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

I saw myself at a firm that prides itself on having an approachable, collegial and team-based culture. I wanted to grow at a firm where the work is complex, and the learning opportunities abound. Ropes & Gray advises on some of the most complex multijurisdictional transactions, hires the best people and has won numerous awards for the transactions that it works on. The firm also cares a lot about the impact it makes in the not-for-profit sector. Ropes & Gray is a firm that has heart, ambition and personality. 

How has Ropes & Gray helped you build a career as a lawyer? 

After doing a vacation scheme at Ropes & Gray, I joined the firm as a trainee in September 2019. The numerous structured training sessions and the fact that I had a dedicated supervisor were incredibly helpful. I also was fortunate to share an office with my supervisor, who was always approachable for advice about matters. I had a great experience training at the firm, and I was very pleased to qualify as an associate. I qualified into the anti-corruption and international risk team in September 2021 and am already working on some exciting and interesting cases, including several ongoing regulatory and internal investigations.

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

One of the more significant matters I worked on was a regulatory investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption involving a FTSE 100 company and its senior executives. We were representing one of the former senior executives. I was able to assist with preparing the client in person and take the lead on various work streams that a junior associate would not ordinarily be tasked with. It was interesting to unravel the chronology of events leading up to the investigation and to work together with the client on developing his defense. 

Providing advice in a criminal investigation meant that the stakes were high and we had to make sure the client was fully prepared for his interview with the regulator. My work on the investigation ranged from assisting with preparing a detailed chronology of events in the case, assisting with client interviews, preparing the client’s defense and drafting representations to the regulator. I got the chance to sit in an interview under caution with the regulator was a great learning opportunity for me. Over the course of the investigation, because of the level of responsibility I was given, I was able to greatly expand on my skillset.

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

I completed a grant agreement for the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund's establishment and implementation of an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Facility. The grant agreement will be used as a template to provide funding to 11 organizations that have successfully applied for project funding. The finalized agreement allowed them to deploy the funds they had received for numerous eco-projects around the Caribbean. It was really fulfilling to witness the clients’ gratitude.

How would you describe the firm’s culture?

The diversity in personalities is what has left the strongest impression on me from my interactions with Ropes & Gray employees. I think much of what makes the firm what it is today is how it has decided to focus its attention on being excellent in certain areas of the legal sphere and how it then translates that excellence back to society and the legal industry through its broader goals.

What tips would you give a potential applicant?

Find out what the firm does and cares about. I think a large part of what makes Ropes & Gray what it is, is the focus the firm puts on both the work it does and the firm “spirit.” Apply for opportunities to engage with the firm—be it at open days, vacation schemes or even at the university law fairs. It is essential that you find out if you are a right fit for the firm, and it also gives you the opportunity to benchmark what would matter to you most as a trainee solicitor.