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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
Before joining HFW, I worked in international relations at an inter-governmental organisation specialising in oil spill pollution. At university, I studied English Literature and Classics. I am currently learning Mandarin (very difficult) and desperately trying to improve my tennis skills.
What is your role and how long have you been at HFW?
I am a fourth seat Trainee, sitting in Shipping Litigation in HFW's Shanghai office. I just spent my third seat in our Hong Kong office (Commercial Litigation and Shipping), so have done back-to-back international secondments. My first two seats were in London: Commodities Litigation and Oil & Gas Transactions.
What inspired you to apply to become a trainee at HFW?
After university, I spent four years working in international relations within the United Nations' Maritime sector. Knowing that the world is kept alive through shipments of commodities, which mainly go unnoticed by the general public, was compelling enough for me to consider it as a career path. I have always been drawn to the more tangible facets of life, and I liked the idea of being a specialist in an area, rather than a general disputes or transactional lawyer. Lastly, I wanted to work at a law firm which would value the experience I had already built in my previous career and allow me to work on matters where I could apply that knowledge.
What appeals to you about HFW's guaranteed international secondment?
Since both my parents are immigrants, I know the value of building an international network and understanding various cultures and practices. I have always wanted to explore cross-border disputes and see how global supply chains work commercially, as well as legally. Learning how we approach clients in different parts of the world is a valuable skill, and one that I was eager to learn.
Where did you end up going and why?
I did my third seat in Hong Kong and am currently in Shanghai for my fourth seat.
What would a 'normal' day on secondment look like for you?
The Shanghai office working hours are slightly later, so I come in around 10am, having done a 40-minute walk into work (the weather is glorious at the moment) from the apartment that HFW has provided. I grab a coffee in the office kitchen and practice Mandarin with the office assistant – I think I am making progress.
I finish drafting a response to an application to expunge evidence in an arbitration I have been working on and send it to a Partner in Hong Kong for his review. The Shanghai office is small and very friendly, so I pop my head around a few doors to see who wants to go for lunch. We usually grab something local (most likely involving noodles - 面条).
After lunch, I check in with the Partner who I share an office with, and we discuss our current matters and next steps. I finalise a witness statement and collate the corresponding exhibit, then send it to the client for final sign-off. As a breather, I go into the Senior Manager's office and ask her (in poor Mandarin) whether she is free to play tennis this weekend. Alas, she has a business trip to Guangzhou (in South China), so we reschedule.
Next, I try to progress a mediation that is being organised on a different matter. I research potential mediators, collate a shortlist and send emails to them requesting fee quotes. Once I have finished that, my supervising Partner gives me some feedback on a settlement offer letter (for a different matter) that I had drafted the day before. I incorporate his comments and make the necessary changes. It is around 7:30pm now, so I send it back to him and dash off to go to my two-hour Mandarin class (which I am usually late for)! After class, I grab dinner with my classmates.
What has been the single most important thing you've learned so far as a trainee? How has your secondment helped you with this learning?
Learning how to provide a valuable legal service, including balancing concrete advice and managing client expectations, has been important. As my Training Contract has been predominantly focussed in the Shipping
and Commodities sectors, recognising that our clients do not want to read long swathes of floral language but just want to move forward commercially, is a vital lesson to learn firsthand. Working with clients in Asia has really improved my drafting skills as I need to communicate clearly and succinctly for non-native English speakers. Distilling complex ideas and strategies into language that can be understood by everyone is a skill I will hold onto for the remainder of my career.
What have you gained from a personal and professional development perspective from your international secondment?
I have managed to build a strong network across the APAC offices, as we work in the same time zone. I have also visited the Singapore office and hope to visit some of the Australian offices before I head back to London in the Autumn. Amongst other things, I was lucky to attend some great networking events during Hong Kong's Arbitration Week, made friends with other London trainees (from other firms) seconded to Hong Kong and fulfilled a lot of personal travel goals.
What have you enjoyed the most about your international secondment?
Being able to travel extensively whilst furthering my career is a rare opportunity. I have been to Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Macao, Taiwan and all over China. I have trips planned to Japan and Mongolia too!
Finally, any tips for anyone who would like to apply for a role at HFW?
Put forward your personal experiences and abilities; this firm really values individuality. If you have worked before, it is a good thing! My cohort is such a mix of experiences, ages and backgrounds.