In legal work, some urgency is expected (hopefully not all the time). No one has ever said to me, “Take all the time you need to complete the work.” Most of the time, the instruction is to get the work done by X date, turn it around fast, asap, or …

I still remember being asked more than a decade ago, during a pupillage interview, what my career aspiration was. I said something along the lines of aspiring to be an excellent lawyer recognised by Chambers and other leading guides. The truth is, at the time, I didn’t really know what …

One of the first things newly qualified lawyers learn (if they haven’t already) is how to use track changes in Word. It’s a simple but powerful tool. It lets the partner, the person reviewing their work, or the counterparty’s counsel quickly see what’s been amended. (In theory) it saves time, …

Before you even get legal advice, there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes. I spent more time this week communicating with prospective clients, going through the information they shared and preparing fee proposals than on actual legal work. However, this is often where the work begins. Before I prepare …

“I don’t know how you do it,” a client told me recently, after we pushed through multiple rounds of compliance work at a relentless pace. It’s probably not a good idea to respond with a cheeky, “I also don’t know how I do it.” 😆 The truth is, when I …

“Pay me tuition fees,” I jokingly told a colleague after walking him through the steps of an M&A deal in 15 minutes. It took me years and numerous transactions to recognise the patterns. No one explained to me what conditions precedent and conditions subsequent meant. I had to flip through …

People sometimes ask if I write my own LinkedIn posts. Yes, every post. Most of what I share comes from questions I encounter in my work, points of law that I’m curious about or articles I’ve read recently. Writing helps me clarify my thinking, reveal what I thought I knew …

“Are you passionate about what you do?” I was asked. Honestly? It’s one of those questions I have always struggled to answer. A million thoughts ran through my mind. Who can be passionate about what they do 24/7? Define “passionate”. Is it the kind that lights you up every morning? …

Mistakes in corporate law don’t always come from big decisions. Sometimes, it’s the small slip-ups that leave the biggest impression. I try to get names and honorifics right in every email. It’s a small thing, but to me, it signals respect and professionalism. One evening, after a long day and …

“It’s urgent.” I’ve heard that phrase countless times over the years. Sometimes, it really is. Other times… not so much. Rarely does anyone explain why it’s urgent. Sometimes, the same people calling it urgent are the ones who let the deal stall. Ironically, when it comes to paying invoices, their …