Leading lawyers give the lowdown on competition, technology, disputes and more!
The Legal Cheek Winter 2024 Virtual Vacation Scheme, hosted in collaboration with The University of Law (ULaw), attracted over 2,000 students for five days of talks, workshops, and an Employability Expo, featuring nearly 20 top law firms.
Throughout the Scheme, students explored a variety of practice areas — from real estate to disputes — through ULaw-designed case studies. These were unpacked during workshops led by expert speakers, offering attendees a glimpse into how key legal scenarios are tackled in real life. Here’s the lowdown.
Day 1
Session 1: Competition law
The speakers:
- Lorna Nsoatabe, partner at Slaughter and May
- Jesse Bakare, Trainee solicitor at Slaughter and May
The lowdown:
The Scheme kicked off with a presentation delivered by Lorna Nsoatabe and Jesse Bakare, which began with a summary of their career journeys and how they got to where they are today. This was followed by an overview of Slaughter and May and how they operate in the UK and globally. The speakers then dived into what competition law is, as well as the various competition authorities that they deal with. Nsoatabe offered critical insight into the role she plays in merger control and foreign investment screening as part of wider M&A deals and in competition litigations. Bakare explained the key cases they are currently working on, before rounding up the presentation by outlining the typical tasks that trainees undertake in a competition seat.
The presentation was followed by a Q&A. Nsoatabe provided additional insight into the global implications of recent competition issues in the US tech industry, as well as the impact of Brexit on the workload of competition lawyers in the UK. She also shared that one of the most memorable cases she has worked on was an appeal to the Court of Justice, which involved some of the most senior judges in Europe all speaking different languages. Bakare delved into his experience training at the firm, before offering advice on adjusting to life as a trainee. When asked about the key skills that aspiring lawyers should develop, Nsoatabe emphasised the importance of people skills and the ability to understand clients and their concerns. Jesse concurred, adding that a growth mindset is crucial during training, and that aspiring lawyers should be confident in their own abilities to learn.
Session 2: Private capital
The speakers:
- Ashwin Pillay, senior associate specialising in private company mergers and acquisitions and private equity investment work at Charles Russell Speechlys
- Tanwen Evans-Balch, associate in the tax, trusts and succession team at Charles Russell Speechlys
The lowdown:
During the Scheme’s second session, led by Ashwin Pillay and Tanwen Evans-Balch, we were introduced to private capital, which sits at the intersection of personal, family and business. Broadly, Pillay defined ‘private capital’ as an umbrella term encompassing matters that deal with private assets, as opposed to those on the public market.
Following this, the speakers delved into a real-life example of private capital in action, focusing on the sale of Mountbatten Motor Cars Limited (MMCL). They began by guiding students through the process of advising MMCL’s founder, Tom, on the sale of the company to Italia Investment, including all the different factors to consider at each stage of the deal.
Besides this, the pair also spoke about the management of Tom’s personal affairs, including his wealth protection and succession planning. In doing so, Pillay and Evans-Balch emphasised the breadth of work that falls within the sphere of ‘private capital’.
Session 3: Employment
The speakers:
- Sarah McWhinney, partner in the employment, immigration and reward division at Lewis Silkin
The lowdown:
McWhinney kicked off the session by sharing her career journey to date, detailing her non-law background as a history graduate, as well as discussing her career change from literary agent to law, and the key transferable skills this gave her.
McWhinney then went on to discuss why she enjoys employment law, explaining how the work provides the opportunity to work closely with people, as well as detailing how rewarding and interesting her work can be – with emotional intelligence, listening and expressing yourself clearly being deemed the key soft skills needed to be successful.
The session also covered some of the key legislative changes coming up in employment law, with day one unfair dismissal rights being deemed as one of the key changes that are likely to impact the employment law landscape. Finally, McWhinney ended the session by emphasising the importance of being ready to take opportunities that come your way.
Day 2
Session 1: Reputation management
The speakers:
- Rory Lynch, partner and head of reputation management at Gateley
The lowdown:
Day two of the Winter Vacation Scheme kicked off with a presentation by Rory Lynch, a partner at Gateley and head of the firm’s reputation management practice. Lynch provided an overview of his field, explaining that reputation management encompasses a wide range of media-related issues, including media litigation, defamation, privacy, and data protection. Importantly, he emphasised that these services aren’t just reserved for wealthy celebrities — clients also include governments, regulatory bodies, and charities.
Lynch delved into the distinction between libel (defamation in a permanent form) and slander (defamation in a transient or temporary form), illustrating these legal terms with high-profile examples such as the well-known ‘Wagatha Christie’ case and Prince Harry’s legal action against the Mail on Sunday publisher.
He rounded off his presentation by sharing some of his career highlights, notably his work with ‘MoneySavingExpert’ Martin Lewis on a landmark case against Facebook over scam advertisements misusing Lewis’s name and image.
Session 2: Deals
The speakers:
- Luke Wetmore, associate at Ropes & Gray
- Matthew Finnie, associate at Akin
- Sweta Tandle, senior associate at Macfarlanes
- Guy Grayson (chair), lecturer at The University of Law and former General Counsel at MJ Hudson Group Plc
The lowdown:
Day 2 concluded with a session on the distinction between disputes and transactional law. Luke Wetmore kicked off with his experience of training in Australia, before taking students through a day in private equity transactions. He highlighted the importance of prioritising tasks effectively in a fast-paced deal environment.
Matthew Finnie was next to describe his route into transactional law, from training in Scotland to becoming a restructuring associate in Akin’s London office. Finnie described his work assisting companies before they become distressed, before reflecting on why he enjoys working as a deals lawyer. Finnie noted in particular the feeling that everyone is working towards a common goal.
Sweta Tandle then took over to discuss her role as a private funds lawyer at Macfarlanes. Reflecting on her decision to qualify as a deals lawyer, Tandle praised the collaborative nature of getting a deal done, and the challenge of driving a transaction forward.
The session then moved to the audience Q&A. Guy Grayson probed the speakers on everything from work life balance to the key personality traits of a transactional lawyer. The session wrapped up with an M&A focused case study; the panel discussed how best to structure the transaction, taking into account the cost of debt.
Day 3
Session 1: Technology
The speakers:
- Max Dixon and Ellie Powell, associates in the Technology and Commercial Transactions team at BCLP
The lowdown:
Max Dixon and Ellie Powell, associates in BCLP’s technology and commercial transactions team, delivered an insightful session on ‘Technology’ during Legal Cheek’s Winter Virtual Vacation Scheme 2024. They introduced BCLP as a global law firm and shared their team’s role in advising clients on technology-related transactions, including drafting contracts, navigating regulations, and supporting digital transformations across multiple industries.
Powell, a recently qualified lawyer, shared how the team’s mix of challenging work and innovative clients drew her to the practice, while Dixon, one year PQE, highlighted the variety of work and strong support systems available to junior lawyers. The associates also provided career advice, emphasising the value of transferable skills for career changers and non-law graduates. They encouraged aspiring lawyers to develop curiosity, adaptability, and commercial awareness, which are key traits for success in technology law.
During the Q&A, they addressed questions on standing out in applications, the importance of commercial awareness and how to develop it and offered advice to those starting out in their legal career. The session highlighted the variety of work that is involved in the technology sector for lawyers and the impact they have on the operations of businesses in this sector.
Session 2: Employability Expo
The speakers:
- Edward Langley, lecturer at The University of Law (ULaw)’s London Bloomsbury campus
- Mandi Kaur, student recruitment manager at The University of Law (ULaw)
- Kira Williams, student recruitment officer at The University of Law (ULaw)
- Louise Musgrave, student recruitment manager at The University of Law (ULaw)
The lowdown:
Firm Research and Applications
Mandi Kaur, ULaw student recruitment manager, kicked off the session by highlighting that applications are a two-way process, arguing that it’s not only important for the firm to think the candidate is the right fit, but that the candidate also feels certain that the firm is the right place for them. When deciding on firms to apply to, Kaur detailed the importance of researching the firm thoroughly, with the firm’s location, secondment opportunities and trainee intake being deemed some of the key considerations.
Key skills to include on applications were also discussed, with commercial awareness and strong oral and written communication being critical skills to demonstrate. Kaur commended the use of the STAR method when discussing specific skills on applications. The session wrapped up by highlighting the importance of tailoring applications sufficiently, with Kaur advocating that roughly six hours should be spent on writing and researching an application to ensure it is to a high standard – with punctuation and grammatical errors being deemed key reasons as to why applications are unsuccessful.
The SQE Explained
ULaw lecturer at the university’s London Bloomsbury campus, Edward Langley, walked attendees through everything they need to know about the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE). Langley started with some context on how the route to qualification has changed, before discussing the courses available at ULaw to succeed through the SQE pathway. He covered the SQE assessment fundamentals, including a deep dive into exactly what functioning legal knowledge is required. Langley drew distinctions between the skills required for SQE1 and SQE2, before dealing with practicalities such as fees and exam dates. Edward helpfully provided some practical resources, including the ULaw SQE revision app, to round off the session.
Ace your interviews
During this session, ULaw student recruitment officer Kira Williams shared her top tips for acing interviews. To kick off the session, she guided students through the purpose of interviews, the different sorts of interview to expect (in-person, video, phone call, etc), as well as their typical structure.
Williams advised students to use their body language to create a positive first impression, by making eye contact, smiling, and avoiding fidgeting, and also emphasised the need to prepare thoroughly beforehand. To illustrate this point, Williams shared personal anecdotes highlighting the importance of keeping your CV fully updated to avoid getting caught out!
Writing Effective CVs and Cover Letters
Louise Musgrave, student recruitment manager at ULaw, provided attendees with practical tips to optimise their application documents for legal roles. During the session, she emphasised the importance of tailoring CVs to specific firms by addressing recruiter criteria and showcasing key selling points. She explored the structure of a chronological legal CV, suggesting sections such as personal details, education, work experience, skills, and extracurricular achievements. Key advice included using concise bullet points, ensuring consistency in style, and avoiding common mistakes like unexplained gaps of unemployment or the overuse of details.
For cover letters, Musgrave advocated for clarity, flow, and a persuasive tone. She encouraged participants to map out paragraphs beforehand, highlight relevant experiences, and address potential “blips” positively. Attendees were given actionable strategies to craft CVs and cover letters tailored to law firms.
Day 4
Session 1: Video games
The speakers:
- Peter Lewin, partner specialising in video games and interactive entertainment at Wiggin
- Isabel Davies, senior associate specialising in video games, esports and interactive entertainment at Wiggin
The lowdown:
Day 4 of the Scheme kicked off with a masterclass on video games led by Peter Lewin and Isabel Davies, lawyers specialising in video games and interactive entertainment at Wiggin.
Following a quick rundown of their respective career journeys, the speakers gave an overview of the video games industry, as well as the types of clients they work with. They then dived into the lifecycle of a video games company, examining the clients’ needs at each stage and the corresponding advice they give. Finally, the speakers offered tips for becoming a video games lawyer — Davies emphasised the importance of exploring your interests alongside your law degree, citing the games reviews she wrote at university as one of the major reasons she secured her first full-time role in the entertainment industry. Lewin concurred, noting that aspiring video games lawyers should demonstrate their motivation and drive in a tangible way through experiences.
In a Q&A following the presentation, Lewin provided insights into the increased interest in AI within the industry, while Davies shed light on the shifts in UK and EU regulations in response to the novel legal challenges the industry has been posing in recent years. As the session drew to a close, the speakers offered their final pieces of advice — Lewin asked the audience to challenge their assumptions of the career opportunities that are available to trainees, while Davies encouraged them to make use of the opportunities currently available to them.
Session 2: Restructuring
The speakers:
- Georgia Papathanasiou, associate in restructuring at Weil
The lowdown:
The second session of the day saw Georgia Papathanasiou guiding students through all things restructuring and insolvency. Georgia kicked off her presentation with a discussion of Weil’s most notable deals, from assisting Ukraine in their $23 billion sovereign restructuring to the infamous Lehman Brothers’ insolvency.
Papathanasiou then discussed the full spectrum of financial distress, and the different approaches taken depending on a company’s financial health. She detailed the key stages of a restructuring deal, and the day-to-day tasks involved in getting the deal on paper. This led to a discussion of the typical tasks required of a restructuring trainee, before moving to the Q&A portion of the session.
Papathanasiou was quizzed on the key skills required to succeed in a restructuring team, what attracted her to the practice area and the greatest challenges of the role. She also considered the future of restructuring and the impact of AI, before closing with some advice to students.
Session 3: Disputes
The speakers:
- Amina Jamil, associate in the dispute resolution team at Dentons
- Dawn Troman, legal director in the commercial disputes and international arbitration team at Osborne Clarke
- Lauren Stephenson, ULaw lecturer and former associate at Shoosmiths
The lowdown:
We wrapped up Day 4 of the Scheme by delving into life as a dispute resolution lawyer. Amina Jamil, an associate in the dispute resolution team at Dentons, began by providing an insight into her career journey to date, as well as the varied nature of her current role. Jamil also highlighted several key commercial awareness topics impacting the sector, including ESG considerations and the recent US election.
Following Jamil’s talk we heard from Dawn Troman, who also reflected on her career journey and shared various insights into her work as legal director at Osborne Clarke. Like Jamil, Troman was drawn to disputes at an early stage in her legal journey, and continues to enjoy the complexity of her work, with each case throwing up various hurdles to overcome.
Troman and Jamil then came together for a Q&A session hosted by Lauren Stephenson, who herself qualified as a dispute resolution lawyer before becoming a lecturer at ULaw. Here, aspiring litigators were urged to hone their time management and research skills to excel in this busy practice area. To round off the session, the speakers offered their thoughts on the day’s case study exercise, including some key points to consider before bringing a claim.
Day 5
Session 1: Real estate
The speakers:
- Luke Taylor, commercial real estate partner at Brabners
- Alix Murtha, senior associate in the real estate team at Clyde & Co
- Yusuf Qureshi, trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths
- Adam Richards, associate in the planning and infrastructure team at Womble Bond Dickinson
The lowdown:
The final day of the Scheme began with a session on real estate, featuring speakers from Brabners, Clyde & Co, Shoosmiths, and Womble Bond Dickinson. To start off, the speakers each gave an overview of their career journeys, the work they do and the key commercial awareness issues affecting their practices.
In the Q&A, the speakers dived deeper into these commercial awareness issues. Luke Taylor described the knock-on effect that higher for longer interest rates have on investors’ decisions, while Alix Murtha noted that there are overseas investors ready to step in when the price is right. Adam Richards shed light on the housing initiatives announced in the Autumn Budget, explaining the practical factors that could limit the speed at which new housing is built. The speakers also relayed their observations of how the market and the government are responding to the reduced post-pandemic demand for office space.
The final minutes of the session saw the speakers offering words of advice and encouragement to aspiring lawyers. Yusuf Qureshi reflected on how his non-law degree helped him see the law from a different perspective, while Adam encouraged career changers, emphasising that ‘it is never too late’.
Session 2: Aviation finance
The speakers:
- Maeve Naughton, senior associate in the asset finance team at Norton Rose Fulbright
- Justin Yuen, aviation finance associate at Norton Rose Fulbright
The lowdown:
Maeve Naughton kicked off the Scheme’s final substantive session by delving into her work in Norton Rose Fulbright’s asset finance team. She outlined the key clients she works for, which include airlines (operators), banks (financers) and leasing companies (lessors), to name a few. Looking ahead to the future of the industry, Naughton highlighted that passenger traffic has surpassed pre-pandemic levels and continues to increase, which suggests that aviation finance is likely to remain a significant area of growth. Besides this, she also explained that meeting net zero targets is a key concern for airlines over the coming years.
We then heard from Justin Yuen, who shared an overview of his career journey and day-to-day work in the aviation finance sector. Whilst Naughton predominantly specialises in the financing and leasing of aircraft, Yuen explained that his practice focuses more on the trade of these assets, as well as providing commercial advisory services for airlines.
To wrap up the session, the speakers shared their parting advice for budding lawyers, with Justin urging students to keep an open mind and not place too much pressure on themselves to have a linear career journey.
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