Name: Simon Tovey
University/College: The University of the West of England
Degree: Law
Employer: Baker & McKenzie
Job Title: Trainee Solicitor
Joined: September 2005

How did you initially hear about Baker & McKenzie?

As a law student I first applied to Baker & McKenzie for a Summer Vacation Placement and was invited to spend three weeks with the firm in the summer of 2003. Having done a two week placement at another city law firm immediately before coming to Baker & McKenzie, I must say that the difference between the two was considerable. From the first day we were made to feel very welcome and at ease, and encouraged to not only find out more about the Firm but to enjoy the experience. As well as spending time in two departments in the Firm and getting exposure to the type of work being carried out in the London office, we received a wide variety of training. My time on the vacation placement gave me the opportunity to get to know people at all levels of the Firm, both in the office and at the many organised social events including a trip on the London Eye, dinner in a restaurant on the Thames, and a pub/bar treasure hunt in the area around the office.

Why did you choose to join Baker & McKenzie?

When I was offered a training contract by the firm, my experience on the vacation placement had already convinced me that Baker & McKenzie was the place where I wanted to be. The Firm is consistently highly ranked among city firms, has a considerable worldwide presence and is involved in a large amount of high quality domestic and international work. However, the general atmosphere was very different to that which I had experienced elsewhere, and I felt that the smaller number of trainees compared with other top-tier firms meant that I wouldn’t feel lost in the crowd. I had heard much about the high standard of training that the Firm would provide, and through the vacation placement I had been able to see first hand the quality of training and other opportunities available.

What does your role involve?

I spent my first seat in Corporate sitting with a partner in the Firm’s reorganisations practice area. As chance would have it, I sat with a partner and an associate whom I worked for during my vacation scheme, which certainly helped me to settle in quickly. Almost immediately I was given responsibility for looking after one of the group’s clients, working closely with an associate to ensure that all of the client’s global corporate issues were dealt with. Over the past six months I have been involved in dealing with numerous Baker & McKenzie offices across the globe as well as a number of correspondent law firms to resolve many different types of legal and practical issues. Through these and other projects, I built good relationships with colleagues all across Europe and America whom I spoke to on a regular basis. I also worked closely with a number of associates visiting from other Baker & McKenzie offices, and who are fully integrated with the rest of the team here in London. Sitting with a partner meant that I was exposed to all aspects of every deal, and just listening to the many discussions with clients and other offices meant that I picked up considerable knowledge on a wide range of corporate issues.

What challenges have you faced in your role?

Undoubtedly working in corporate has been a challenge, mainly because of the amount of responsibility given to trainees to ensure that everything on a particular project runs smoothly. The support from colleagues of all levels means that you are never out on a limb, and always able to ask numerous questions of partners and associates alike. The rest of the trainees within the department are always available to help each other and to take some of the strain when matters became urgent, and each task has always been manageable as a result. There is also a strong social side to life at the firm, with both departmental and firm Christmas parties, and as part of a smaller team within corporate.

What are your ambitions within the Firm?

I have recently moved on to the Employment department for my second seat. During my next seat, I am hoping to spend time in one of the Firm’s international offices, and create closer links with colleagues in another jurisdiction. It’s hard to believe that I have been working here at Bakers for over six months already, and I’m sure that the rest of my training contract will go just as quickly.