Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer? Was there anyone in particular who inspired you early on in your career?
I unexpectedly fell in love with it in my first seat at the firm. It was the boom before the bust of 2005, and I found the pace and energy of what was happening in the group a huge draw. Ancillary to that, I have to say Melissa Fogarty, who was my first supervisor, and who has now gone on to be the co-head of London corporate at Clifford Chance.
What has been the absolute deal highlight of your career so far and why?
Acting for Walmart on the sale of Asda to TDR/the Issa Brothers. Being on the sell-side of a highly competitive auction for a national asset felt like a once in a lifetime experience.
What are your top tips for those looking to become M&A partners?
Join Slaughter and May! Joking aside, and as cheesy as it sounds, I think the key to being successful is to ensure that you actually enjoy what you do. That’s the only way this job is sustainable, given you have to pour your whole self into the role.
How do you think practising M&A law is going to change in the coming years?
Tech is clearly going to evolve in ways we can’t yet envisage but will likely have a dramatic impact on our working practices – I’m convinced emails will be a thing of the past before too long! But my real hope is that the body of professionals involved in M&A evolves into one which is a lot more courageous, forward-thinking, and diverse than it currently is (without dismissing the huge strides we have made in recent times).