qualification process. The third part of my job is looking after the paralegal population.

How long have you been in the job?
I've been working in graduate recruitment for the last couple of years.

Who is in your team?
We are quite different here because we actually have a firm-wide graduate recruitment team. We have partners, associates and trainees in our university champions team and in our vacation schemes team. In our graduate assessment team, we have senior associates and partners involved in scoring application forms and marking at the assessment centres. I coordinate all of these activities by working closely with our training principal and other members of the HR team. In total we have around 35 partners and other fee earners involved - we had to book a large table at our graduate recruitment team Christmas lunch last year!

What are the most/least enjoyable aspects of recruiting?
Most enjoyable is seeing someone go from being a student and offering them a training contract, through to them qualifying as a solicitor. The least enjoyable is probably being bombarded with excuses - their internet connection failed or their dog chewed their USB stick, etc - the day after the application deadline and having to tell candidates that even though they may have put a lot of work into their application, we still can't consider it.

What is the biggest challenge of the job?
Again, probably around the application deadline date, dealing with the huge level of queries we get in the last few days. I’m really happy answering questions from people and helping them out, but leaving it to the last few days doesn’t give people the best chance of getting their query resolved.

Do you socialise with your trainees/vac scheme students?
Yes! Our trainees have a social budget and a social committee whose aim is to spend it wisely! Some of the events they arrange we go along to and others we leave them to it. It’s the same for the vacation schemes, but I accompany the training principal to the formal dinner at the end of the scheme as it’s always in a funky central London venue and everyone is in a good mood, relaxing at the end of the scheme!

Do you attend law fairs? Why is it important for students to attend?
The firm attends law fairs, but I don't personally. We rely on our university champions to do that - teams consisting of trainees, partners and associates. We are quite unique in this way, but we believe it’s important for students to find out what life is like as a lawyer at Field Fisher Waterhouse, straight from the horses’ mouths! We also try to arrange it so that at each law fair, we send a partner and a trainee who attended that university. We also do other things at universities such as presentations and skills sessions which I tend to get more involved with, depending on what the subject is. All the details of our university timetable are on our website and I also tweet about them, so please become a follower!

What's the most annoying question you're asked by students?
I’m really happy to answer questions if the answer isn't readily available, but we often get people phoning up to ask how to apply to our firm. How to apply is advertised really clearly on our website, so it makes me think that the person hasn't done much research!

What do you look for in a candidate?
We're looking for bright, well-rounded and authentic individuals. We're looking for somebody who has achieved academically but who has also lived a life outside academia which has helped them to develop life skills. Importantly, we don’t want actors - we want the real you. Our tag line is '100% lawyer, 100% you'!

What is the most common mistake you see candidates making?
Probably when applicants cut and paste their answers from application forms and leave the wrong firm name in - oops...

How should candidates approach you for feedback after an interview?
As soon as the assessment centres are over, those who have been successful are invited to final partner interviews and those who haven't are offered a feedback session; this is a half-hour telephone conversation. Again we are quite unique in the market for offering feedback to unsuccessful candidates from an assessment centre. We will go over every stage of the assessment and highlight areas where the candidate did well and those areas where there is room for improvement. Importantly we also ask for the candidate’s feedback on their experience so that we can improve. When we offer feedback, I would thoroughly recommend that everyone takes up the offer and books in a session - some people don’t, which is a shame.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of joining the legal profession?
Try to gain some legal experience early on to ensure that law is definitely what you want to do. Then, once you are set on the career, think about the skills that a lawyer would need and try to develop them while studying or working. Keep in mind that skills are transferable so demonstrate this on the application form.

What makes your firm stand out from the rest?
Our trainees have a lot of responsibility and client contact from day one; because we only have 15 trainees joining us each year, everyone enjoys a high level of support from their dedicated and well-trained supervisors and is always fully utilised on client matters. In some departments trainees even have responsibility for their own small files. In addition, we have a good work/life balance, which is something that's not necessarily found in every City law firm; for example, we are proud that we don't have sleeping pods!

If you could do something completely different, what would it be?
I have a wheat intolerance, so my dream is to own and run a wheat-free bakery with lovely cupcakes and bread, and maybe some pizza thrown in. I just need to think up a good name to call it!

What's your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate, and perhaps a bit of wine as well. In fact, better still, red wine and chocolate together!

What's your desert island disc?
I have this album called 101 Housework Songs which is 101 full-on cheesy songs. I think I'd take that with me to complement the beautiful scenery and stop me from getting bored.

HR Team, Field Fisher Waterhouse

Smiles all around...

2011-02-09T03:17:00.000-08:00

We at Field Fisher Waterhouse are elated! In a glittering ceremony at Grosvenor House last night for the Lawyer HR Awards 2011, we won two awards among fierce competition. One was for the 'Best Graduate Trainee Recruitment Campaign' and the other for the 'Best HR Team'. Our Trainee Partner Matthew Lohn, who attended the awards is delighted and Charlie Keeling, our HR Director, is walking around with a big smile on his face (and so are the rest of us).

Competition was definitely intense but it's always nice to know that the industry thinks you're doing the job right. But we mostly hope that our Trainees feel they are getting what they would expect from us, after all, that's what motivated us to do a good job in the first place.

HR Team

Five months in...

2011-02-07T04:01:00.000-08:00

My first seat has been spent in the firm's Technology and Outsourcing Group. Top rated in the legal directories, there is no better place than Field Fisher Waterhouse to learn about this area of law. The department is one of the largest in the firm, and the work undertaken ranges from digital media, telecoms, large scale government procurement to data protection and data security issues.

Personally speaking, five months in and coming towards the end of my first seat seems a good time to reflect on what I’ve learnt. The Group runs a weekly 'university' training session, which has been an excellent way to immerse myself in an area of law I knew little about before joining the firm. But more than anything I feel that I’ve learnt by doing. I have been fortunate enough to gain real experience of drafting, research and client meetings, and hope to keep improving and honing these skills.

During the last two weeks I’ve been in Liverpool on a competitive dialogue (less combative than it sounds!), sitting in on meetings between our client and bidders who have been negotiating terms of the contract. What I enjoyed the most was the exposure to clients; both during meetings and in the evening over drinks and dinner. There is no sense of being hidden away behind the scenes at the firm; you are definitely a valued part of the team, and given a real opportunity to contribute. Subsequently, I met with the client alone to obtain instructions, and then marked up three Schedules of the contract accordingly; scary, but proper legal work!

There have been plenty of opportunities to get involved in things outside of work. I’m on the Trainee Social Committee, and we have organised a cocktail making event, in addition to impromptu dinner and drinks with the Trainees. I’m learning to play squash in our basement courts, sang in the choir at Christmas and have enjoyed helping students hone their interview and letter writing techniques through the firm’s pro bono involvement with Queen Mary’s Legal Advice centre.

I’ve got high hopes for the future and my next seat – who knows what it has in store!

Angharad Schell, First Year Trainee

The Monday Morning Feeling

2011-01-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

Five months have flown by in my first seat in the Employment and Pensions department. From day one I have felt part of this team and very much enjoyed working in it. On my first day, I remember being a little nervous about meeting everybody in the department but soon realised that there was nothing to worry about and everybody was more than happy to answer any questions I had...although I do have a one year qualified 'buddy' who sits just down the corridor from me who I save my less sophisticated questions for...

The work has also been interesting and diverse. A lot of the department's work involves preparing cases for Employment Tribunals on behalf of our biggest client, the Department of Work and Pensions. As a trainee you are involved in every stage of this process and some of the work I do on a daily basis includes drafting documents such as particulars of response, instructions to counsel, witness statements and letters of advice; interviewing witnesses; researching various points of law; and attending hearings. I have also done work for some of the department's private sector clients, one of which is Ipswich Town Football Club. Getting the chance to visit Ipswich, after conveniently arranging meetings so that they coincide with match day, is definitely a bonus. I must say I was surprised but excited by the level of responsibility that I was given and, having spoken to friends at other firms, this is not an experience which is shared by all trainees in the City.

The firm has a really good sports and social scene too. There are frequently ad hoc nights out and organised events (annual firm wide quiz last night) as well as various sports teams. I manage our football team with two other trainees, Nick and Phil. This is something we will do while we are trainees and upon qualification will pass it onto a new group of trainees. We play in the London Legal League which is made up of City law firms. It's 11 a-side and we play once a week. We've had a difficult season with a string of unlucky results leaving us with a bit of an uphill climb for the rest of the season...but we are having a great time anyway. The sports teams are a great way to meet people at every level of the firm and an ideal way to let off steam after work. We've arranged a sports team social with Jenny, the netball team captain, at the end of February although we are still debating whether we should get competitive with a girls v boys dodgeball match, or just merry with darts and drinks...

We also have a Trainee Social Committee made up of myself, Jenny, Aneesh and Angharad. We are given a generous budget by the firm to arrange various nights out - our first being the 'current and future trainee cocktail-making Christmas bash'...

There's a great work-life balance here and I am really enjoying working life. I think it's a pretty good sign when you don't mind getting out of bed at half six on a Monday morning.

Jamie Pullen, First Year Trainee

Work, cake, karaoke and curry!

2011-01-18T03:32:00.000-08:00

Firstly, Happy New Year! The beginning of 2011 seems an appropriate time to write a blog about my first four months at the firm, not least because I will soon be assisting with a graduate recruitment presentation on “life as a trainee”.

I am two thirds of the way through my first seat in Commercial Intellectual Property, a highly regarded department which broadly focuses on franchising, licensing, advertising and film finance. I have been fortunate to experience all of these areas, often undertaking tasks which involve much responsibility such as drafting franchise agreements and reviewing sponsorship contracts. A definite advantage of working in film finance is getting the inside scoop on what the next blockbuster will be. It is also a novel experience to see adverts on station platforms for films Field Fisher Waterhouse has advised on.

I have been given the opportunity to attend quite a few meetings, including one on my third day with a partner, an associate and fifteen clients whose interests were aligned on one matter. As most of the clients are well-known, I rarely have to ask what they do before starting work on a new matter. Of course as a first seat trainee I have had many other questions, but everyone is approachable and happy to answer them.

Whilst most of the people in my department are listed in Chambers and Partners, they definitely deserve more recognition for their baking skills, a fact which has been proven by ‘Cake Club’ which happens on Thursday afternoons. Besides this, the Commercial IP social activities have extended to bowling, drinks, a trip to Devon and karaoke.

The trainees are equally gregarious. Alongside weekly drinks the social committee has organised a cocktail making class and more (clearly very popular) karaoke. The latest rumour is that a trainee curry night is imminent.

Over the past four months my weeknights have also been filled by playing football and hockey for the firm’s teams- I have enjoyed this despite my lack of fitness. The trainees also take it in turns to attend the Queen Mary’s Legal Advice Centre on Tuesday nights.

It has been a very busy four months! I look forward to the rest of my time in Commercial IP as well as starting my new seat in two months.

Stuart Neely, First Year Trainee

Looking for Trainees

2011-01-13T09:14:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder to you all that we are now accepting applications for our 2011 Vacation and 2013 Training contracts. You can find out more at our Trainee website here.

Also, current Trainee vacancies for our Brussels and Hamburg offices are available on the careers section of our firm website here.

All the best.

Amelia Goodwin, HR Officer

What can I say...

2010-12-24T02:02:00.000-08:00

As we reach the end of 2010, what can I say about the first four months of my Training Contract?

Well, to start with I’m lucky enough to be spending my first seat in the Intellectual Property and Technology Dispute Resolution group. The department has a wealth of experience in patent, trade mark, copyright, passing off, domain name, design right and breach of confidence claims, not to mention expertise in IT and franchising/licensing disputes. Aside from the exciting and varied work and the seemingly never-ending list of impressive clients, the people in the department are fantastic to work with. As well as being experts in their field, the team are friendly and down to earth. The partners’ doors are always open and they seem genuinely interested in our development as Trainees.

This leads me on to the open and friendly culture within the firm. Many of my fellow trainees have echoed this sentiment in their blogs, and I don’t want to labour the point, but I can honestly say that Field Fisher Waterhouse is a great place to work. What’s more, the firm seem to have a knack for recruiting intakes that seem to click. We are a diverse bunch from all sorts of backgrounds who get on really well. After work drinks have always been a regular occurrence, but rather worryingly Karaoke seems to be becoming popular of late.

As it is almost Christmas, I should probably mention our recent Christmas parties. I’ve been to two in the last few weeks. The first was Trainee organised which the ‘Trainees-to-be’ were invited to. One of the great things about the firm is the involvement that future Trainees have with the current intake. It was an excellent opportunity for them to meet their future colleagues in a social setting, and will ease those first-day nerves already knowing a fair amount of people.

Watch this space for pictures from the Trainee party in the New Year. The second party was a departmental one which happened to be on the very next day. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending how you look at it, both involved cocktail making master classes. My cocktail repertoire has increased substantially; although I’m steering well clear of Long Island Iced Teas for a little while..

Tommy McKenna, First Year Trainee

Detective work & football hooligans

2010-12-22T02:24:00.000-08:00

I am currently half way through my first seat of my training contract, in Dispute Resolution. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I first started here, but had heard that the work was extremely varied and that I would gain fantastic contentious experience. So far this has reigned true!

I found the learning curve to be quite steep initially, probably because I completed my LPC two and a half years ago and I was therefore rather rusty. What feels like ‘information overload’ when you first start can be quite daunting! It also took a few weeks for me to get used to the level of multi tasking required, not only as a Trainee, but specifically due to the variety of work and clients in this department. I find this challenging at times, learning how to organise my work and prioritise, but it also keeps things interesting.

There is rarely an idle moment in Dispute Resolution, but an ‘average day’ might encompass a court visit or client meeting; urgent research on anything from illegal phone tapping to insolvency/bankruptcy procedures; and perhaps a bit of Inspector Gadget role-playing, when liaising with commercial intelligence suppliers trying to trace seemingly untraceable football hooligans! The cases themselves have so far revolved around small to large contractual disputes and debt claims where, on some, I have been involved in pre-action negotiations and commencing proceedings all the way through to judgment. The clients and opponents have been exciting, ranging from nightclubs, sports clubs and football charities to large travel agencies and hotels. I have also been quite heavily involved in Pro Bono here.

One of the great aspects of this department is that everyone is really friendly and appreciates that, as a trainee, we are just starting out in our careers. When you do the late nights or early starts, they are appreciated rather than expected. The ‘juniors’ are also great at smiling and pretending that your questions aren’t stupid when you know that really they are! As Alex mentioned, it has also been nice to have another Trainee next door – usually one of us will have done something similar for a different partner and we are always prepared to muck in and help each other out.

Aside from the work in my department, it has been great playing the odd game of netball with the firm's netball team. Jenny Bradley twisted my arm and, although I am reluctant to admit it, I now really enjoy playing again! Having said that, you won't find me out prancing about on a netball court in these Arctic winter months... Sorry Jen.

I look forward to seeing what the New Year has in store for me both in Dispute Resolution as well as in my next seat!

Daania Karim, First Year Trainee

Half-way through

2010-12-17T01:40:00.000-08:00

The half way mark of the first seat of my training contract has just passed and I can't believe how quickly time has run since starting in September. Since day one I’ve been kept busy and interested and I expect the next half of this seat will be the same.

I'm working in the Financial Services and Funds department which is a small department with two partners and four associates, handling both contentious and non-contentious work.

Working in a small department has meant that I get an insight into the work done by all of the team and has allowed me to get involved in a variety of matters. I have helped with defending judicial review proceedings, worked on one of the Lehman cases which may be appealed in the Supreme Court, reviewed various fund, custody and other agreements, and helped to draft briefing papers on recent or forthcoming developments.

The department advises financial services businesses on financial services regulation and their investment products, with a particular focus on fund managers and investment funds. Clients also include insurance companies, pension providers and institutional investors. The contentious side involves advice when things go wrong, for instance where there is regulatory enforcement action taken by the FSA, or problems such as insider dealing.

A lot of my work has involved carrying out research on different topics. Financial Services and Funds is a specialist area of law and requires understanding of technical and intricate legislation and regulation. At times it has been a challenge trying to get to grips with complicated regulations but it is those light-bulb moments when something just clicks that continue to motivate me. Plus if ever I’ve been in the dark for too long there has always been someone on the team who is more than willing and has had the patience to shed some light on the subject! This has helped, not least because I have felt encouraged to learn about and understand the law and underlying issues.

It is the level of support that I have been given towards learning and development which has really surprised and impressed me about being a trainee at Field Fisher Waterhouse. The support from the firm is evident from the amount of training available for Trainees. I’ve really felt that my career development is important to and supported by the firm.

The other Trainees are a lovely, friendly group of people and make sure that it’s not all work and no play! All things considered I’m looking forward to enjoying the remainder of my training contract at Field Fisher Waterhouse.

Mary McAvinue, First Year Trainee

The Unusual and Diverse

2010-12-08T06:35:00.000-08:00

I am half way through my first seat and it has been a whirlwind experience. I am working in the personal injury and medical negligence department, which does mainly claimant work. It is an unusual practice area to find in a commercial firm but, to me, this reflects the firm’s wider attitude to accepting innovation and diversity. The practice is a market leader in asbestos litigation and high-end medical negligence claims, but it is a growing and diversifying practice and one may be surprised by how many transferable skills there are.

An illustration of the firm’s openness to innovation is encompassed by the actions of one of the senior associates in the group who is a keen cyclist. He has developed a practice based around cycle accident claims – not one of the department’s traditional practice areas but one that we are growing.

The diversity of the work is what struck me when I first arrived. Since starting I have worked on inquests, criminal injuries claims, and medical negligence, personal injury, catastrophic and minor accident claims. The responsibility I’ve been given, while scary at first, has been the envy of my friends at other law firms. I’m not daunted about that as the level of support I’ve been given from the team has been fantastic. From the get go I was on the phone taking witness statements, speaking to clients, drafting letters and documents, even putting in applications in to court.

Diversity has not been limited to just my work. Our trainee intake consists of a very varied bunch of people. I also decided to get involved in the firm’s Diversity Action Group. This is a staff-led group that tackles the challenges faced by staff and looks at ways of making sure the firm is an open and welcoming place for all. It has been wonderful to be made to feel so welcome as a junior member of staff. Moreover as one of my fellow trainees said in a previous blog the people have been open and accepting - you don’t have to be worried about conforming to a non-existent stereotype. You get on with being you and the job at hand.

Dena Kirpalani, First Year Trainee

Long may it continue...

2010-12-02T06:02:00.000-08:00

I am about two months into my two year training contract here at Field Fisher Waterhouse, and all I can say is – so far so good! My first seat is in the Public and Regulatory Group (PRG) and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It’s an area of law which not many City firms would have allowed me to experience, and reinforces my conviction that Field Fisher Waterhouse is just that little bit different from the rest.

My work has almost exclusively been on cases for the General Medical Council, who are one of the department’s biggest clients. We act on the GMC’s behalf in bringing cases against doctors whose fitness to practise is alleged to be impaired. I have become involved in a variety of aspects of the cases - from drafting witness statements and Instructions to Counsel, to researching points of law and even contacting witnesses to put them in touch with journalists. One exciting aspect of GMC work is that trainees have the opportunity to attend hearings at the GMC, in order to take notes and assist Counsel as required, often meaning you are the sole representative of the firm present during the hearing. This has been a great chance to get to grips with the GMC’s law and procedure, as well as to observe top QC’s in action and to deal with witnesses in what can be highly sensitive and emotional cases.

There are some juicy cases which I can’t tell you about, suffice to say that they were certainly not the issues I was expecting to be dealing with during my first month in a City law firm...watch this space! In addition, almost as soon as I started in the department, a doctor whom we had brought a high-profile case against was struck off, and having attended the hearing myself, it was very exciting to see it in national newspapers and on TV. The department also has members currently sitting as solicitors to the coroner’s inquest into the 07/07 bombings, and I hope to go along to this at some point soon.

I am really happy to be a part of such a unique department, and also one for which the firm has such a strong reputation. It’s nice that my non-law friends are actually interested in the work I do and it means that every aspect of the work is made more enjoyable by the fact that the cases are so interesting.

The other great thing about Field Fisher Waterhouse is without a shadow of a doubt, the people. From the very beginning of our training contract, it quickly became clear that we were a really diverse group of trainees, with different interests and experiences. Everyone is bright and committed to what they do, yet also place a strong emphasis on having fun together and having a life outside of work. But it’s not just the trainees - from my buddy to the newly-qualified solicitor I share an office with, and from my supervisor to the partners in the department, everyone has been so friendly, approachable and supportive. Long may it continue...

Rebecca Fisher, First Year Trainee

Live and direct from MTV

2010-11-26T08:54:00.000-08:00

Before joining Field Fisher Waterhouse as a Trainee, I worked here last year as a paralegal and was sent on secondment to Fidelity International by the Derivatives & Structured Finance Group. During the secondment I saw firsthand how working within the client’s business provides the trainee lawyer with the best commercial experience, as it offers an unrivalled opportunity to learn what clients really want from lawyers.

It was with this in mind that, prior to setting off for an adventurous two months travelling round the world; I applied to the secondee position at MTV. After an interview with partners in the Corporate Department of the firm (conducted from the depths of rural Vietnam) I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I would be the next Field Fisher Waterhouse trainee at MTV.

It was quite a contrast going straight from the beaches of Thailand to the MTV offices in Camden in the space of a week. However, from the outset I could not have felt more directly involved with the client’s business. It is to MTV’s credit that I have been completely immersed in the day-to-day operations of the business and legal affairs team, and being tasked with the drafting and negotiating of such a wide variety of commercial contracts has vastly improved my drafting and negotiating skills.

MTV is a lively and fun place to work and whilst you are given far more responsibility than you would normally have as a trainee, the friendly supportive environment that prevails here means that I have never felt out of my depth or worried about asking a question.

MTV currently has another Trainee on secondment with whom I work very closely and one of the high spots of the secondment has been the friendship that we have forged that will last beyond the six months that I am seconded here.

Whilst the legal team work very hard, there is no denying that there is a great social element to the MTV secondment. During my time here I have been the envy of my friends (and fellow Trainees) as I have been to a whole host of “swanky” MTV parties and social events. Members of the legal team also have weekly lunches at one of the famous Camden pubs where we indulge in one of my favourite MTV activities - “celebrity spotting.” As an avid reader of celebrity magazines and gossip sites being at MTV is a dream come true for me and I have yet to become blasé about running into one of the X Factor stars in the MTV canteen.

A recent big event in the MTV calendar was the European Music Awards. Being involved in the organisation and running of this international music event has to be one my career highlights thus far. Whilst there were a couple of late nights in the run up to the event, the personal satisfaction obtained from getting contracts vital to the operation of the show drafted, negotiated and signed, and knowing that I had made an important contribution to the final show production made all the hard work worthwhile.

Secondments are beneficial on a practical level, in terms of the exposure to variety of work, and in terms of personal development, as they instil a greater confidence that can only come from close client contact. Secondments offer the chance to see the practical side of transactions as opposed to the academic and in a commercial environment such as MTV where you are expected not just to have instant answers but quick solutions they go a long way to producing the well rounded lawyer that I strive to be.

Faye Hyland, First Year Trainee (On Secondment)

An Undisputed Success…

2010-11-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

I was very pleased to find that the first seat of my training contract would be in Dispute Resolution, as I had heard much about the variety of the work, as well as the broad spectrum of subject matter; I quickly realised this was an understatement. I have worked on all manner of issues, from fraud and trading regulations, to disputes over oral contracts and even the collection of debts. I have been given a range of tasks including, but most certainly not limited to, legal research, drafting articles, preparing court documents, and even organising a private investigator. I have already worked with so many people in the group and have been struck by the huge effort that is made to give the trainees interesting work to do, and my colleagues’ willingness to explain all the intricacies involved in our cases, which has really helped me to see how each small task fits into the bigger picture.

As the group is a busy one, the first few weeks presented a very steep learning curve; however everyone, especially my supervisor, has been very supportive and understanding. It is reassuring to know that people are happy to take time out to explain things. There is a real sense of teamwork within the group and this has made settling in very easy. I am also very fortunate to be one of two trainees in the group – it’s great to be able to pop into Daania’s office and double check things that would surely sound idiotic to anyone else!

One of the most interesting cases I have worked on so far came when I assisted my supervisor on a dispute over an oral contract which one party claimed took place in a pub one evening; this was disputed by the other side, who maintained that no such conversation had ever taken place. I was involved with the preparation of bundles and was able to attend the High Court for the majority of the five-day trial. This was fantastic experience for me, as it gave me the chance to immerse myself in the issues of the case, as well as to see the procedure involved in taking a case to court.

I have also been able to get involved in a whole host of events outside of the office; representing the firm at the UCL Law Fair was a great experience, as not only did I get to know people from other departments, but also by explaining to students what it was that had made me apply to Field Fisher Waterhouse and discussing how I was finding my first few months, I truly realised just how much I am enjoying my seat, what all I have learned in a very short space of time (with much more still to come!) and how happy I am to be here.

Alexandra Hulme, First Year Trainee

Fame, Glory and Sunday roast

2010-11-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

My first seat is in Field Fisher Waterhouse Corporate Department based in London. Having worked in corporate finance prior to joining the firm, I was already aware of the department’s award-winning equity capital markets (ECM) team. This week the ECM team got further recognition by the Chambers Guide 2010 which ranked Field Fisher Waterhouse in the top category for its AIM capital markets work. Another cause for celebration! The firm boasts an impressive AIM-listed clientele and despite the economic uncertainty and competitive legal environment, from day one I have been involved in fundraising preparatory work for a number of companies who have chosen us as their legal adviser.

My experience, however, has not been restricted to ECM deals. In only a short period I have worked on deals ranging from mergers and acquisitions to a large US private equity investment. There have been opportunities to see deals from origination to completion and a chance to learn about different industry sectors such as financial institutions, oil and gas and technology. Corporate deals typically involve the advice of other departments (particularly in respects to employment, tax and pensions issues) so it has also been a great base to network and learn about different areas of law.

For those who have a fear of the corporate life/work balance (namely, 60+ hour weeks, no weekends and no social life), I should add that I have not missed going to the pub for a Sunday roast yet! Overall, the firm’s corporate hours are stable and spent doing preparatory work like company research, due diligence and drafting documents. There has been the odd long night or, should I say, early morning, but praise has always been flowing from both the clients and senior partners. It is also usual for a deal team to be given a day off as recognition of hard work.

So is the Corporate Department for you? The Field Fisher Waterhouse team is industry recognised and has a great deal flow; something which a lot of City firms are struggling to maintain in the current climate. It is the place where you can have your finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the City and chances are that you’ll work on a deal which will appear in the Financial Times and other national broadsheets. As the recent awards and celebrations have shown, corporate law is not all about hard work and long hours but also a certain element of fame and glory...

Rashed Hasan, First Year Trainee

My first seat

2010-10-27T02:40:00.000-07:00

My first seat is in the Public and Regulatory Group (or ‘PRG’) and I was really happy to find myself here. I definitely wanted to work in PRG at some point during my training because I am really interested in public law and I had heard good things about the department, not only in terms of the calibre of lawyers I would be working with, but also the range and scope of the work undertaken. It’s certainly been a really supportive and interesting department to work in, plus Rebecca Fisher is also a Trainee in PRG and it has been great to have someone to compare notes with – and someone to direct my slightly less intelligent questions too!

To date I’ve found the work really interesting. PRG represents a number of professional regulatory bodies in disciplinary proceedings, including the General Medical Council (GMC), General Dental Council and General Social Care Council. I was able to get stuck in with some interesting case work immediately. As Trainees we also attend GMC hearings to take a note and assist counsel, and I’ve found it really fascinating so far. Not only has it been a great way to become familiar with the law and procedure involved, it’s been a real opportunity to observe advocacy in action and I seem to be learning an awful lot about medicine too - I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re squeamish!

I’ve really been encouraged by my supervisor to take the time to get familiar with the department’s cases and any law I’m not familiar with, and all the solicitors and support staff have been very supportive and encouraging. Plus, the exciting news this week is that I might be sent on secondment to one of our regulator clients for a couple of months. This will be a challenge I’m sure, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to take on more responsibility and to really get to grips with the practical reality of regulatory law.

I’m also excited about getting involved with the firm’s pro bono work, and am looking forward to my first session at Queen Mary’s University Legal Advice Centre next week. Plus i-ProBono is an amazing resource and I’m hoping to be able to get involved with some of the projects listed there over the next two years. I’d really recommend having a look at the website – it’s open to students, trainees and lawyers alike. The fact that Field Fisher Waterhouse has supported the development of such an innovative and useful tool speaks volumes about the firm’s commitment to not only their own pro bono work, but to the sector itself.
Everyone I have met here has been incredibly kind and supportive, and most of all committed to what they do. Now, at about a month in, I can certainly say that I’m enjoying the work and am very happy to be working with the people I am. I look forward to developing my experience, learning as much as I can and, hopefully, continuing to have a good time too!

Charlotte Dollard, First Year Trainee

It’s all about the people

2010-10-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

I have just begun my training contract and my first seat is in the Real Estate Department, where I deal mostly with the transactional side of property issues as opposed to the contentious.

With regards to any insight I can offer, there are three things that have struck me. The first is the wide variety of work the department exposes you to. While some departments focus on a small number of very big deals, in Real Estate one works on up to 60 ongoing matters at a time. Typically, my work has included residential and commercial purchases, drafting and negotiating commercial leases and licences, completing SDLT forms and other land registry formalities as well as following the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering procedures and checks when taking on new clients.

The second is the substantial degree of responsibility one is given. I found I was communicating and managing correspondence with clients, agents and solicitors for the other side all within the first week. By week three, I was effecting completion of a lease. This can be thrilling, giving you a real feel of the properties and people affected by your work. All the while you are also supported by a huge network of people including secretaries, paralegals, librarians and IT staff, all committed to helping you to work efficiently and effectively.

My third insider’s tip is about the people. I can honestly say that everyone I work with is absolutely lovely. This cannot be just good luck but has to be the result of an organisational culture lead from the top and the values which underpin recruitment. In addition, being of Italian and Northern Irish parents and growing up in countries as diverse as Italy and India, it was an added bonus to find in the office an array of people from all over the world and others who have travelled widely.

When applying for a job, it is sometimes difficult to understand from just the literature or website, which is the firm for you. However, it all becomes so much clearer when you meet the people involved and find a consistently welcoming, supportive and professional approach.

Katy Charlotte Campalani, First Year Trainee

On Secondment

2010-10-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

I'm Carina Dalton, a newly qualified solicitor at Field Fisher Waterhouse and have recently finished my training contract. Here is my video blog in which i talk about my secondment at the General Dental Council (GDC) during the past few months.