I was born in England but moved several times growing up and lived in America and Singapore for over a decade. I spent my gap year after high school teaching children English in Bali and studying politics in Washington, DC, before starting my degree in International Relations back in the UK.

I wanted to be a lawyer from around the age of 12, but became side-tracked by my love for politics and international affairs. After some work experience with a law firm, however, I felt a renewed desire to pursue a career in law and applied for the Baker McKenzie Summer Vacation Scheme that same autumn.

I actually completed two vacation schemes the following summer and was fortunate enough to receive training contract offers from both firms. I chose Baker McKenzie because it manages to encourage a diversity of people and thought, whilst underscoring a common culture of friendliness and inclusivity. Yes, it has exciting, global clients and premium work, but it’s truly the people that make the Firm.

Since I joined, Baker McKenzie has exceeded my expectations in so many ways: the quality and complexity of work; the collaborative team environment; and the global reach.

The thing I like most about commercial law is that it accommodates both my love for methodical problem-solving and my desire to understand the world around me. It requires logical reasoning together with a nuanced appreciation of how external factors, such as political climates, can influence different markets and businesses.

Although I’m still in my first seat, I’ve already been exposed to the tremendous breadth of work Corporate Finance has to offer, including public and private M&A, IPOs, corporate advisory and capital fundraisers.

I’ve just had my mid-seat review, which went really well, and I’m now focused on building on the skills I’ve gained during the second half of my seat. Beyond that, I’m looking forward to experiencing different types of law in my other three seats. One of which I’m hoping will involve an international or client secondment.