Inside... Our global law firm

Transcription

1 Inside... Our global law firm

2 39 offices and counting 1,500 lawyers International secondment opportunities for every trainee Unrivalled reputation in emerging markets Largest law firm in the Middle East, with a rapidly expanding network 1st international law firm to open an office in Tripoli post-arab Spring C ontents 2 The world is evolving. So are we Our global strategy and outlook 4 Sector focus What we do and the sectors we work in 6 Your route to becoming a lawyer For law and non-law candidates 8 Committed to us Getting a flavour of what we have to offer 10 Committed to you What happens after you have received a Training Contract offer 12 Training Principal In Ed s words 14 Profiles Meet Harriet, Tom, Helen and Jameel 20 Expanding our horizons 22 Middle East and North Africa 24 Asia-Pacific 26 The Americas 30 Trainee snapshots 34 A life experience Not all work 36 Our final words How and when to apply Welcome By reading our brochure you are taking the first step towards securing a Training Contract with Clyde & Co. We hope our brochure gives you both an insight into a large commercial law firm and also a glimpse of what it is like to be with our firm, whether that s for a Drop-in Visit or starting your career as a Trainee Solicitor. The graduate team Hayley Caroline Ed Emily 1

3 The world is evolving. So are we 2014 Aviation Law Firm of the Year Who s Who Legal Recommended Firm for Energy and Infrastructure in Sub Saharan Africa IFLR Guide 2014 UAE Client Choice Award International Law office (ILO) in association with Lexology Let s cut to the chase. Clyde & Co is a large international law firm. That means we have lawyers and offices all over the world. It means that we are regularly involved in the largest and most sophisticated legal transactions and disputes that are taking place around the world at any time. We are not alone in this: there are other major law firms that have a truly global footprint. So what makes us different? At Clyde & Co, we focus on core industry sectors: insurance and reinsurance, transportation, energy, commodities and infrastructure. It is the particular demands of these core industry sectors that shape our character as a firm and define our strategy for development and growth. It s no accident that we have developed this focus. Clyde & Co has been a leader in the fields of insurance law and maritime law for over half a century and our expansion into other areas of law that overlap and coexist with them has been a natural and steady process. It s the same with our geographical expansion. We re not interested in opening an office in a particular jurisdiction simply because other firms are doing so: we open offices in the locations where clients in our core industry sectors are active. That s what drove our recent move into South Africa. Or sometimes, more simply, we ve responded to what our clients are telling us, as was the case when we opened our San Francisco and Perth offices. By maintaining our focus on these key sectors, we have established a unique market position combining unparalleled industry knowledge and experience with genuine international reach. Of course, there s always more work to do and we recognise that we must both welcome change and react to it, but we are confident in our business model and excited by the opportunities we believe it offers us. Our people are central to the success of our business model. At an individual level, we invest heavily in developing our lawyers to achieve genuine expertise in their chosen fields. Naturally, this involves legal training but, increasingly as they progress through their careers, it also means assisting and encouraging them to develop a deep understanding of the industry sector in which they are working. At the same time, however, it s important that we take full advantage of the breadth of our talent pool and ensure our clients benefit from the full range of our expertise and experience across the globe. This investment in our talent begins with our trainees. We are steadily expanding our programme of international trainee secondments and bringing in new learning and development initiatives tailored to our business. Indeed, we have recently revised our LPC and induction courses so that this process can begin even before our trainees start with us. Unique industry focus, global reach and investment in our people to achieve our goals; we believe that s what makes us different. James Burns, Senior Partner Maritime Law Firm of the Year Trade & Export Excellence Awards (Middle East) Insurance Law Firm of the Year MENA Insurance Awards Insurance and Reinsurance Firm of the Year (India - Clasis Law) India Business Law Journal 2013 Consultants & Lawyers category (Middle East) Insurex Awards 2013 Firm of the Year - Maritime & Shipping (Indonesia - represented via the associated office, Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo) Asian-MENA Counsel In House Community Awards Firm of the Year - Aviation (Singapore) Asian-MENA Counsel In House Community Awards Firm of the Year - Energy & Natural Resources (Indonesia - represented via the associated office, Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo) Asian-MENA Counsel In House Community Awards Firm of the Year Insurance (China) Asian-MENA Counsel In House Community Awards Law Firm of the Year - 14 categories (UAE) Asian-MENA Counsel In House Community Awards Most Responsive International Firm of the Year - UAE Asian-MENA Counsel In House Community Awards Southeast Asia Shipping Law Firm of the Year 2013 Asian Legal Business Insurance Law Firm of the Year Reactions London Market Awards International Insurance Law Firm of the Year Chambers China Awards Best Managed International Firm MPF Awards for Management Excellence 2 3

4 Sector Focus Our combination of deep sector expertise and practice excellence delivers a distinct competitive advantage to our clients. Energy Our team of Energy lawyers is spread throughout our international network and has experience across every major hydrocarbonproducing area in the world. With our industry expertise and local knowledge, we are ideally Finance We have teams specialising in a broad range of Finance law areas including: transportation (shipping, aviation and rail), insurance, real estate and commodities. Across the globe, we act for some of the world s leading financial Insolvency and Reorganisation Our Insolvency and Reorganisation practice provides commercial advice to both creditors and debtors on complex, domestic and cross-border insolvencies. We advise on a range of procedures, including administration The following pages will give you a flavour of our sectors and legal expertise. placed to advise across the entire energy value chain, including oil and gas, power and utilities, renewables and natural resources. institutions. Many of the finance projects we are involved with are cross-border, which means we can take full advantage of our international network to provide a global service. and receivership, liquidation and restructuring, as well as tracing claims and fraud. Aviation and Aerospace Casualty and Healthcare Commercial Insurance and Reinsurance Professional Indemnity Projects and Construction For the past six years, Clyde & Co has been Widely regarded as the market-leading practice, Our international Commercial group advises on The Insurance and Reinsurance sectors Our Professional Indemnity practice handles We are a major force in the Projects named as The World s Leading Firm in the Field our Casualty and Healthcare team advises the protection and privacy, e-commerce, franchising, demand specialism on a global scale. Clyde & a wide range of complex and high-value and Construction industry worldwide. of Aviation Law (Who s Who Legal). In this field, largest insurance companies as well as many intellectual property, and technology, media and Co is the only firm to fully meet this challenge, claims against or involving professionals Our team advises on a variety of we have expertise in areas such as emergency local authorities, emergency services, NHS telecommunications (TMT). The team has built with unrivalled expertise in every class and from solicitors, barristers and accountants infrastructure, construction and engineering response, finance and leasing, insurance Trusts and blue-chip companies. Our core areas its reputation advising large corporate clients in the broadest international coverage of any to construction, property and finance projects and project finance. Our emerging and liability. of expertise are defendant personal injury and the field of technology. We also operate in the specialist insurance law firm. We have the professionals. Our clients include the largest market focus means we are at the cutting healthcare. We regularly advise on catastrophic media, advertising and tourism sectors. highest concentration of leading Insurance and UK and global professional services firms edge of developments in high-growth regions, injury cases, regulatory healthcare issues, Reinsurance lawyers of any firm. as well as their London Market and including Africa, the Middle East and the HSE prosecutions and inquests. international insurers. Far East. Corporate and Regulatory Our Corporate team has a particular expertise in M&A, transfers of businesses, strategic alliances, joint ventures and capital raising. We have a strong emerging market focus and help businesses to enter and grow in new markets. Our regulatory team advises companies on issues such as industry regulation, competition, data protection, health and safety, trade sanctions and corporate governance. Dispute Resolution Whatever the forum court, arbitration or Alternative Dispute Resolution our Dispute Resolution team is regarded as one of the strongest in the world. Our work also includes general commercial, insolvency and property litigation. This strength is reflected right across our international network. Employment, Pensions and Immigration Our Employment practice spans the UK, Asia and the Middle East. In the UK we are one of the only law firms to offer a specialist Pensions and Immigration service. Our global expertise is focused on the core industry sectors of insurance, reinsurance, transportation, energy and commodities. Real Estate We have one of the world s leading international Real Estate teams. We have acted on some of the most iconic development projects in the Middle East and we are at the forefront of real estate law development in emerging markets. Our capabilities span retail, industrial, commercial and residential real estate, mixed-use schemes and urban regeneration. Shipping Our Shipping practice is active in virtually every aspect of maritime commerce. We act for shipbuilders, owners, charterers, salvors, financiers, port and government authorities, and insurers, along with clients across the broader trade, commodities and energy sectors. We firmly believe that, for shipping law, no other firm can match Clyde & Co s combined size of practice, in-depth industry knowledge, specialist shipping expertise and global reach. Trade and Commodities We work across the full range of the commodities market hard and soft commodities, oil and energy, futures and derivatives, including new specialisations such as carbon trading. Whether advising on commercial transactions or dispute resolution, our extensive experience of the whole trade cycle, from raw product to market, and throughout the full supply chain gives a particular depth of understanding to our advice. 4 5

5 Law degree Non-Law degree Drop-in Visits All year round and at any academic stage Drop-in Visits All year round and at any academic stage Insight Work Experience First year of undergraduate study Insight Work Experience First or second year of undergraduate study Easter/Summer Vacation Schemes Final year of undergraduate study Easter/Summer Vacation Schemes Second year of undergraduate study Your route to becoming a lawyer Autumn Interview Days Aimed at those unable to complete a Vacation Scheme Legal Practice Course (LPC) At one of the many branches of BPP Law School Two-Year Training Contract August start to allow us to front load parts of the Professional Skills Course and Induction so you are ready to join your seat at the beginning of September Qualify as a lawyer Typically, you will start applying for Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts during your second year of a law degree or third year of a non-law degree because we recruit two years in advance. Before you apply there are ways you can get to know the firm, from careers fairs, university activities, Drop-in Visits and Insight Work Experience. Also keep an eye on the calendar section of our website for all upcoming events. Autumn Interview Days Aimed at those unable to complete a Vacation Scheme Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) One-year law conversion course Legal Practice Course (LPC) At one of the many branches of BPP Law School Two-Year Training Contract August start to allow us to front load parts of the Professional Skills Course and Induction so you are ready to join your seat at the beginning of September Qualify as a lawyer 6 7

6 C ommitted to us Drop-in Visits Our Drop-in Visits are targeted at those looking to learn more about Clyde & Co, often before formally applying. You will have the opportunity to meet a member of the Graduate Recruitment Team and a current trainee in order to get your questions answered. If you are planning on being in London or Manchester and would like to visit, please dropin@clydeco.com with a cover letter and CV to include what interests you about the firm and when you are available. We will then get back to you with a suitable day and time for the visit. Insight Work Experience We run a series of one-week schemes throughout the year. You will join a department of your choice where you will be appointed a trainee mentor in order to gain first-hand experience of our firm. To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, which includes why you want to join us and when you are available, to workexperience@clydeco.com Our Vacation Scheme We run two-week Vacation Schemes during Easter and Summer in our London, Manchester, Dubai and Hong Kong offices. An increasing number of our trainees join us after completing a Vacation Scheme; over 60% of our 2016 intake completed a scheme with us. To secure a place you will have an interview with one of the Graduate Recruitment Team that will take place either on campus or at one of our offices. Once you have secured a place you will have the opportunity to give three seat preferences. During the two weeks you will sit with a Partner, Legal Director or Associate who will act as your supervisor, and a trainee mentor who will be your first point of contact. You will have the opportunity to: Attend meetings/negotiations Attend court hearings Draft documents Prepare legal and case research Visit Lloyd s of London Take part in our Legal London Tour Attend client events Be part of the social programme. For example, in London this includes softball in Regent s Park and a chocolate-making workshop. As well as becoming involved with the work of the department, we encourage you to get involved with any sporting, pro bono and general social events during your time with us. During the second week of the scheme, you will be invited to take part in our assessment centre, which forms part of our Training Contract recruitment process. Our schemes are principally aimed at second-year law and final-year non-law undergraduates, although we do consider applications from those who have graduated and are at different stages of their careers. The closing date for UK and Dubai online applications is 31 January London Easter Vacation Scheme dates Tuesday 7 April Friday 17 April 2015 London Summer Vacation Scheme dates Monday 22 June Friday 3 July 2015 Monday 13 July Friday 24 July 2015 Manchester Summer Vacation Scheme dates Monday 29 June Friday 10 July 2015 Our Interview Days We run a one-day assessment centre that includes an interview with two members of our Graduate Recruitment Panel. Each year we introduce a fresh assessment centre scenario, based on a real case or deal the firm has worked on. Following breakfast with the trainees, you will be introduced to the scenario by a fee earner involved in the case or deal. A number of assessments will stem from this, including a presentation in the form of a client pitch and two written exercises. The day ends with drinks. The Panel will usually meet within a week to discuss candidates and, subject to Law Society considerations, we aim to make offers within two weeks. 8 9

7 C ommitted to you Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) If you are a GDL student, we will support you no matter where you choose to study. Legal Practice Course (LPC) Our future trainees currently attend the LPC at BPP Law School at one of its many branches. The course is an MA (LPC with Business), which allows our trainees to convert the LPC to an MA qualification if they so wish. We have one compulsory elective, which is insurance and which you will complete in Clyde & Co classes. The other two electives are chosen by you with the guidance of the firm to ensure that they are relevant and that you have the opportunity to convert what you have studied into a seat during your Training Contract. Fees and Maintenance We pay full fees for both the GDL and LPC, together with a maintenance grant for each year of study. We pay the maintenance grant in three equal instalments in September, January and April. The Training Contract During your Training Contract, whether in London, Manchester or the Middle East, you will undertake four six-month seats within different practice areas of the firm, covering both contentious and non-contentious work. Because we encourage individuality and want you to have the chance to tailor your Training Contract towards your own interests, we do not prescribe seats. Before each seat rotation you will have the opportunity to name three seats that interest you and, wherever possible, we will try to accommodate your preferences. However, due to our size and ever-changing business needs, this is not always possible. In the event you do not receive any of your preferences, your selections will be given priority for the next seat rotation. As well as the chance to undertake seats in our UK offices London, Guildford, Oxford and Manchester you will also have the opportunity to go abroad or on a client secondment. We currently have trainees in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tanzania. If you have a strong desire to spend time in a specific office we will try to accommodate this. For those with strong ties to the Middle East, we offer a MENA (Middle East & North Africa) Training Contract, where the majority of the Training Contract is completed in the Middle East with the opportunity to come to the UK to undertake a seat. In our Hong Kong office we recruit up to four trainees each year and, like the MENA Training Contract, you will have the opportunity to undertake a seat in one of the UK or MENA offices. Regardless of the seat you are in, you will be appointed a supervisor with whom you will sit. All supervisors are trained and aware of the Law Society obligations that need to be covered during the Training Contract. In order to ensure your progression, you will have both a mid-seat and end-of-seat appraisal with you supervisor. In addition, you will be required to keep a Training Diary via our Online Mentor system, recording matters you have worked on and training attended. Both the appraisals and Online Mentor are valuable when it comes to making decisions about future seats and tracking your progress during your path to qualification. Professional Skills Course (PSC) Your Training Contract with the firm will commence in August. All of the UK and Middle East trainees come to London to undertake an intensive three-week induction programme, which includes aspects of the PSC. This enables our trainees from across the offices to meet and get to know each other while we ensure that you are ready to begin your seat in September and get properly stuck in. Your induction programme will continue with on-the-job learning and experience throughout your seat. Additionally, you will be part of the firmwide and departmental training programmes, as well as the ongoing trainee specific training courses which build on the induction and PSC training. Salary London and Dubai First-year trainee: 36,000 Second-year trainee: 38,000 Newly qualified solicitor: 61,000 Manchester First-year trainee: 24,000 Second-year trainee: 24,000 Newly qualified solicitor: 34,000 Trainee Benefits At Clyde & Co we believe benefits form an important part of your overall rewards package. As a trainee you will be entitled to the following: Pension 1,000 interest-free loan Private Medical Insurance Season-ticket loan Cycle to work scheme Subsidised gym membership The Next Step The key to a good application form is spending time researching the firm. Try to go beyond the graduate recruitment brochures and firm websites. Visiting law fairs, careers fairs, open days, Aspiring Solicitors events and Drop-in Visits are good ways of getting more detailed insights and a feel for the firm you are applying to. In considering different firms, ask yourself what is it about the firm that interests you and why do you think you would be a good fit for the firm. Once you have completed and submitted your application to us we will automatically acknowledge safe receipt. Given the number of applications we receive, we aim to screen on a rolling basis and for this reason we strongly encourage you not to leave applying to the very last moment. While you wait to hear the outcome of your application, don t stop researching and exploring your interest in the firm. Continue to keep abreast of the firm through the website and the legal press. If you haven t done so already then try to get a personal insight into the firm through open days, Drop-in Visits or any campus events anything that can help bring you into contact with the firm in a personal way. If your application is successful we will be in touch to arrange an interview with you, and, if not, we will you. Owing to the volume of applications we receive, it is not possible for us to offer each candidate individual feedback on their unsuccessful application. However, rejection should not deter candidates from applying again. If you follow our advice in making a really thoughtful application then we hope you will not be disappointed. Following your formal interview for a Training Contract, either at the end of the Vacation Scheme or at a separate Interview Day, our Graduate Recruitment Panel meet formally to consider each candidate and decide who will receive an offer. Our Panel comprises over 30 fee earners, including Partners, Legal Directors and Associates who conduct the formal interviews. The junior Associates and Trainee Solicitors also participate in facilitating on the day as well as assisting in the marking of assessments. Our process is robust, objective and fair and it aims to be two way, so that you get just as much out of it as we do. Our Vacation Scheme is the best possible way to get to know us, and for us to get to know you. As well as the assessments and interview, your time in the department will be reviewed and, for this reason, conversion rates from offer to acceptance are higher on Vacation Schemes than on Interview days. Beyond the Training Contract Around six weeks after starting your final seat you will start focusing on qualification and which department you want to qualify into. We have a qualification timetable that sets out the process and we make every effort to make formal job offers by the end of June. The process is similar to the seat selections in that trainees will express three preferences. In the spirit of fairness, each department will interview those who have applied and it is hoped that trainees will secure their first choice. We are particularly proud of our retention rates over the past three years, rising from 86%, to 94% and now to 100%, while successfully aligning our qualification process across the UK, Middle East and Asia. Our Career Development Programme will take you through each stage of qualification and on to Senior Associate, Legal Director and then hopefully to Partnership. The programme sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours we require for all of our lawyers, and identifies the core development needs for everyone at each stage of their career, including our trainees

8 Ed Mills-Webb Training Principal The University of Oxford, Brasenose College Law Trainee Solicitor: 2001 Qualified: 2003 Became Partner: 2010 Being homegrown, I know what makes Clyde & Co tick. Our people are the lifeblood of the firm and it is vitally important that we recruit and train the right people to ensure our future success. I believe this is a two-way process; we need the best people and, in return, it is incumbent upon us to give the best possible training and experience. I am delighted, therefore, to have the opportunity to bring my experience and knowledge of the firm to bear in this process as the firm s Training Principal. I joined the firm in September 2001 as a Trainee Solicitor. At the time I applied, there weren t the same resources available to research firms as there are now. I remember being attracted to the firm because it was a mid-size firm with clear intentions to grow. I wanted to be part of that project. I was also impressed with its offering as a full-service firm, but with real strength in the insurance and trade sectors, plus a strong international focus. Training at Clyde & Co was not, and is still not, seen as an end in itself but rather it was and is viewed as preparation for making a significant future contribution to the success of the firm. I remember being told on my first day that today s trainees are tomorrow s Partners. How true and I was delighted to become a partner on 1 May I have never looked back. I now work for a wide range of clients, from international trading houses to ship owners, charterers and their insurers. The work is enormously varied and challenging. When I first joined the firm I was very impressed that it combined a friendly and approachable working environment with a strong commitment to providing clients with the highest quality of service and advice. The firm has grown considerably over the years, but I am pleased to say that its culture and values have remained the same throughout. I firmly believe that it is this ethos and the firm s approach to training that gives our junior lawyers the best opportunity to learn and develop professionally. Recruiting and training the right people is something that the firm is very passionate about. I share that passion and was delighted to take up the role of Training Principal last year. We understand that everyone has different strengths and abilities, and we aim to recruit a diverse mix of people who bring a broad range of skills, attributes and interests to Clyde & Co. Whatever type of lawyer you want to become, Clyde & Co can put you on the path to a successful and enjoyable career and, if we get it right, you will be our future. 12 I qualified in September 2003, having completed seats in Litigation, Insurance, Marine and Corporate. I hadn t really considered marine law until I did my seat there, but I really enjoyed it. I therefore jumped at the chance to qualify into the Marine department and I can honestly say that Essentially, we are looking for a diverse mix of people who are open to new ideas and are entrepreneurial, enthusiastic and committed to growing the business 13

9 Harriet Davies First-year Trainee Solicitor Tom Chapple Second-year Trainee Solicitor The University of Manchester Law Seat: Professional and Financial Disputes My interest in becoming a lawyer began when I chose to shadow a solicitor as part of my school s work experience programme. I enjoyed the experience enough to decide to take it further and chose to study for a Law degree. While at university, I volunteered at the university s Legal Advice Centre, which allowed me to put the skills I was learning to work, writing letters to clients and liaising with the Legal Ombudsman. The experience gave me a real insight into the profession and confirmed my decision to pursue a legal career. In preparation for the Manchester Law Fair I looked at the list of attending law firms and researched their recent work and sector focus. I quickly recognised that Clyde & Co was a market leader within its core sectors, especially litigation. I was also attracted by the firm s recent expansion, which I felt would lead to opportunities for secondments overseas and the chance to work across different industries. The trainee retention rate was also exceptionally strong, which highlighted the quality of the training and opportunities upon qualification. I completed the Summer Vacation Scheme at the end of my second year, spending two weeks in the Casualty and Healthcare team in the London office. I was involved in a variety of tasks ranging from assessing issues of quantum, to assisting in-house counsel at a Case Management Conference. I very quickly learned about the practical processes involved in litigation such as trial-bundle organisation and the importance of disclosure. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere, along with the responsibility I was given, made the Vacation Scheme a great experience. I left feeling that Clyde & Co was somewhere I could definitely see myself working so I was delighted to be offered a Training Contract. Having completed the LPC at BPP, I am now in my first seat in the Professional and Financial Disputes team. It s great to finally be here and to be able to start building my career; it really couldn t have worked out any better. It was great to gain a real insight into the culture of the firm and the type of work undertaken during the Vacation Scheme King s College, London History Seats: International Trade and Energy Corporate (Guildford Office) Projects and Construction When a firm has a clear identity, it demonstrates that its strategies are bearing fruit. For me, Clyde & Co could very clearly state who they were and what they could offer. Their focus also offered the opportunity to train at a firm where there were not only legal experts, but also specialists in each sector. My first seat in the International Trade and Energy team was extremely varied. One of my first major projects involved advising a new commodities trader on the regulatory burdens it would encounter when it traded on the derivatives markets. I was also in the team at the time of the tightening, and subsequent relaxing, of sanctions against Iran. Part of my role was to track developments surrounding the sanctions regimes, ensuring that when our clients came to us with a query we were able to respond as promptly as possible. By my final month I was directly liaising with HM Treasury on behalf of the client. I spent the next six months in the Corporate department in the Guildford office. In this seat I had far more responsibility because the work allowed for discrete tasks. I was involved in the takeover of a publicly listed publisher where I took primary responsibility for drafting many of the documents that completed the transaction. I was also involved in the sale of a private company to a US private equity fund, where my role was to ensure that the due diligence had been carried out and agreed by the other side. I m now in the Projects and Construction team. This department assists the construction industry on all the legal requirements both before and after the spades are in the ground and advises clients on anything from building hospitals, to waste-toenergy power stations. I ve built up a huge amount of experience over the past year, from being sent to client meetings alone to conference calls with lawyers in LA and New York. The highlight of my Training Contract so far has definitely been being given the chance to bring a deal to close, which allowed me to have significant client contact and ended in a completion lunch at The Ivy a swanky West End restaurant. Following very closely was the opportunity to spend a few summertime lunches at the Guildford Lido. The firm recognises that it is important for trainees to play an larger role in their practices and there has been a noticeable step-up in responsibility 14 15

10 Helen Gazzi Newly Qualified Associate Jameel Tarmohamed Associate The University of Durham, Hatfield College History Seats: Speciality, International Risk and Reinsurance Corporate International Secondment Real Estate Having studied History, I felt that law was a natural career choice, as it would utilise a lot of the skills I had developed. Initially I applied for a Vacation Scheme with the firm because I was drawn to the firm s international reach and market-leading reputation. The Vacation Scheme was perfect in giving me first-hand experience of the type of work and tasks a trainee would be given, an insight into the various departments and also the confirmation that Clyde & Co was somewhere I could see myself working, thanks to the friendly culture I experienced and the wide range of activities on offer. Having secured a Training Contract, my first seat was in the Speciality, International Risk and Reinsurance department. I was involved with cases ranging from coverage claims regarding the 2010 riots in Thailand to the expropriation of Venezuelan oil rigs and money theft in Russia. The day-to-day work varied for me, from researching points of law, to attending meetings with counsel and clients, as well as billing, bundling and drafting. My second seat was in our Corporate department. As the seat was transactional, I had to adapt the skills I d learned in my previous seat, as well as using more company law. I was involved in numerous mergers and acquisitions, group restructures and joint-venture projects. For me, the highlight was my third seat when I was seconded to the Dar es Salaam office. It was great to be able to work in a different jurisdiction and experience a different working culture. The work was generally transactional, working for clients based in the energy, mining and project finance sectors, but I also became involved in some contentious advice in relation to court proceedings. Again, this experience was invaluable as I was able to gain an insight into how different the court system is in Tanzania. And, because it s a small office, I was able to get involved in meetings, presentations and networking events. I have now qualified into the Real Estate team, the team I spent my fourth seat with. Real Estate is involved with a wide range of work from acting for developers on large-scale residential development projects, and acting for banks on property lending, to leasing, selling and buying both commercial and residential properties. I m really looking forward to the challenges of being a Newly Qualified Associate, especially because I can already see a real increase in responsibility. It is amazing how quickly you adapt and learn to raise the standard of everything you do throughout the Training Contract. The University of Kent Law Seats: Corporate Projects and Construction Aviation Finance International Trade and Energy I chose to study law because I wanted to pursue an intellectually challenging career; one that would constantly evolve and which would give me the opportunity to learn something new every day. So far, being a lawyer has fulfilled all these expectations and more. During my Training Contract, I undertook seats in Corporate, Projects and Construction, Aviation Finance and International Trade and Energy. The great thing about training at Clyde & Co is the wide variety of seats that you can choose from and this allowed me to experience many different areas of the law. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend six months with the Corporate team in Tanzania and this really helped me understand how Clyde & Co operates on a global level. I qualified in 2011 into the Projects and Construction team. Our team has particular focus on trade finance, primarily advising commodities traders and banks, both in the UK and abroad, on their financing arrangements. One of my highlights since qualifying has been that I was part of the team that successfully advised one of the largest steel traders in the world in relation to the restructuring of its global business and financial indebtedness. As an Associate working on this deal, my role included facilities and security that the Group had in place, advising the trading entity on its bilateral loan facilities, assisting the Group in relation to a standstill arrangment, implementing a global security package and advising on a $1.5 billion Trade Finance and Borrowing Base Facility. Owing to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the work in the transaction, I had the opportunity to work with a number of teams from across our network of offices in Dubai, Madrid, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Singapore and Sydney. As well as being interesting and bringing a new different dimension to the project, it was good to expand my network of colleagues. Training at Clyde & Co, and subsequently qualifying with the firm has given me a great platform to develop my skills as a lawyer carrying out due diligence on the bilateral loan 16 17

11 We value your individuality so we work hard to achieve a good blend and mix in our trainee intakes 18 19

12 Expanding our horizons As many of our competitors have taken a step back amid the shifting economic and geo-political landscape of the past few years, at Clyde & Co we have continued to pursue an ambitious international growth strategy. We are now seeing the rewards that have resulted from continuing to grow our business and to take our services to new regions and markets. While our global expansion strategy has been focused primarily on three regions Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & North Africa, and the Americas our global footprint extends far beyond these confines. Indeed, Clyde & Co has been something of a trailblazer in terms of opening in frontier markets, many of which offer relatively little in terms of existing international legal infrastructure. As well as our international network of offices we also have associate offices, which have been built on partnerships and co-operation agreements. We establish these strong relationships with like-minded firms because we know that our clients need local expertise alongside international advice and capability. One of these associations is with the award-winning Indian firm Clasis Law, which has offices in Mumbai, New Delhi and London. Sub-Saharan Africa As a relatively untapped market, Sub-Saharan Africa is a region where we have made considerable investment during the past few years. While continuing to present numerous challenges, the extensive natural resources and human capital of this fast-growing region offer strong long-term potential for international law firms such as ours. Cape Town & Johannesburg After successfully overcoming a number of local regulatory obstacles, in 2014 we opened offices in two locations in South Africa Cape Town and Johannesburg. As the most developed economy in the region, the country serves as a strong base for activity across the rest of the continent and from which to extend our coverage to new markets. Our South African launch followed the opening of new offices in the Libyan capital, Tripoli and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Despite the logistical and security challenges involved in entering these markets, the new offices have allowed us to expand our extensive expertise in the insurance sector. Europe Meanwhile, we continue to build our office network closer to home. With over 800 lawyers and a leading reputation including boasting the largest disputes practice in the UK, we continue to grow our teams in the London, Manchester, Oxford and Guildford offices. Further afield, our office in Piraeus, Greece s largest port, complements our deep-rooted marine expertise. With its strong economic and business ties with the UK, France is an increasingly important market for Clyde & Co. We opened our Paris office in 1992, which, in tandem with our office in Nantes, continues to serve as an important base for continental Europe and Frenchspeaking Africa saw us launch our first Spanish office in Madrid, helping us build on our existing client base in the local insurance and reinsurance sectors. Clyde & Co has been something of a trailblazer in terms of opening in frontier markets. Watch this space Our work in developing our practice across the European and African markets has been a vital extension to the firm s core regional expansion strategy and represents substantial growth for a premier law firm such as ours. Whether monitoring new locations or considering entry to new industries and sectors, we are constantly evaluating ways to add value to the service we offer our clients. Watch this space. We pride ourselves on knowing the industries and sectors in which we work, not just the law surrounding them. The knowledge and expertise assembled within our teams means we are able to handle developments in the fast-changing and highly sensitive world in which we operate. We have continued to grow during the economic downturn and have found ways to adapt and expand our services to suit this new financial landscape. We have the ability to harness our expertise around the world to fit with our clients needs. Where we operate UK France Tanzania Greece Spain South Africa 20 21

13 Midd le East The University of Toronto MSc. Psychology and Anthropology Seat: Corporate (Dubai) and North Africa Where do you fit in? Siji Jaganathan Trainee Solicitor, Dubai As an increasingly important international trade and finance hub, the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region is a focal point of Clyde & Co s global growth strategy. Having this year celebrated our 25th anniversary at the Dubai office, we are one of the largest international law firms in the region with over 150 specialist lawyers and paralegals operating as a single unit across offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and the Libyan capital, Tripoli. In 2009, we also established an associate office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, through a local firm. Mirroring our expansion across other markets, we are one of the few firms to have continued to grow our presence in the region throughout the financial crisis and the increasingly challenging economic and political climate of the past few years. Part of the firm s strategy is to continue to be pre-eminent in international trade and emerging economies. Our offices in the region are integral to the global operation of the firm and in servicing our global client base. Our success is based on the strength of a number of wellestablished core practice areas. As well as housing the largest shipping and international trade practice in the Middle East, we are also a leading practitioner in the areas of infrastructure, insurance, energy and natural resources. Where we operate As an increasingly influential area in the global economy, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and North Africa regions are a continuing source of growth opportunities for our firm. Significant investment in social infrastructure projects has allowed us to develop our projects, construction and infrastructure team, while Dubai s emergence as a regional financial hub has led our expansion into the areas of banking and finance, corporate M&A and real estate. The award of EXPO 2020 to Dubai has also generated significant opportunities for businesses in infrastructure, hospitality, travel and the companies that service these sectors. As an important focal point for Clyde & Co s emerging market growth strategy, we are continually evaluating new sectors and locations across the region and continue to develop the services we offer clients. Clyde & Co provides a range of opportunities for trainees who are interested in experiencing living and working in the MENA region. We are one of very few international law firms in the region to offer a dedicated MENA Training Contract, aimed at graduates hoping to be based in the region over their medium or long-term legal career. Applicants typically have strong connections to the Middle East and may include UK nationals who have grown up in the region, as well as Middle East residents who have studied in the UK and want to qualify into the UK legal system. The breadth of our recruitment pool makes for an eclectic mix of nationalities and cultures, with recent trainees drawn from locations such as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. MENA trainees follow the same Training Contract structure to those in the UK. Starting in August, they spend three weeks in London undertaking induction and aspects of the Professional Skills Course (PSC) with trainees from our London and Manchester offices. In terms of seats, the MENA trainees will typically spend three seats in our Middle East offices and one seat in our London office. This experience allows trainees to gain a valuable understanding of the UK legal sector before returning to qualify into one of our MENA offices. In addition, our Dubai office also offers two Summer Vacation Schemes. These are two weeks long and take place during the months of June and July. Trainees from other jurisdictions also have the opportunity to undertake a secondment in one of our MENA offices. Having grown up in Dubai, Clyde & Co was a name that consistently cropped up as one of the top UK firms with a strong presence in the Middle East. I was particularly impressed by the fact they had established that presence early and really committed to it. Working in-house for a logistics firm in Dubai prior to undertaking my LPC really brought home to me how much global commerce is going on in the MENA region, and how much growth potential there is. I also saw the level of demand for professionals who know how to work effectively in these regions. In addition to the traits demanded of any successful solicitor, working in the Middle East requires people who are very comfortable with change, and who are able to work effectively with people who might have very different outlooks. You ll have to be quite culturally aware or, at the very least, quick to pick up on what can be subtle differences and be able to adapt accordingly. I ve just joined my first seat in the Corporate department in the Dubai office, having spent three weeks in London with my fellow trainees undertaking the induction and PSC. This was great fun, as I was able to experience life in the London office as well as getting to know my peers from the other offices. The time also allowed me to explore London and catch up with friends based there. With experience of both markets and the Clyde & Co brand behind me, I couldn t ask for a better platform from which to launch my legal career. Libya Saudi Arabia * Dubai Summer Vacation Scheme dates Sunday 14 June Thursday 25 June 2015 Sunday 28 June Thursday 9 July 2015 United Arab Emirates Qatar * Including Associated Offices 22 23

14 The University of Hong Kong Government and Law The University of Bristol MSc. International Relations Seats: Personal Injury Shipping Natural Energy & Resources (London) Asia-Pacific Where do you fit in? Desmond Cheung Newly Qualified Associate, Hong Kong Now, with the continent home to 60 per cent of the world s population and boasting its second largest economy, Asia is a key focus of our geographic expansion strategy. As leading multi-national law firms are making their first tentative steps into the Asian market, we are celebrating being in this region for more than 30 years, having opened our first office in Hong Kong in With an integrated network of offices and broad-ranging sector expertise across the region, Clyde & Co is well placed to react to new opportunities as they develop. From Hong Kong to another strategic trade hub, Singapore, we are building our exposure to the rapidly growing Chinese and Indian economies and have remained one step ahead of our competitors by continuing to launch in exciting frontier markets like Mongolia. As shown by our recent expansion into Australia, our Asia-Pacific growth strategy is driven by two factors: where the best growth opportunities lie; and where our clients need us to be. Where we operate Hong Kong Singapore * Australia Indonesia * Our strong reputation within the insurance sector meant we were able to capitalise on demand for a major practitioner in the Australian legal market. After simultaneous office launches in Sydney and Perth in September 2012, the firm has since added a third office in Melbourne. We are now taking advantage of the country s resources boom by expanding our practice areas across mining, energy and commodities, as well as construction and shipping. Where next? China s growing demand for raw materials has seen us open associated offices in two of the region s fastest growing economies, Mongolia and Indonesia, in the past few years. In 2013, we opened an office in Beijing, our second on the Chinese mainland, and also established a Joint Law Venture with Chinese law firm Westlink Partnership in the southwestern city of Chongqing. We are constantly evaluating new opportunities for our expansion. China * There are extensive possibilities for Clyde & Co lawyers to gain exposure to the Asia-Pacific region. It is an increasingly important region for us strategically. At Clyde & Co, we want our lawyers to be equipped for the growing demand for international legal work that we anticipate in this rapidly expanding marketplace. We recruit four to five trainees each year to our Hong Kong office. Although similar to the UK and MENA Training Contracts, and run in parallel with them, we run a specific Hong Kong Training Contract that is regulated by the Hong Kong Law Society. There is the opportunity for trainees to spend some of their time working in other offices in the region or on secondment to one of our international offices. With on-going demand for trainees to work alongside locally-based legal teams, we also send trainees on secondment from the UK and MENA to the region, enabling them to gain experience across a variety of sectors and practice areas including insurance, maritime, construction and energy. Those with Mandarin or Cantonese language skills and strong links with China are eligible to apply for Summer (June July) or Winter (November February) Vacation Schemes in the Hong Kong office. These schemes are aimed at penultimate-year law students. For further information, please visit: careers.clydeco.com/trainees/asia We also hold Interview Days throughout the year. In our Sydney and Perth offices we run Summer Clerkship Programmes. These are open to local graduates or those with an Australian background and there are four places available in each office. To apply for a place please send your CV and a cover letter to recruitment.australia@clydeco.com After graduating from The University of Hong Kong I chose to study a Masters in the UK, before returning to Hong Kong to complete my LB (the equivalent of the LPC). I joined Clyde & Co two years ago. I started my Training Contact in Personal Injury, moving on to Insurance Litigation. During these two seats I gained ample hands-on experience, such as drafting pleadings and advice, interviewing clients and taking witness statements. My next seat was in Shipping Litigation. As Hong Kong is an important location for the maritime sector, on any given day I could be calling a mainland-chinese correspondent lawyer about an insurance law advice prepared by a London QC regarding a cargo damage incident that occurred in India. In my final seat I was seconded to the London Corporate Energy department, where I assisted in significant oil and gas transactions involving major international companies. Even though the teams are generally much larger in the UK, often with around 20 or 30 case handlers at any one time, I was usually the only trainee working on a particular case, so there was a high level of responsibility which was great. I am now back in Hong Kong where I have qualified into the Shipping Litigation team. So far the work has been extremely varied. For example, I have been involved with the arrest of a ship. It is this international element that excites me about shipping law. Thanks to the secondment, I ve come to appreciate the global scale and pioneering nature of the firm, as well as the different work culture in UK and Europe. It has also has widened my horizons and will definitely benefit my career development in the long run. India * Mongolia * * Including Associated Offices 24 25

15 University College London BA History The Americas Seats: Professional and Financial Disputes Real Estate, Projects and Construction Professional Liability - Tech & Media team (San Francisco) Employment and Pensions Where do you fit in? Hannah Crisp Third-seat Secondee With all the attention being directed towards emerging markets you could be forgiven for overlooking North America as a key growth market for the international legal sector. In fact, since opening the first office in New York in 2006, the US has been the fastest-growing part of Clyde & Co s global operations. Much of this has been the result of our continued success in the areas of insurance and reinsurance, where we have established ourselves as a market leader, as well as our longstanding reputation within aviation and maritime law. The firm now employs 125 lawyers in the US in New York, New Jersey and Atlanta. We have been growing our presence further afield in one of the most innovative and economically vibrant areas of the country, the Bay Area of San Francisco. Clyde & Co s proximity to Silicon Valley has enabled the firm to meet the rapidly growing demand for technology and media-specific legal services. With organisations under increased threat of cyber attacks, we work alongside an established network of IT experts and restoration specialists to respond to the growing volume of legal issues associated with data security and privacy. Where we operate USA Canada Brazil * Venezuela In 2014, client demand led us to add a fifth US practice, in Newport Beach, Southern California, and, with offices in Canada s main commercial centres of Toronto and Montreal, we now have one of the largest geographical reaches of any UK law firm on the continent. Latin America is another key market where we are expanding. Our offices in Caracas, Venezuela, and Sao Paolo, Brazil, are supported by a dedicated team of lawyers back in London, who are able to draw on their expertise in high-growth sectors that include oil and gas, energy, shipping, infrastructure, and trade and commodities. Clyde & Co s rapid North American expansion has created a growing need for both local and UK-trained junior lawyers. We offer a Summer Associate Programme in both New York and San Francisco. The three Summer Associates who were on the San Francisco Programme in 2013 completed their final year of law school in May 2014 and all have now joined the office as Associates, while in New York, our five Summer Associates have all been offered roles as Associates in Trainees from our UK offices have also enjoyed the opportunity to complete a seat in the firm s San Francisco office, and we plan to expand that opportunity to include our other North American practices. While differences between the UK and US legal systems have provided a challenge, the strong calibre of trainees arriving from the UK has meant they have been able to overcome these with relative ease, providing an extremely worthwhile experience for all concerned. In fact, one of our London trainees this year qualified into the San Francisco office following her secondment there. In our Toronto office, we also have articling opportunities. Students are given the chance to work closely with Associates and Partners as well as the opportunity to work independently. For those interested in applying, or finding out more, please your resume and cover letter to: San Francisco: recruitmentsf@clydeco.us Toronto: articling@clydeco.ca Having studied American History at university, which included legal processes surrounding the American Revolution, I was really interested to experience working in the US and to see how the legal system had evolved. I was seconded to the Professional Liability practice in San Francisco during my third seat, where I worked specifically within the Technology and Media team. The team acts as coverage and monitoring counsel for major Lloyd s insurers and US insurance companies in relation to claims made mainly by US parties under errors and omissions (E&O) and data breach policies. Much of my time was spent reviewing new claims, reporting on coverage underwriters and drafting coverage letters to insurers. I also completed various research and business development tasks, including a series of research reports relating to proceedings in the US High Court. Getting used to the American court system was an on-going challenge because I found myself having to get my head around and research new points of law as I went. Thankfully, the firm was incredibly supportive, providing me with full training on what I needed to know. While the US system is very different to the UK legal system, working for Clyde & Co in San Francisco felt very much like working for Clyde & Co in London. When people ask me what it s like, the only way I can think to describe it is Californian. San Francisco and the Bay area are unlike any other place I ve ever been incredibly relaxed and diverse. You can turn a corner and feel you re in a totally different city. Even on the nights and weekends where I didn t have plans with colleagues, friends or family visiting, I had a fantastic time just exploring on foot, by bus or Uber and made the most of the city s free walking tours. Nevertheless, I still think I didn t get to see it all in six months and I cannot wait to go back, perhaps as part of the firm s Associate Exchange Programme. Working for Clyde & Co in San Francisco felt very much like working for Clyde & Co in London - something which I think is indicative of the firm s global footprint * Including Associated Offices 26 27

16 Our people and their commitment, expertise and ambition, play a vital role in our success 28 29

17 Trainee snapshots There is no typical Clyde & Co employee. The broad range of knowledge and experience of our fee earners reflects who we are as a firm and has been a key factor in our success over the past decade. It is our people who create and continue to build our reputation. We value talent and ambition above all else and are looking for trainees who want to be part of our continued success and growth We are interested in who you are, not just your qualifications. We want real people, who will share our passion and commitment to what we do. These pictures offer an insight of life through our trainees eyes. 1. David Fairhurst (View from office, Manchester) 2. Sadie Roache (Sunset, Dubai) 3. Stuart Jackson (Yuyuan Gardens, Shanghai) 4. Russell Banfi (Abu Dhabi) 5. Carl Hotton (Masaai tribe, Rift Valley, Tanzania) 6. Conor McStravick (Burj Al Arab, Dubai) 7. Holly Fragos (Trainee apartments, Dubai) 8. Carl Hotton (Football on Kendwa beach, Zanzibar) 9. Emily Davis (Lyon Street Steps, San Francisco) 10. Adam Rigg (Corniche Beach, Abu Dhabi) 11. Nathaniel Horrocks-Burns (Rugby Sevens, Hong Kong) 12. George Chaisty (Abu Dhabi) 13. Stuart Jackson (Skyline, Shanghai) 14. Nathaniel Horrocks-Burns (Dragon Boats, Hong Kong) 15. Russell Banfi (Camel riding, Abu Dhabi) 16. Chris Kerr (Safari, Tanzania) 17. Adrian Tang (The Great Eagle Centre, Hong Kong) 18. Aine Quinn (Atlantis Hotel and the Palm, Dubai) 19. Emily Davis (Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco) 20. Adrian Tang (Kowloon skyline, Hong Kong) 21. Ed Scandrett (Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco) 22. Carl Hotton (Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, Tanzania) 23. Richard Kniveton (View from office, Perth) 24. Carl Hotton (Sunset at Kendwa beach, Zanzibar) 25. Carl Hotton (View from office, Dar es Salaam) 26. Yannick Ramsamy (View from office, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai) 27. Nathaniel Horrocks-Burns (Hong Kong) 28. Adam Rigg (Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi) 29. Holly Fragos (Burj Khalifa, Dubai) 30. Russell Banfi (Abu Dhabi)

18 We want real people, who will share our passion and commitment

19 A life experience Clyde & Community The firm is also involved in various pro bono initiatives. Most of our trainees, as well as the future trainees currently at law school, participate in pro bono of some kind and find that very often it gives them a highly rewarding and different perspective on how the law can make a positive impact on people s lives. They also find that they gain a valuable insight in terms of developing their confidence and ability to relate to people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, which are vital skills for any well-rounded lawyer. The firm has a global policy that up to 50 hours of firm-approved pro bono activities will be credited towards fee earners billable target and, as such, these hours are treated as chargeable work. Access to Justice As a major international firm, we have a role to play in enabling communities around the world to secure fair access to legal advice and justice. In March 2013 our Employment and Immigration team launched an innovative pro bono clinic to help Brent Citizens Advice Bureau in helping it deal with the increasing number of employment and immigration law queries, following the cuts to civil legal aid. The clinic operates remotely using Skype technology. Our Dubai office was a founding firm of the first pro bono court in the UAE and in October 2012 was the recipient of the first Access to Justice Award in recognition of our support and involvement. The San Francisco office is affiliated to the local Aids Legal Referral Panel. It has also been instrumental in the establishment of a new children s museum through the provision of pro bono advice. We also work closely with the Fair Trade Foundation providing pro bono legal training on contract law and practice to Fair Trade cocoa producers in the Ivory Coast. Community Investment We donate both time and money to a variety of charities around the world including Asia Water Foundation, Childline, Dubai Cares, Community Chest Hong Kong, Mission to Seafarers and Water Aid. We made donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee to assist with the Pakistan floods, the East Africa Crisis Appeal and the Syria Crisis Appeal. We are also involved in a schools programme, which is dedicated to providing fair access to quality work experience. We run a number of schemes throughout the year and source our students from a network of schools. The spirit behind these schemes is to form a coaching and mentoring relationship with the students until such time as they are ready to embark on their chosen career. Legal Apprenticeships In September 2014 our first cohort of nine Legal Apprentices joined our Manchester office. While working and earning a salary, they will study towards a Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) qualification. At the end of the two years they will decide if they wish to take the qualification to the next stage or explore a permanent paralegal or business support position within the firm. Art in the City The Clyde & Co Art Awards is an annual community project. This encourages and nurtures new talent, supporting art students as they graduate by showcasing their work. Each artist selected is awarded a cash prize, pro bono legal support and business mentoring during the year that their work is on display. Many of our staff have volunteered to participate with this project, either acting as mentors to the artists or providing specific legal advice and training. Our Dubai, Sydney, Singapore and San Francisco offices have recently launched similar art projects. Not all work We promote regular sports and social events to ensure that people in different parts of the firm have a chance to meet and stay in contact with each other. We currently have cricket, football, golf, rugby, tennis teams and, most recently, a mixed speednet team. These teams are open to everyone in the firm including our future trainees as well as the Vacation Scheme students. The firm also offers a subsidised sports club membership. If you are musical, you can join the firm s choir or perhaps be part of the Clyde & Co Rock n Roll Band DUST. Our charity partnership Each year the firm votes for its charity partner and this year we are working with SkillsForce, an education charity working in 150 schools throughout the UK with children who are in danger of leaving school without skills or qualifications. More than 30 people from the firm, together with members of SkillsForce, successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and more recently, cycled 95 miles across the UK with aim of raising over 100,000 for the charity

20 We are looking forward to meeting you We receive a substantial number of applications for both the Vacation Schemes and Interview Days and are able to offer only a limited number of places for each. If you wish to be considered for both, simply tick the relevant boxes on the application form. After you have submitted your application form, you will also be able to return to it to add further information. You can also choose which office(s) you wish to apply to. We recruit 50 trainees each year across our UK, Middle East and Asia offices. We welcome applications from both law and non-law backgrounds and look for intelligent and motivated graduates with good academic qualifications and excellent communication skills. Trainees must be able to work independently or as part of a team, and are expected to display common sense and initiative. An appreciation of the client s commercial interests is essential. Although we prefer our candidates to have at least a 2.1 degree, we do take mitigating circumstances into account. We also consider applications from those who have graduated and are at different stages of their career, but are not yet a trainee or a qualified lawyer. We are currently recruiting for Training Contracts to commence in August Caroline Walsh Head of Legal Trainee Recruitment & Development Hayley Ives Legal Trainee Recruitment & Development Executive Emily Haseldine Legal Trainee Recruitment & Development Advisor For London, Manchester and the Middle East, our online application form is open until 31 January 2015 for Vacation Schemes, and 31 July 2015 for Interview Days. For Hong Kong, our online application is open until 28 February 2015 for our Summer Vacation Scheme, and 31 August 2015 for our Winter Vacation Scheme and Interview Days. Join the conversation Designed and produced by thiscityagency.com 36