Inside... Our global law firm

Transcription

1 Inside... Our global law firm

2 45 offices and counting 1,800 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

3 Welcome By reading our brochure you are taking the first step towards securing a Training Contract with Clyde & Co. C ontents 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 you re coming for a Drop-in Visit or starting your career as a Trainee Solicitor. The graduate team 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 16 Expanding our horizons 18 Middle East and North Africa 20 Asia-Pacific 22 The Americas 26 Trainee snapshots 30 A life experience Not all work 32 Our final words How and when to apply Hayley Caroline Ed 1

4 The world is evolving. So are we 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 2

5 2015 Aviation Law Firm of the Year Who s Who Legal Awards Litigation Team of the Year The Lawyer Awards 2015 Insurance & Reinsurance Law Firm of the Year Who s Who Legal Awards 2015 Employer of Choice in China and Hong Kong Asian Legal Business (ALB) 2015 Insurance Law Firm of the Year MENA Insurance Awards 2015 Outstanding Services to African Aviation Development African Aviation Awards 2015 UAE IP Firm of the Year Managing IP Global Awards Best Community Engagement Managing Partners Forum Awards Maritime & Shipping Firm of the Year (Hong Kong) Asian-MENA Counsel 2014 Insurance Firm of the Year (Singapore) Asian-MENA Counsel 2014 Hong Kong Shipping Law Firm of the Year Asian Legal Business (ALB) 2014 UAE Client Choice Award International Law Office in association with Lexology 2014 Insurance & Reinsurance Firm of the Year Who s Who Legal Insurance Law Firm of the Year MENA Insurance Awards 2014 Maritime Law Firm of the Year Trade & Export Excellence Awards Top ranked Insurance Locally based International Counsel Brazil Chambers Latin America

6 Sector Focus Our combination of deep sector expertise and practice excellence delivers a distinct competitive advantage to our clients. The following pages will give you a flavour of our sectors and legal expertise. Aviation and Aerospace For the past ten years, Clyde & Co has been named as Aviation Law Firm of the Year (Who s Who Legal). In this field, we have expertise in areas such as emergency response, finance and leasing, insurance and liability. Casualty and Healthcare Widely regarded as the market-leading practice, our Casualty and Healthcare team advises the largest insurance companies as well as many local authorities, emergency services, NHS Trusts and blue-chip companies. Our core areas of expertise are defendant personal injury and healthcare. We regularly advise on catastrophic injury cases, regulatory healthcare issues, HSE prosecutions and inquests. Commercial Our international Commercial group advises on protection and privacy, e-commerce, franchising, intellectual property, and technology, media and telecommunications (TMT). The team has built its reputation advising large corporate clients in the field of technology. We also operate in the media, advertising and tourism sectors. 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. 4

7 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 placed to advise across the entire energy value chain, including oil and gas, power and utilities, renewables and natural resources. 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 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. 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 and receivership, liquidation and restructuring, as well as tracing claims and fraud. Insurance and Reinsurance The Insurance and Reinsurance sectors demand specialism on a global scale. Clyde & Co is the only firm to fully meet this challenge, with unrivalled expertise in every class and the broadest international coverage of any specialist insurance law firm. We have the highest concentration of leading Insurance and Reinsurance lawyers of any firm. Professional Indemnity Our Professional Indemnity practice handles a wide range of complex and high-value claims against or involving professionals from solicitors, barristers and accountants to construction, property and finance professionals. Our clients include the largest UK and global professional services firms as well as their London Market and international insurers. Projects and Construction We are a major force in the Projects and Construction industry worldwide. Our team advises on a variety of infrastructure, construction and engineering projects and project finance. Our emerging market focus means we are at the cutting edge of developments in high-growth regions, including Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. 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. 5

8 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 Easter/Summer Vacation Schemes Second year of undergraduate study Non-Law degree Insight Work Experience First or second year of undergraduate study Easter/Summer Vacation Schemes Final year of undergraduate study 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 6

9 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 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 7

10 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, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Dubai and Hong Kong offices. An increasing number of our trainees join us after completing a Vacation Scheme; over 60% of our 2017 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 December London Easter Vacation Scheme date Tuesday 29 March Friday 8 April 2016 London Summer Vacation Scheme dates Monday 20 June Friday 1 July 2016 Monday 18 July Friday 29 July 2016 Manchester Summer Vacation Scheme date Monday 4 July Friday 15 July 2016 Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee Summer Vacation Scheme dates One month schemes during June, July and August 2016 Training Contract Interview Days If you wish to apply directly for a Training Contract, we run one-day assessment centres in the Autumn. 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, two written exercises and an interview with two members of our Graduate Recruitment Panel. The day ends with drinks when you will have the opportunity to meet with fee earners across the firm. 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

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12 C ommitted to you Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) If you have studied a non-law degree, you will need to complete the one year conversion course before commencing the LPC. If you need to undertake the GDL, 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 noncontentious 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 various offices across the UK, 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, Singapore and Tanzania. If you have a strong desire to spend time in a specific office we will try to accommodate this. 10 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 your 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 Scotland First-year trainee: 18,500 Second-year trainee: 21,000 Newly qualified solicitor: 30,000

13 Trainee Benefits At Clyde & Co we believe benefits form an important part of your overall rewards package. As a trainee you may 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 four years which have averaged 90%, 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. Scottish Training Contracts We offer up to ten Training Contracts each year across our Scottish offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. You will undertake PEAT1 and then join an office for the two-year Training Contract. 11

14 Ed Mills-Webb Training Principal The University of Oxford, Brasenose College Law Trainee Solicitor: 2001 Qualified: 2003 Became Partner: 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 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 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. 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.

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17 We value your individuality so we work hard to achieve a good blend and mix in our trainee intakes 15

18 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 cooperation 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. Where we operate UK France Tanzania Greece Spain South Africa 16

19 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. On 1 October 2015 we merged with leading Scottish firm Simpson & Marwick. Our expanded firm enables us to provide property and casualty insurers with an unrivalled and comprehensive service across both England and Scotland, particularly in casualty, healthcare and professional lines. As we continue our rapid growth and expansion, this further enhances our position as the pre-eminent law firm in the UK insurance sector, and also benefits our clients across all our sectors by giving us a greater platform to meet their legal needs in Scotland. 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. 17

20 Midd le East and North Africa 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. 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 teams, 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. Where we operate Libya Saudi Arabia * United Arab Emirates Qatar * Including Associated Offices 18

21 The University of Toronto MSc. Psychology and Anthropology Seat: Corporate (Dubai) Siji Jaganathan Trainee Solicitor, Dubai Where do you fit in? 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. Dubai Summer Vacation Scheme dates Sunday 12 June Thursday 23 June 2016 Sunday 26 June Thursday 7 July 2016 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 have so far completed two seats, the first in the Commercial/ IP Department and the second in the Employment team, both in Dubai. I am currently in my third seat, with the Shipping Litigation team in the Dubai office. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from several distinguished legal professionals, who have managed to make a name for themselves in a competitive market. I have also enjoyed a fairly high level of responsibility, including handling tasks such as drafting and amending of contracts and employment policies, and analysis of witness statements against testimony given in a hearing to identify inconsistencies. It is a privilege to be able to work with people who are knowledgeable about their field, enjoy what they do, and are committed to helping each member of their team fully develop their potential. 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. 19

22 Asia-Pacific 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 multinational 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. 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, our Australian offering has grown significantly with three additional offices added in Perth, Melbourne and more recently Brisbane. Having developed an accomplished insurance and reinsurance practice, the Australian offices have now expanded into the areas of energy and resources, mining, projects and construction, and marine and shipping working on local and multi-jurisdictional matters. Already operating on some of Australia s largest pieces of litigation since opening, our focus is on raising our profile in the general disputes space with client demand driving us to strengthen our international arbitration offering. 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. Where we operate Hong Kong Australia China * Singapore * Indonesia * India * Mongolia * * Including Associated Offices 20

23 The University of Hong Kong Government and Law The University of Bristol MSc. International Relations Seats: Personal Injury Shipping Natural Energy & Resources (London) Where do you fit in? 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 ongoing 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: clydecograduates.com 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 Desmond Cheung One Year Qualified Associate, Hong Kong 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 three years ago. I started my Training Contract 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 insurance law advice prepared by a London QC regarding a cargo damage incident that occurred in India. Time has flown by since I returned from London and qualified into Shipping Litigation in Hong Kong. The jump from being a trainee to an associate was exciting. Whilst I have been given more responsibilities and expectations, I have also been given more freedom to handle cases as well as opportunities to try something new. For example, the firm fully subsidised me to attend a 5-day long International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators 2015 in Hong Kong, where I networked with and learned a lot from seasoned maritime lawyers and professionals. I also gave my maiden professional talk to an insurer client on anti-suit injunctions in Hong Kong, which was a nerve-racking but tremendous experience! Thanks to the training at Clyde & Co, I have immensely developed my capacity as a lawyer. The secondment, in particular, has allowed me to appreciate the firm s global scale and pioneering spirit as well as the work culture in UK and Europe. Now I am more sensitive to cultural differences when I liaise with clients from East to West. With a year of hindsight, I can say without doubt that the training at Clyde & Co has put me in great stead for the future. 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. 21

24 The Americas 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. 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 São 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. 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 Brazil * Canada Venezuela * Including Associated Offices 22

25 University College London BA History Seats: Professional and Financial Disputes Real Estate, Projects and Construction Professional Liability Tech & Media team (San Francisco) Employment and Pensions Hannah Crisp Third-seat Secondee Where do you fit in? 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 2014 completed their final year of law school in May 2015 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 ongoing 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. 23