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Lovells provides a great atmosphere in which to develop as a lawyer. It is an intensely challenging environment and the work is often demanding. It will take you out of your comfort zone, which undoubtedly aided my development, but there is a strong team ethos and there are always people to whom you can turn for support and advice.

Before applying to Lovells, I had done the customary research about the firm, but I first really felt that it was the place I wanted to train when I went for an assessment day. There was a sharpness and a professional feel to the firm combined with a personal approach that I had not felt at other firms. Everyone that I met was open and personable and I felt that these were people with whom I would enjoy working.

The firm is very welcoming and, as a new trainee, every effort is made to help you settle into the firm and the department within which you are sitting. The various future joiner events that take place during the LPC make this even easier, and after the two week induction course run for new trainees, you have a really close group of friends when you start your first seat.

In my first seat I sat in the Energy, Power and Utilities section of a corporate group and I found the intensity of the fast moving cross border transactions extremely satisfying. I spent my second and third seats in the Tax and Litigation departments before going on a client secondment to the international brewer SABMiller in my final seat. The secondment was great for my personal development, as I worked on a wide range of areas of law doing everything from corporate transactions and commercial contracts to litigation and property work. It also showed me what clients expect from their lawyers and the high level of service that Lovells provides.

My time at SABMiller confirmed to me that I wanted to qualify into a corporate group and since qualification, I have been involved in a variety of work with a diverse range of clients. As I know SAB Miller and the intricacies of their business well, I have also continued to work closely with this firm on a range of transactional and advisory matters.

Looking back at how I came to join Lovells, I definitely made the right choice. When choosing a firm with whom to train, it is important that you find one that fits you as well as one that wants you. The impression of Lovells that I gained from my assessment day confirmed that Lovells was the right place for me.