University: Lancaster University, University of Bergen
Degree: International law
Year of qualification: 2023
Position: Associate
Department: Antitrust, competition and trade regulation
Pronouns: She/her/hers

What attracted you to a career in law?

I was initially attracted to a career in law because of my passion for reading and arguing! In all honesty, law seemed to be a great fit for my skill set, and it just all clicked once I tried stepping into a solicitor’s shoes.

Why solicitor not barrister?

I wanted to work closely with clients, and to combine both my legal and commercial knowledge to provide outside-the-box practical solutions to issues that businesses may face. I also enjoy teamwork and collaboration.

How did you decide which firms to apply to?

Let’s face it – a lot of law firms look very similar (if not the same) in their brochures and on ‘about us’ pages. So you’ll have to do your homework if you want to make the right choice about where to apply.

After many hours of research, informal chats over coffee, attending a number of open days and events, I pieced together what the most important aspects in a law firm are to me. SEO London Programme and their fantastic team were also extremely helpful at this stage.

How much work experience had you had? Why is it so important?

I pursued various legal and non-legal work experiences prior to starting my training contract. All of them were valuable in building my self-confidence and allowed me to jumpstart my career at K&L Gates. There are no bad or irrelevant experiences – go and explore what’s out there before settling.

Please discuss a specific deal/case that you were involved with during your training contract, outlining your role in the matter.

I assisted on a public inquiry during my time in the white collar defence and investigations seat. I had to step in to attend witness interviews where I was in charge of taking attendance notes, and then later got involved with drafting follow-up materials.

This was a very interesting matter I worked on as a trainee because it was very high-profile and I was given a lot of responsibility. The whole team working under immense pressure to meet tight deadlines but delivering high-quality work was a steep learning curve for me.

How does the qualification process work at the firm?

HR releases an internal jobs list for newly qualified (NQ) solicitors reflecting each department’s needs. NQ associates-to-be are then required to submit a CV and a cover letter as part of the application process, and are invited for a formal interview with the hiring partner(s). Decisions are then usually made within a week or so.

Please outline your area of expertise. What might you do in a typical day?

I’m part of K&L Gates’ antitrust, competition and trade regulation team where I do a mix of advisory, regulatory and corporate support work.

Our team is known for multi-jurisdictional transactions and investigations in strategic technology sectors, contentious competition advice, high-profile horizontal competitor collaborations and alliances, and market-leading brand distribution practice advising well-known consumer brands on their go-to-market and expansion strategies.

No two days are the same because we have clients of all shapes and sizes, and from a range of industries. On a typical day, I usually do some legal research (albeit every day it’s on a different subject area!) and drafting of commercial contracts, advisory notes, slide decks, guidelines, training materials, or just lengthy emails setting out current legal position – you name it. I’ll also review and amend commercial contracts, reach out to colleagues in other jurisdictions on one of our many international projects and coordinate the same, provide support on a business development activity (eg, article, blog post, client pitch or anything in between) and participate in a client call. There’s usually some time left to brainstorm or discuss a new legal development/client opportunity with my immediate London team.

Please discuss a current/recent specific deal/case, outlining your role in the matter.

I have a keen interest in the fast-evolving sustainability and compliance laws and, in particular, the horizontal competitor collaborations under the new sustainability rules. I’m currently involved in a couple of separate sustainability collaboration initiatives across different sectors that are designed to achieve environmental, social and governance objectives through collective action. I work closely with our team’s London partner who’s leading these workstreams.

Over the past few months, we’ve been advising a newly formed high-profile industry coalition that was launched at COP28 in December 2023 on ensuring that its planned joint activities are structured and managed in compliance with the relevant antitrust laws for horizontal competitor collaborations. Alongside two antitrust partners, I was given an opportunity to present to the members and to provide training on competition considerations at the launch stage. This workstream also involves coordination and support from our competition colleagues around the world to ensure global compliance.

This side of my workload is particularly close to my heart, as it provides me with the satisfaction of using my legal skills and knowledge for the greater good.

What makes your firm stand out from the rest?

Small trainee intake, high-quality work with good work/life balance, a wealth of very knowledgeable peers and seniors from whom you can learn loads, and a genuinely supportive and friendly culture. Oh, and a private terrace overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s the place to be!

What skills/strengths do you need to be a successful solicitor?

Every solicitor is different, but a successful one knows their strengths and utilises them, while also working on addressing their weaknesses. Perhaps this is the secret to a successful career in law? That is, to never stop improving and actively seek out chances (and challenges) to do so. Hunger for learning is probably the top quality to have.

What advice do you have for budding solicitors who are contemplating a career in law?

Explore this career path before settling on it to see whether it really fits you. Try signing up to legal pro bono or volunteering initiatives at university. I’d also recommended finding out whether there are any legal writing or oral competitions you could participate in to broaden your understanding of what practising law entails. You could even apply for a legal summer internship? Open days and events organised by law firms are also really useful.

Don’t limit yourself to one area of law too early – trust me, you’ll change your mind several times before qualifying. Experiencing different areas of law will only work to your advantage.

What diversity and inclusion initiatives does the firm have in place?

In addition to having a dedicated diversity and inclusion committee and holding various events, our London office actively participates in the SEO London Programme. The programme helps aspiring lawyers from low socioeconomic backgrounds to explore career opportunities across the City.

I’m a huge supporter of mentoring, having benefitted from being a mentee during my application years. I’m excited to see that the firm is in the process of signing up to a high-profile mentoring programme – so, keep your eyes peeled, as you may have a chance to be paired up with one of K&L Gates’ lawyers and hear about their experiences.

Does your department largely work independently, in support of another dept or is it routinely supported by other depts?

It’s a mixture and depends on the type of work and client’s needs. There are rarely any deals or projects when our team works solely independently.

We regularly work with various departments within our London office, such as litigation, IP, corporate, employment and others. We also closely collaborate with other K&L Gates’ offices if specific local law knowledge is required. Given the wide geographic scope and the size of our offices, after three years at the firm, I still find myself sending emails with ‘a pleasure to e-meet you’ to my colleagues overseas. It’s great to be able to grow my internal network through day-to-day work.

What’s your signature dish?

I love making desserts. Currently, pavlova with cream and passion fruit is the one I make the most often!