Why did you choose Ropes & Gray to start your legal career?

Ropes & Gray holds a first-rate reputation in the Private Equity market. As a career-changer, I thought long and hard about what might best suit my interests and skillset. Many of my friends who work in investment banking and private equity, and when I asked for their guidance on the best law firms in the market, Ropes & Gray came highly recommended.

How did you find the recruitment and selection process?

I enjoyed Ropes & Gray’s recruitment process more than any other. The process tests a wide range of skills from your intellectual ability and commercial curiosity to your communication skills and teamwork. The tasks are commercially relevant and scenario-based (law in context, not law in the abstract).

How would you describe the firm’s culture?

Ropes is known as the ‘friendly US firm’ and this has certainly held true in my experience. There is a genuine ‘open-door’ policy, and associates and partners, are very generous with their time when it comes to informal on-the-job training. “Collaborative and collegial, not cut-throat” would be my crack at a marketing slogan (probably why I’m not in marketing).

Tell us about a memorable matter you’ve worked on.

I worked on a life sciences private M&A deal with the strategic transactions group which involved a particularly complex consideration structure, including up-front consideration (determined on a completion accounts basis) and deferred consideration (in the form of royalties and milestone payments). This was fantastic exposure to the life sciences deal structures and a great way to learn how risk is allocated when there is such uncertainty around successfully bringing products to market.  

Tell us about a pro bono matter you’ve worked on.

I’m currently assisting on a family law matter. Divorced parents are engaged in a custody battle over the youngest of three children. It’s a rare opportunity at Ropes to work on a contentious matter which involves attending court hearings. We don’t do litigation in London, so I feel very fortunate to have this exposure. Working on the case has been rewarding as it relates to real people’s lives in a tangible way.

What tips would you give a potential applicant?

Be yourself-- authenticity is key. When attending an interview or interacting with others at an assessment day or on a vacation scheme, being warm, open and enthusiastic goes a very long way. People want to see that you’re engaged and keen and the more relaxed you’re able to feel, the better your performance will be. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.