Stephanie Henderson
Wernbo
Andrew Patterson
Sunando Mukerjee
Jonathan Collett
Mark Edwards
Katie Monk
Sarah Waller
Caroline Fitzgerald
Chris Bates
Stephanie Henderson Wernbo
Read Law and Politics at Durham University. She joined Ashurst as a
trainee in September 2003 and qualified into the corporate
department in September 2005.
Ashurst became my first choice law firm following an enjoyable
evening at their graduate recruitment drinks at Durham University.
The people from Ashurst seemed intelligent, friendly and
down-to-earth. My interview with the firm was the first training
contract interview I attended and I had no qualms about accepting
the job as soon as they offered it to me. I went with my gut
feeling and I have been very happy with my decision ever since.
During my training contract, I had seats in the corporate
department in both London and Paris, international finance and
litigation. From the start, I felt that I was given the right
balance of responsibility with appropriate support and supervision.
Reassuringly, I have never felt intimidated by asking partners for
advice or assistance when the challenge of responsibility led me
into areas in which I did not feel comfortable. Highlights of my
training contract included being involved in a deal where we acted
for the mandated lead arrangers on the largest high yield bond in
Europe to date; it was exciting to read about the success of the
deal in the newspapers the next day. Being seconded to the Paris
office for six months was a great opportunity, and in my final seat
in litigation I assisted with the successful Imperial Tobacco
litigation in which we represented the company.
I qualified into the investment funds team in September 2005 and
for two years post qualification assisted in establishing a number
of large funds for high-calibre private equity houses. This type of
work, involving complex parallel negotiations between parties, was
both challenging and interesting. Ashurst has provided great
opportunities for career growth and development - in 2007 I was
given the opportunity to rotate into a general corporate team to
gain experience which complemented funds work, representing major
clients in cross-border M&A transactions. I have also completed
a very enjoyable 12-month secondment to the Stockholm office.
The culture at Ashurst is friendly and sociable, and there are
numerous sports teams, social events and pro bono opportunities
with which to get involved. A major highlight for me, so far, has
been joining the Ashurst sailing team and taking part in the
Manches Cup.
Andrew Patterson
Read Law at Oxford University. He joined Ashurst as a trainee in
March 2004 and qualified into the employee benefits and incentives
group of the EIP department in March 2006.
When I was looking at firms to apply to, Ashurst stood out not just
because of its reputation for high-calibre work but for the "human"
element to the way in which this work was carried out. It was
evident from my interview that the people at Ashurst are the key to
this. During my first couple of weeks at the firm, for example,
another trainee and I were asked to carry out a very urgent task
which was likely to take us all night to complete. When I mentioned
this to another trainee, word soon spread that we needed help. In
the end, there were eight of us working together to finish the job,
all managing to get home at a reasonable hour that evening. It's
this kind of spirit that continued throughout my four seats and is
still prevalent in my role as a qualified solicitor.
When it came to qualification, although I had enjoyed all of my
seats, I was certain that my time in the employee benefits and
incentives group had been the most interesting of all. Because of
the small size of the team, you are given a lot of responsibility
early on and the opportunity to use and develop a wide range of
skills. You are also encouraged to deal directly with clients -
often you will find yourself speaking to the director of a major
company. But as everyone is always approachable, support is
constantly there should you need it. The work itself is divided
into a mixture of corporate support and stand-alone work, making
each day distinct from the next. As a trainee, I had the
opportunity of working on a diverse range of cases including the
launch of a company's offer of options to employees in 13 countries
around the world and acting for a charity defending a claim for
unfair dismissal and racial discrimination. The nature of the work
requires you to have a good understanding of many different areas
of the law and to keep up to speed with ever-changing remuneration
practices.
While the work is both challenging and interesting, what makes the
real difference to my everyday working life is the approachability
and professionalism of the people I work with - many of them are
not only colleagues but good friends too.
Sunando Mukerjee
Read History at Delhi University and Law at the London School of
Economics. He joined Ashurst as a trainee in September 2004 and
qualified into the ETI department in September 2006.
Having completed both a summer placement scheme at Ashurst in 2002
and a challenging yet enjoyable training contract, I realised that
the most difficult choice I had to make was deciding which area of
law to qualify into. I had enjoyed all of my seats but choosing to
qualify into the ETI department has proved to be a very wise move
-particularly since ETI has been comparatively less affected by the
current economic crisis.
The work is diverse, interesting and challenging. It can be
domestic, European or cross-border and is transactional in nature;
transactions are geared towards projects and span several sectors -
oil, energy, infrastructure and transport. As a trainee and newly
qualified lawyer I carried out a wide variety of tasks, ranging
from due diligence to complex drafting and negotiating of project
agreements and sub-contracts. I have worked for a variety of
clients - building contractors, project sponsors, project funders,
private investment funds and railway concessionaires - and have
been involved in across-the-table negotiations with governments,
local authorities and banks. I have even had the chance to meet a
number of well known chairmen of major energy corporates.
Deals I have assisted on include advising Docklands Light Railway
on several light rail projects ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games,
regulatory compliance work for Japanese clients as well as advising
on UK infrastructure projects in the education, health, waste and
transport sectors. Most of my current clients are sponsors and
contractors with a European presence such as Covanta, Balfour
Beatty, Carillion and Interserve. I am currently involved in
several BSF (school) projects in the UK and am an active member of
the firm's India group.
Ashurst has a challenging and exciting atmosphere where help and
guidance is always at hand. Career progression for ambitious
lawyers is a reality here and this is strengthened by the fact that
the firm is big enough to be winning some of the most important
work in the City, and yet small enough to retain its unique culture
and character. One of the aspects that I enjoy most about Ashurst
is that you are encouraged to contribute to the success of the
business irrespective of your level of experience.
Ashurst is a market leader in the energy and PPP/PFI sectors. The
development of projects in China, India and the Middle East coupled
with the rapid expansion of our Asian and Middle Eastern practices
means this is an exciting time to be an Ashurst lawyer.
Jonathan Collett
Read History at Edinburgh University. He joined Ashurst as a
trainee in September 2005 and qualified into the competition and EU
law department in September 2007.
When I received an offer from Ashurst, I accepted immediately
because of the firm's reputation for high quality work and clients,
combined with a positive working environment. My experience at
interview had confirmed to me that Ashurst combined these
attributes - I came away with the impression that it was a
professional and exciting place to work, as well as being friendly
and welcoming. Although at that point I did not know which area of
law I wanted to qualify into, I knew I wanted to train and work at
such a firm.
As a trainee, I always felt that Ashurst was interested both in my
professional development and in me as a person. My training
contract was varied and interesting, as I worked in emerging areas
of law, like pensions administration, as well as having the
opportunity to spend several months on secondment in IBM's legal
department. Throughout my training, I was given considerable
responsibility with appropriate support and supervision. My time in
the competition and EU law department was exciting and interesting,
working on high-profile mergers and investigations by the Office of
Fair Trading. Having to drop everything and jump on the Eurostar to
Brussels, entrusted with presenting before the European Commission
the combined output of the finest legal minds on a high-profile
transaction, not once but twice in my six-month seat, was
exhilarating to say the least!
During my training contract, I was involved in a variety of diverse
matters, from large-scale real estate transactions to researching
whether a woman suspected of murdering her husband was entitled to
his pension. I worked on clients' businesses across a wide variety
of sectors, from open-toed sandals to open-cast mining, and
experienced life in an in-house legal department. It was the appeal
of this variation in work which led me to qualifying into the
competition and EU law department - every matter is dictated in
large part by the market in which the client operates, so it is
almost never the same. Best of all, I have met and worked with some
great people who have taught me an enormous amount.
Mark Edwards
Read Law at Exeter University. He joined Ashurst as a trainee in
March 2001 and qualified into the international finance department
in March 2003.
The breadth and diversity of work that I was exposed to during my
training contract made the decision as to which department I should
qualify into a difficult one. While each of the departments I sat
in (corporate, employment, real estate litigation and international
finance) shared the same Ashurst values, each presented me with a
very different experience in terms of the nature of the work they
did and the lifestyle that went with it. Ultimately, I was
attracted to international finance by the fast pace and innovative
nature of the transactions that I worked on. The team continuously
advises on high-profile financings involving market-leading
companies and financial institutions and from day one, trainees
form an important part of the team - they are given a genuine
opportunity to get to grips with the nuts and bolts of these
transactions.
What also adds to the enjoyment of working in the international
finance department is the truly international scope of the work
that we do. Since qualification I have worked on deals in a large
number of varied jurisdictions including Holland, Greece, Portugal,
Italy, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Singapore and the US. There
are therefore very few deals which do not involve working with
overseas lawyers, so for anyone with language skills it's a great
opportunity for keeping them well honed.
While the learning curve is never less than steep, getting to grips
with complex deals in a relaxed and supportive environment is what
clinches it for me. Working as part of a team and with colleagues
who are genuinely passionate about achieving the best result for
clients while also maintaining a good work-life balance is a rare
experience in the City; it is something that is recognised as
integral to Ashurst by both our lawyers and our clients.
Katie Monk
Read Law at Exeter University. She joined Ashurst as a trainee in
March 2005 and qualified into the litigation department in March
2007.
The first contact I had with Ashurst was at a presentation evening
held at Exeter University. The presentation was undoubtedly
impressive, but what made Ashurst stand out from the other City law
firms were the people I met. In particular, the trainees were
approachable and spoke very highly of the training programme at
Ashurst which they were clearly enjoying.
I was lucky enough to attend a summer placement scheme where I saw
first hand what is meant by the "unique culture" at Ashurst. There
seems to be a balance between professionalism and good humour that
makes the environment relaxed and comfortable, which is surprising
if you consider the amount of dynamic work that is being done
around you. The trainee support network is strong both before you
join and throughout the training contract. The graduate recruitment
and development team kept me up to date with important developments
in the firm and I attended numerous social events with current and
future trainees before starting, making the transition into the
firm as smooth as possible.
Ashurst attracts top quality, high-profile work and I certainly
experienced this during my training. Trainees are respected and the
contribution they make is always acknowledged. Within one week of
starting my first seat in the corporate department, I was meeting
clients and managing one aspect of a large project. The remainder
of my training contract consisted of a seat in EIP, a secondment to
the Brussels office to do competition work, and a hectic but
enjoyable six months in litigation, the department into which I
decided to qualify.
There were many elements of litigation that appealed to me. I like
the feeling of practising "real law", going to court and the
challenging, adversarial nature of the work. There is also a high
level of human contact involved, as not only do we meet the clients
and the opposing side, but we also interview factual witnesses, and
work with experts and counsel. Since starting in litigation, I have
enjoyed a good mix of litigation and arbitration work including
working on the "super-case" arising out of the 2005 Buncefield oil
terminal explosion which, with claims of up to £1bn, was one of the
largest civil litigation cases in the UK in 2008; a fraud
investigation; and an injunction to search business premises and
seize our client's property which involved a stake-out in a car
park at 6.00 am! I am currently working on a US$400m arbitration
case concerning satellite television in the Middle East which comes
to hearing later this year. Many of the cases we work on have an
international element and there are close links with the overseas
offices. The flexibility of the team structure enables you to build
up a specialism but also to enjoy the full variety of work and, in
litigation, no two cases are ever the same.
Sarah Waller
Read Classics at Oxford University. She joined Ashurst as a trainee
in September 2004 and qualified into the real estate department in
September 2006.
My first seat as a trainee was in corporate, and was followed by
seats in real estate, litigation and then a secondment opportunity
in Milan. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in each of the seats, but in
the end, I chose to qualify into the real estate department; its
reputation in the marketplace and the quality and variety of work
were an important part of my decision.
As a trainee in real estate, I was often given complete
responsibility for matters, which allowed me to gain valuable
experience from the beginning. However, support was still on hand
when I needed it, so I always felt confident enough to progress
matters independently.
I was drawn to the real estate department by the prospect of
working on many different deals at the same time - each with its
own specific requirements - rather than on just one or two
transactions for an extended period. In addition, I enjoy working
the intellectual demands of the law into a situation that will suit
my client on the ground.
Since qualifying, I have been involved in a number of deals across
the property spectrum ranging from The Shard development, a
landmark regeneration project near London Bridge, through to the
purchase of a Ministry of Defence nuclear submarine base. I also
act regularly for a social and community housing partnership and
have worked on some high-profile pro bono matters.
There is regular training to equip me as I move on to more
challenging work. I have the opportunity to take on as much
responsibility as I feel comfortable with and am always able to
draw on the support of partners and other colleagues.
The continual learning and development of skills, the satisfaction
of clients and the tangible nature of the work makes real estate
both interesting and rewarding - I'm really glad I joined.
Caroline Fitzgerald
Read Music at Cambridge University. She joined Ashurst as a trainee
in March 2003 and qualified into the tax department in March 2005.
After my training contract interview at Ashurst, I knew without a
doubt that if an offer came through I would accept it. This was
despite not having undertaken an Easter or summer placement scheme.
Some would say that I was marching blindly into one of the most
important decisions of my career, but I knew just from that short
interaction with members of the firm (partners, associates and
secretaries alike) that I wanted to train at Ashurst. My interview
was both stimulating and friendly, not to mention diverse in the
range of topics discussed. But most importantly I came away with a
sense that this was a firm which wasn't just interested in me as a
commodity, but was interested in how my experiences, both academic
and extra-curricular, could enhance its development and would mould
me as an individual lawyer. The same remains true today.
I spent my training contract completing seats in corporate, real
estate, litigation and tax, and found making the decision of where
to qualify a tough one. I enjoyed working in all of these
departments and consequently there was no question of finding a
team which would make me happy - it was about who I would be
happiest with! The range of work I had from the beginning until the
end of my training contract stretched me; in month two of being a
trainee I was given a deal to complete with just one other
associate. While this was initially daunting, I gained a lot of
confidence from completing the deal and always knew that the
support was there if and when I needed it.
There was something about the tax department and the style of the
work which suited me. Tax is an area where you get to know
everything that is happening around the firm - there is barely a
deal which goes by which doesn't involve the tax department. This
means that you not only need to be up to speed on your area of law
(which with the ever-increasing and changing swathes of tax
legislation is a challenge in itself) but also on what everyone
else is doing. Consequently, there is always something new to learn
(we are helped here by our weekly technical sessions) and the
learning curve through your first few years as a qualified
solicitor is very steep. It also means that you are constantly
being challenged intellectually.
Chris Bates
Read Law at Nottingham University. He joined Ashurst as a trainee
in March 2001 and qualified into the technology and commercial
department in March 2003.
When deciding on which firms to apply to for my training contract,
one of the most appealing things about Ashurst was the genuine
sense of friendliness and team spirit. Throughout my training
contract and since qualifying into the technology and commercial
department I have found that this first impression is indeed the
reality - you tend to make some enduring friendships at Ashurst,
not just work colleagues you say goodbye to on a Friday.
As for the work, I chose to qualify into the technology and
commercial department because of the sheer breadth of interest and
variety it has to offer. The work is extremely varied, ranging from
pure intellectual property work, through e-commerce deals and IT
procurement, to the more traditional commercial work such as joint
ventures and sales agreements. You have the opportunity to
specialise, but each lawyer also needs to be able to deal with
whatever is thrown his or her way - one day this could be advising
on copyright issues around a large media-based acquisition, and the
next it could be drawing up a distribution agreement for the sale
of Cuban cigars. The department is comparatively small, which means
that trainees and newly qualified associates have the added benefit
of being given the kind of responsibility that other firms reserve
for associates with more experience. That said, there is always
sufficient support from the partners in the team when you need it.
The client base of the department also makes the work a little more
interesting; working on deals for the likes of Motorola, Odeon
Cinemas, Small Luxury Hotels of the World and Virgin Mobile adds a
bit of brand appeal to your daily routine. The deals in the
department can also give you an insight into cutting-edge
technology; for example, over the past couple of years I have been
working on the legal side of the development of the new biometric
passport, which has now been rolled out to the public.
The quality and variety of the work makes working in the technology
and commercial department challenging and rewarding. But it is the
quality of the people throughout the firm which sets Ashurst apart
as a really enjoyable place to work.