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

I had three key wants for my training contract: top-tier clients, market-leading work, and outsized responsibility. I knew Ropes & Gray would deliver all three. The firm’s focus on private capital was also crucial — to me, this represents the pinnacle of corporate legal work.

I would also cite culture as a factor. Of the elite U.S. firms, Ropes & Gray has a well-earned reputation for collegiality and friendliness. After seeing this throughout the recruitment process, I knew Ropes & Gray would be a great place to train.

How did you find the recruitment and selection process?

Rigorous, but fair. Through its intense schedule and tight deadlines, the assessment centre offered a realistic preview of trainee life. The variety of tasks involved (comprising an interview, a written task, a negotiation, an elevator pitch, and online tests completed pre-attendance) ensured that candidates were assessed holistically.

The vacation scheme proved a valuable opportunity to try different work, meet potential colleagues, and feel out the office dynamics. By the end of my two weeks, I felt I’d attained an authentic insight into the firm.

How would you describe the firm’s culture?

As mentioned, the culture at Ropes & Gray is highly collegial. Across all levels of seniority, people are willing to listen, help, and coordinate to get the job done. This has created an excellent training environment.

Equally, the firm has an entrepreneurial spirit. Trainees are empowered to seek out opportunities from day one — for example, after expressing my interest in an antitrust secondment, I was pleased to secure a summer placement in our Dublin office for 2025.

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

Whilst I could cite various matters, I enjoyed working with Sixth Street on its UK industrial real estate joint venture. This deal comprised an initial £180m worth of transactions, with a view to significant growth in the coming years. Despite being new to the firm at the time, I was able to attend in-person negotiations at the client’s office, draft aspects of key corporate documents, and complete complex research tasks directly with the partner. I enjoyed this exposure and responsibility at an early stage.

I was also lucky to work on The Baupost Group’s £900 million, 50:50 joint venture acquisition of 33 Marriott hotels in the UK. Whenever I visit home, it’s nice to see a tangible reminder of a deal I worked on!

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

I helped to negotiate a Project Preparation Grant Agreement for a large environmental fund in the Caribbean. One point of contention was the counterparty’s sovereign immunity, which I sought to mitigate in our dispute resolution clause. This led me to collaborate closely with litigation specialists in our Washington, D.C., office. This was an excellent opportunity to tune my drafting skills, work across borders (both within the firm and with the client), and ultimately manage a workstream early in my contract.

What tips would you give a potential applicant?

First, read as much as you can—about the firm, private capital, and the economy more broadly. Commercial awareness is not just a buzzword; it is critical to success in both the recruitment process and the training contract.

Secondly, be yourself. Authenticity will shine through and enable you to relax and focus on your work product. It will also make clear if Ropes & Gray is right for you (and vice versa!). So just relax, enjoy, and put your best foot forward; you can’t do more than that.