I recently completed a six-month secondment at one of the firm’s longstanding clients, Nomura. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Nomura, and really benefitted from the opportunity to see a client’s perspective.
Starting at Nomura immediately following a six-week sabbatical, I was simultaneously nervous to jump back into work in a new role and excited to get as much out of my six months as possible. I was lucky to receive a very warm and friendly welcome from their litigation department, a small team who went out of their way to get me involved from my first day. It was immediately clear to me that they are really excellent at what they do: juggling a number of matters across a small team, whilst remaining across the detail and efficiently liaising with different stakeholders in the business. It was clear I had a lot to get my arms around, and quickly!
My learning experience on secondment never stopped, and I was still picking up insights into in-house life into my final days of secondment. So, what will I take back with me to private practice?
- What struck me straight away was the huge amount the team had on: from large litigations to discrete queries, and with new requests for advice coming up regularly, they never stopped. One way they managed that workload was by always maintaining a sharp focus on the legal issues, risks and benefits that they needed to know about to allow Nomura to take the relevant legal and business decisions in front of them. Short and punchy emails from outside counsel (with the offer of more detail if needed) were always gratefully received!
- At Travers Smith, we always seek to reach out to clients proactively on matters to help them plan for next steps and take account of what clients need to know about upcoming work streams and deadlines. Witnessing the pace at which in-house counsel work only reinforced to me the importance of this practice.
- I had the opportunity to work daily with other legal teams, compliance, a variety of different business areas and offices abroad, reflecting the collaborative approach to working which I saw throughout Nomura. Not only is this collaborative approach something that I will build on back at Travers, it was also a good reminder of the need to remain conscious of the huge number of different stakeholders that clients will often be working with behind the scenes.
- And finally, what was the biggest practical benefit to in-house life? It has to be not having to record a single six-minute increment in my six months at Nomura. Sadly not something I will be taking back to private practice with me!
Charlotte Angwin
Senior Associate
I recently completed a six-month secondment at one of the firm’s longstanding clients, Nomura. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Nomura, and really benefitted from the opportunity to see a client’s perspective.
Starting at Nomura immediately following a six-week sabbatical, I was simultaneously nervous to jump back into work in a new role and excited to get as much out of my six months as possible. I was lucky to receive a very warm and friendly welcome from their litigation department, a small team who went out of their way to get me involved from my first day. It was immediately clear to me that they are really excellent at what they do: juggling a number of matters across a small team, whilst remaining across the detail and efficiently liaising with different stakeholders in the business. It was clear I had a lot to get my arms around, and quickly!
My learning experience on secondment never stopped, and I was still picking up insights into in-house life into my final days of secondment. So, what will I take back with me to private practice?
- What struck me straight away was the huge amount the team had on: from large litigations to discrete queries, and with new requests for advice coming up regularly, they never stopped. One way they managed that workload was by always maintaining a sharp focus on the legal issues, risks and benefits that they needed to know about to allow Nomura to take the relevant legal and business decisions in front of them. Short and punchy emails from outside counsel (with the offer of more detail if needed) were always gratefully received!
- At Travers Smith, we always seek to reach out to clients proactively on matters to help them plan for next steps and take account of what clients need to know about upcoming work streams and deadlines. Witnessing the pace at which in-house counsel work only reinforced to me the importance of this practice.
- I had the opportunity to work daily with other legal teams, compliance, a variety of different business areas and offices abroad, reflecting the collaborative approach to working which I saw throughout Nomura. Not only is this collaborative approach something that I will build on back at Travers, it was also a good reminder of the need to remain conscious of the huge number of different stakeholders that clients will often be working with behind the scenes.
- And finally, what was the biggest practical benefit to in-house life? It has to be not having to record a single six-minute increment in my six months at Nomura. Sadly not something I will be taking back to private practice with me!
Charlotte Angwin
Senior Associate
In January 2023, I joined the Group Legal team at Anglo American, a leading global mining company, for a six-month secondment to assist one of its subsidiary divisions, De Beers, with its disputes. I am working on a very broad range of international matters, including contractual and intellectual property disputes, as well as assisting the business with its analysis of litigation risk.
Although I am only mid-way through my time with De Beers, already I have found several striking features of working here.
Most obviously when you enter the office is the truly international nature of the workforce in the London headquarters. You hear as many overseas voices as you do British ones, which reflects the international nature of the group and provides a broad and valuable diversity of perspectives.
The office is generally an open-plan hot-desking environment, which I am enjoying more than I had anticipated! I have found it particularly useful as a new joiner, and I make an effort to sit at different desks within the Group Legal space so that I can get to know the broader team and learn about the diverse areas of the business that they support. I have been grateful for the very warm and welcoming reception from both the Group Legal team and the business divisions with whom I am working, and their patience as I travel a steep learning curve.
As with Travers Smith, Anglo American has a great canteen that provides a high-quality lunch to its staff free of charge. A feature that I would encourage all businesses to consider is that the canteen is eat-in only; staff cannot take away to eat at their desks. The headquarters is filled with busy individuals, but being compelled to take a short break away from your desk is enormously supportive of well-being, and provides a particular daily opportunity to chat with and get to know your colleagues.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my secondment so far, and I look forward to the remainder of my time with De Beers.
Laura Hickman
Senior Associate
In January 2023, I joined the Group Legal team at Anglo American, a leading global mining company, for a six-month secondment to assist one of its subsidiary divisions, De Beers, with its disputes. I am working on a very broad range of international matters, including contractual and intellectual property disputes, as well as assisting the business with its analysis of litigation risk.
Although I am only mid-way through my time with De Beers, already I have found several striking features of working here.
Most obviously when you enter the office is the truly international nature of the workforce in the London headquarters. You hear as many overseas voices as you do British ones, which reflects the international nature of the group and provides a broad and valuable diversity of perspectives.
The office is generally an open-plan hot-desking environment, which I am enjoying more than I had anticipated! I have found it particularly useful as a new joiner, and I make an effort to sit at different desks within the Group Legal space so that I can get to know the broader team and learn about the diverse areas of the business that they support. I have been grateful for the very warm and welcoming reception from both the Group Legal team and the business divisions with whom I am working, and their patience as I travel a steep learning curve.
As with Travers Smith, Anglo American has a great canteen that provides a high-quality lunch to its staff free of charge. A feature that I would encourage all businesses to consider is that the canteen is eat-in only; staff cannot take away to eat at their desks. The headquarters is filled with busy individuals, but being compelled to take a short break away from your desk is enormously supportive of well-being, and provides a particular daily opportunity to chat with and get to know your colleagues.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my secondment so far, and I look forward to the remainder of my time with De Beers.
Laura Hickman
Senior Associate
I have just returned to Travers from a three-month secondment in Legance's Dispute Resolution team in Rome. I joined Legance in February 2023 and immediately I was very kindly invited to join the Legance DR team retreat to Cortina D'Ampezzo in the Dolomites, a great way to spend my first weekend in Italy! A number of us drove up from Rome (nearly 7 hours each way…), before hitting the slopes in what was an exciting way to break the ice (pardon the pun) and get to know the team in a stunning environment.
During my time at Legance, I was struck by how friendly the team is. I had the benefit of having already met a number of the Legance team, including Bianca Berardicurti and Jacopo Nisticò from their secondments at Travers in 2019 and 2022 respectively, but everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome. It is clear that the firm has a very special culture, and the openness and kindness of the team reminds me of Travers.
On the work front, I very much enjoyed experiencing how the Italian legal system operates. The team involved me in a large English language ICC Arbitration, where there was a major hearing held in Paris in late-April and I had the opportunity to attend a hearing at the Court of Appeal in Rome. I think my Italian improved – though my Legance colleagues would probably disagree.
It was a fascinating experience and I hope to bring some of the Italian approach back to London with me. I am extremely grateful to both Travers and Legance for the opportunity.
Philippe Lopeman
Senior Associate
I am currently on a three-month secondment in Legance's Dispute Resolution team in Rome. I joined Legance in February 2023 and immediately I was very kindly invited to join the Legance DR team retreat to Cortina D'Ampezzo in the Dolomites, a great way to spend my first weekend in Italy! A number of us drove up from Rome (nearly 7 hours each way…), before hitting the slopes in what was an exciting way to break the ice (pardon the pun) and get to know the team in a stunning environment.
Since my arrival at Legance, I have been struck by how friendly the team is. I had the benefit of having already met a number of the Legance team, including Bianca Berardicurti and Jacopo Nisticò from their secondments at Travers in 2019 and 2022 respectively, but everyone went out of their way to make me feel welcome. It is clear that this firm has a very special culture, and the openness and kindness of the team reminds me of Travers.
On the work front, the team have been involving me in a large English language ICC Arbitration as we build up to a hearing in Paris in mid-April. I have also had the opportunity to attend a hearing at the Court of Appeal in Rome and am very much enjoying experiencing how the Italian legal system operates.
It has been a fascinating experience so far and very rewarding. I think my Italian is improving – though my Legance colleagues would probably disagree. I am extremely grateful to both Travers and Legance for this opportunity and very much look forward to the remainder of my secondment.
Philippe Lopeman
Senior Associate
I am currently an Associate Secondee in Hengeler Mueller's Dispute Resolution team in Frankfurt. I joined the firm for a six-month secondment in November 2022.
I have received a very warm reception from Hengeler Mueller's DR team and am thoroughly enjoying my time here.
For the past few months, I have been working mainly on four parallel arbitral proceedings, which are all based on largely the same set of facts. This has involved consideration of various provisions of the Arbitration Rules of the German Arbitration Institution (DIS) and the German Civil Code, as well as multiple aspects of foreign law. Currently, we are drafting and preparing the various statements of defence.
I have also assisted with examining recent developments in German and international climate litigation within the financial sector.
It has been fascinating to work on German law matters and learn more about the German civil law system. It has also been rewarding to be able to work in German and put my university degree to good use.
All in all, it has been a hugely enriching and unique experience, during which I have learnt a great deal and met many lovely people. I am very grateful to Travers Smith and Hengeler Mueller for making it possible!
