The media company’s group legal director discusses how her personal approach took her to the top of her game
At the age of 19, while doing work experience for a duty solicitor, Nilema Bhakta-Jones was called to Nuneaton police station, finding herself in a mostly empty set of cells at 1am. One cell was occupied by the client, a man arrested on suspicion of committing grievous bodily harm against his pregnant girlfriend.
Continue reading “Client profile: Nilema Bhakta-Jones, Ascential”
Promoted to group GC at the start of the year, the experienced M&A lawyer on why he wants to stay hands-on
When Ruwan De Soyza arrived for his interview with former Worldpay general counsel (GC) Mark Chambers in 2011, he thought he was being considered for the role of GC for corporate services. Unbeknown to De Soyza, Chambers had a different path in mind, which ultimately led to him taking the group GC role in January this year.
My dad was a cab driver and my mum a factory worker. She was also a photographer’s assistant and met my dad at a wedding. After that she vowed to never drink again because she met my dad.
I went to a local state school in Wembley. I got into Oxford. There weren’t many people who went to university from that school. It was a very varied background; English wasn’t the first language for probably half of the kids at home. But it was a good school and I had teachers that cared.
Continue reading “Life during law: Ray Berg, Osborne Clarke”
With long-term managing partner Jonathan Watmough stepping down in December last year, insurance head James Miller has taken over the reins at RPC. Legal Business caught up with him to discuss the priorities for the new leader.
What is your immediate strategy for RPC?
So far it has been business as usual. I’m very lucky to come in on the back of 11.5% turnover growth over five years. Insurance has been one of our core strengths and we will continue to invest there, but my focus now is on the whole firm. Really we try to invest in people: if we felt we were under strength we would hire, but I am quite happy with our strategic balance.
Continue reading “Q&A: RPC’s new managing partner talks strategy, international expansion and tech”
I’ve enjoyed every minute as a barrister and a judge. Two careers. I’ve been privileged.
I didn’t want to be a lawyer. Even when I went to Oxford I didn’t know. I thrashed around, then stumbled into the Bar. I wanted to do something in the real world. My father was always starry-eyed about the Bar. I suspect that came into it too.
Continue reading “Life during law: Lord Dyson, 39 Essex Chambers”
The travel group’s GC discusses why helping to save holidaymakers is more satisfying than dealmaking
Many in-house counsel will say that the attraction of the job comes from having greater influence on their business and this is also true for Alice Marsden, group general counsel (GC) of Thomas Cook Group. However, the real draw for her comes from sometimes getting to have an altogether more personal impact.
Continue reading “Client profile: Alice Marsden, Thomas Cook Group”
The conglomerate’s EMEA GC on forging a groundbreaking sole-adviser mandate and its recent $16.5bn merger
In an area of the profession obsessed with talking up innovation and downplaying costs, David Symonds, EMEA general counsel (GC) for recently merged entity Johnson Controls International (JCI), is a name synonymous with both.
Continue reading “Client profile: David Symonds, Johnson Controls International”
I don’t take anything for granted. I’ve been lucky, had some good breaks and people have invested time in me.
I can’t sing or dance. My partner thinks I’m like Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when I dance. That’s one reason I went into law. I fancied doing something City-based. I didn’t know what. I came out with my degree and thought: what do I want to do? I applied for a law summer scheme to see what it was like and that was it.
Continue reading “Life during law: Jonny Earle, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher”
Georgiana Tudor and Victoria Young talk to Tamara Box and Andrew Jenkinson about competing in the London market
Three years ago, Legal Business noted that an upwardly-mobile Reed Smith was, in its own understated fashion, making notable strides in the City under EMEA head Roger Parker. The London office had been performing well on the back of investment in lateral hires to develop its key sector groups. In 2012, London revenues jumped 21% to £114.7m from £94.5m, with Parker predicting UK revenues of $200m for 2013.
Key clients: Glencore, Lloyds Banking Group, Alinda
Partner since 2011
I always wanted to do M&A. I used to look at the financial papers at university and was always interested in the deals. As a Linklaters trainee I decided very quickly I wanted to do corporate. I enjoyed the transactions and being at the centre of client relationships.
