I’ve always been interested in two things. One is people and that is a key part of the business. I’ve always liked the business of law and I wanted a role in the direction of the firm because I am home-grown. I’ve been here a long time – it means a lot to have some influence.
I did a history degree at Durham and I was looking at film and TV production, journalism and law. My family are pretty much all professionals – they would have been concerned if I went down the journalism or TV route.
Worse case? There was one I lost where we were pretty certain we would win – it was a libel case involving a jury. It was about the alleged sexual harassment of women and so from a selfish perspective I felt bad, I felt bad for the client… most of all I felt I had let down the women because they were grilled and cross-examined. To lose was a terrible thing.
One of my first cases as a junior lawyer was acting for the estate of Fred West. I was to catalogue his estate, go through the manuscript he wrote from his time in prison, which was unpublished… and help construct agreements on certain rights deals. It included a visit to Cromwell Street – meeting all the police involved.
I’ve done a few cases against David Beckham, which were at the time cutting-edge privacy cases – they were interesting from a salacious and legal perspective. That was around 2005.
This firm has always been good at giving you responsibility at an early stage, so in a case involving the Duchess of York and the Fred West case I had a great deal of involvement. I was barely qualified on the first one.
Lawyers I admire? I worked through my university holidays at a firm called Judge & Priestley in Bromley, which did criminal and civil litigation. I worked for a man called Michael Judge, who was a real operator and taught me about strategy. Later at Taylor Wessing I was Tim Eyles’ trainee – my second seat. I found that experience really challenging – corporate was never for me – but I learned a lot from him. It was a really good experience. It’s funny now I sit on the board with him.
My parents came to this country in the early ’60s and were doctors for the NHS. They didn’t come here with very much and to set up a new life here; they instilled a great work ethic in me and my siblings.
Winston & Strawn tried to do intellectual property (IP) in London… Cooley is trying. Maybe it’s because TMT lawyers I know would think very carefully before going to an American firm. Culturally, private equity lawyers fit that but at top UK TMT firms like us, Olswang, Bird & Bird and Osborne Clarke, the culture of those firms and the people in my area may not be suited to a US culture.
Ethnicity in law has become less of a problem, although it is in attracting certain ethnic groups into the law. Gender is a much bigger issue, as is retaining all our best talent.
If someone is riding on the coattails of your brand, you should be able to stop that but it shouldn’t be used to stop criticism or editorial speech. I’ve had lots of ridiculous claims. People overreach with IP rights to try and control damaging stuff. I see it getting worse because IP rights are getting stronger.
I have the work/life balance I’m happy with. I always feel like I need to be helping people – if someone calls me at 10pm I don’t mind answering. I have a very understanding fiancée – two weeks into our relationship we were having a quiet night in and it was called off by a client having a meltdown – I got back at 1am. I always need to be busy. I don’t like sitting on a beach doing nothing.
I love playing and watching sport – especially cricket – and staying fit. That’s important to be able to work the hours I do and stay sharp. I read all the time… I love reading biographies and historical books.
In TMT, you’ve got the same competitors as five or ten years ago – Osborne Clarke, Reed Smith, Olswang, Bird & Bird and Wiggin. What’s interesting is to what extent more niche firms can survive in a market where clients want a global presence.
The Magic Circle felt IP work wasn’t profitable enough. Those firms are kicking themselves now because the right sort is very profitable indeed; where IP can now be key to your clients’ success. Same reason why the Magic Circle didn’t do private client and now they’re trying to scramble over getting it.
First class academics is not going to set you apart – it’s the life and work experience. You need relevant work experience. There’s a danger too of being too focused early on.
As a junior lawyer, I was the first person knocking on the partners’ doors trying to get onto a case. In the second stage of your career you have to work on your USP; you want to think about how to get into the partnership and build your network.
I am on Twitter and Facebook, not Instagram. I’m not as active as I should be…
Niri Shanmuganathan is UK head of intellectual property and media and entertainment at Taylor Wessing
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk