The Mind That Never Rests
What does a corporate transactional lawyer do while waiting in the lift, at a restaurant counter or for coffee at a café? I read the licenses on display, check their validity periods, and scan for conditions. When I see certificates on the walls, I can’t help but examine them too. …
Learning to Appreciate the Small Things
One afternoon, I walked into the office, feeling unsettled after a discussion with another adviser. As I took my laptop from my bag and placed it on my desk, something caught my eye-a small handmade paper box, stapled at the sides, neatly holding some binder clips. The day before, I …
What keeps you going?
What keeps you going? What keeps you thriving in corporate practice? What motivates you to work day and night? I get asked these questions from time to time, and twice in the past few days. Sorry to disappoint, but I don’t have a grand or inspirational answer. For me, it’s …
Why have a shareholders’ agreement?
Why have a shareholders’ agreement? Why not just rely on the company’s constitution? A shareholders’ agreement governs the relationship (1) between shareholders themselves; and (2) between the shareholders and the company (if the company is a party to the shareholders’ agreement). Three reasons to have a shareholders’ agreement when there …
On Judging Others
As a corporate lawyer, I need to collaborate with others, whether with my team or external parties, while working on corporate deals. I review documents prepared by my team, which also require input from other parties. Similarly, I review documents prepared externally by other parties. My work often depends on …
Do I ever get bored?
After my recent post on “Draft, revise, review. Repeat,” reflecting my experience in equity capital markets work, someone asked if I ever get bored. The answer is, “Of course!” No deal is 100% interesting. The LinkedIn posts celebrating IPOs, M&As, or other corporate successes often skip over the long hours …
Draft, review, revise. Repeat.
Draft, review, revise. Repeat. If you are an equity capital markets lawyer, this cycle is all too familiar. Send out a draft. Get comments from other advisers. If you are diligent, you’ll compare the draft you sent with the one you received. Accept changes, track amendments. Enlarge the view if …
Peace of Mind
When clients engage lawyers for legal due diligence or to draft a share purchase agreement, they are not seeking the most polished report or a perfect agreement. What they truly want is peace of mind from knowing that their concerns are addressed and their matters are in good hands. Similarly, …
The Weight of Responsibility
A peer once told me that our work is stressful because it requires us to be right all the time. The cost of getting things wrong is high. The work we do doesn’t save lives, but it does have an impact on others’ livelihoods. We assist corporations with buying and …
𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗕𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻?
While working on corporate transactions can be demanding, I often wonder if it’s possible to truly enjoy the process, not just the celebrations after the transactions are completed. I find it becomes more enjoyable when: ◼️ The team shares the same goal. ◼️ Everyone involved in the transactions is …