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A career in law
Contents Our firm 02 Setting precedents
Increasingly our role is to deliver distinctive insights and use the law as a tool to address commercial challenges and drive results for our clients. 04 Working as one team In a challenging and demanding career it’s vital that you choose a law firm that values you as an individual as well as a member of a team. 06 Forward thinking Join a firm that is leading the way and shaping how legal services are offered and what legal careers can be.
Your opportunity 08 Your route to qualification
Plot your journey from student to lawyer with our career planner.
09 What we look for Our minimum requirements and the thinking that guides our selection process. 10 A&O First A programme designed exclusively for first-year undergraduates. 11 Vacation Schemes The best way to make the right choice is to get to know our firm by undertaking work experience with us. 12 Law school A key part of your journey to provide the best foundation in legal knowledge and skills. 14 A&O Training Contract With a uniquely supportive environment and international opportunities, training at Allen & Overy is designed to help you maximise your potential. 16 Beyond qualification Your ongoing development and exposure to challenging opportunities are a priority as your career evolves. Apply 18 The application process Learn how to stand out as you progress through our application process. 19 What we offer Alongside great training and a variety of career opportunities, we offer trainees a comprehensive package of benefits to support your working lifestyle. 20 The A&O Index Quick facts to gain an insight into our firm. 21 Get in touch
“Today, virtually every piece of work we handle is won through relationship building and competitive pitching. So, in recruiting trainees, we are looking for evidence of entrepreneurial drive – a desire to join us in building our business – and an appetite to take advantage of the opportunities careers here offer.” Welcome
Claire Wright Graduate Recruitment Partner
calibre. Those qualities are still vital, but the role of the lawyer has evolved. There is a much stronger focus on business and commercial sense, and on playing a role within a team that will almost certainly comprise lawyers from other jurisdictions and require you to work as an extension of a client’s own team. Today, virtually every piece of work we handle is won through relationship building and competitive pitching. So, in recruiting trainees, we are looking for evidence of entrepreneurial drive – a desire to join us in building our business – and an appetite to take advantage of the opportunities careers here offer. Alongside that we are looking for a global mind-set and innovation – an ability to see beyond what’s been done before – resilience and teamwork. These are the qualities that you will need to be successful, over and above raw intellect and technical excellence. Our commitment to you is to provide the best possible legal and business grounding; and a culture and environment that support your development, value your individuality and which will enable you to excel. The best advice I can offer you is: do your research and come and meet us.
Welcome to Allen & Overy. I hope you find this brochure and our graduate website useful in helping you to decide whether a career in commercial law is right for you and, if so, whether this is the right firm for you. These are big decisions and I encourage you to do as much research as you can and take advantage of the opportunities to gain first-hand experience. Through A&O First – our programme for first-years – and our Vacation Schemes, you can explore the role of a lawyer and develop your understanding of our firm. We think these opportunities will provide you with valuable insights but you don’t have to have done one of our programmes to apply for a Training Contract – around half of our trainees applied directly to us with no previous experience of the firm. Looking through this brochure, you’ll see a law firm that is at the very forefront of legal practice, helping to shape the future of the profession and finding new ways to support high-profile and global clients in executing the decisions that will shape their futures. You’ll also find information about the structure of a legal career at Allen & Overy, and perhaps more importantly, the qualities and skills that we are looking for. When I joined the firm as a trainee, the focus was on technical excellence and intellectual
Welcome 01
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Setting precedents
Our role as international commercial lawyers involves more than offering legal expertise; it’s about delivering insight and using the law as a tool to address commercial challenges and drive results for our clients. Our clients expect excellence, but we also encourage and give our people licence to be pioneers, to set precedents rather than follow them. This is a culture that recognises and rewards people who innovate, who bring fresh approaches to familiar problems and who embrace every challenge as an opportunity.
1st
4 times
First large international firm to open offices in Dubai, Africa and Australia.
Only firm to have featured in the top three of the Financial Times Innovative Law Firm ranking every year and to have topped the list four times.
Learn more about how the firm operates: aograduate.com/films
Setting precendents 03
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The calibre of the people we recruit and the platform of training we provide are fundamental to our success. We give our people the opportunities and support they need to build a career that is right for them – so they can lead us in new directions and deliver new insights. We have developed a culture in which difference is positively valued, and our people are free to be themselves. We are in every sense one global team; supportive and collaborative, but also ambitious and driven. Our capacity to combine these qualities and provide a setting in which all of our people can thrive is what makes Allen & Overy different. Working as one team
48% 26%
Of our work 48% involves three or more jurisdictions.
Of our revenue 26% derives from matters involving five countries or more.
Learn more about the firm’s culture: aograduate.com/films
Working as one team 05
Forward thinking
The practice of law is constantly evolving, and we are determined not just to be at the forefront of developments, but to set the pace and lead the way. Our track record of innovation and bold action is second to none. From our expansion into new jurisdictions, flexible working for partners, and our alternative resourcing options such as Peerpoint and aosphere, we are setting the standard for what a global law firm should look like and how lawyers can work. Our clients know that we have the resources and the mindset to build solutions for the future, whatever it may hold.
20 28%
We work across an average of 20 countries for our top 50 clients.
Of our clients 28% utilised aosphere in the last two years.
Learn how the firm is leading the way in law: aograduate.com/films
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Forward thinking 07
Your route to qualification
When hiring trainees into Allen & Overy, we are more interested in where you are going than where you have been, and what kind of lawyer you can become is more important than your current knowledge of law. Around half of our trainees studied a non-law subject for their undergraduate degree, including science, languages, arts and humanities. This diversity of backgrounds and
skills is vital for our business as the role of a lawyer evolves and our clients’ needs become even more sophisticated. Regardless of your degree subject, there are a variety of work experience opportunities that we recommend you explore as part of your journey towards joining us as a trainee and, ultimately, to qualifying as a solicitor.
I’m a non-law student
A&O First
I’m a law student
Vacation Scheme
Qualify as a solicitor
Qualify as a solicitor
A&O Training Contract application
Two-year A&O Training Contract
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
A&O MA (Legal Practice Course with Business)
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What we look for
problem-solving. Above all, pay close attention to detail – this is a core skill for lawyers. You should use the same approach in preparing for your interview – use the opportunity to showcase your skills – the qualities on which you can build to become a great lawyer. Our requirements There’s no such thing as a typical Allen & Overy candidate. We are open- minded and are interested in people who share that quality. Naturally, we are looking for individuals who can demonstrate strong academic performance – we expect you to be heading for at least a 2:1 degree (or equivalent),
and to have at least 340 UCAS points (AAB) at A-level (or equivalent). Beyond this, we want to see evidence of a global mindset, teamwork, communication skills, planning and organisation, critical thinking, resilience, commercial awareness and commitment, both to a career in law and to Allen & Overy as a firm. We mean it when we say that your university and degree subject are not relevant in our selection process – we do not have a shortlist of preferred universities and around half of our trainees did not study law.
We recognise that some of you are already sure that you want to be a lawyer, and others are exploring it amongst a number of options. That’s why we have introduced a range of programmes to help you learn about our firm and the role you could play here. Whether you apply for a Vacation Scheme or a Training Contract, the key is extensive research before you apply. Our online application form is your first opportunity to stand out, so make the most of it with thorough preparation. Use good examples that show not just what you have done but what you have learned from your experiences and the skills you have developed, such as teamwork, adaptability and
Explore the options available to you: aograduate.com/apply
What we look for 09
A&O First A&O First is our work experience programme exclusively for first-year undergraduates. As well as providing you with the skills needed to be development as you approach your second year through an exclusive online
community where you can also ask questions and discuss relevant issues. Ultimately, A&O First will equip you with the tools and resources to develop skills required for a legal career such as drafting, negotiation and problem solving skills, whilst also building your knowledge of business and your personal network. It will also help you decide if an A&O Training Contract or a Vacation Scheme with us, is right for you.
successful in our firm, it gives you a real insight into a career in law and the opportunity to network with people throughout our business. The A&O First programme starts with real work experience in our offices, focusing on developing your commercial awareness and analytical skills. However, it has been designed to extend far beyond this face-to-face time. A&O First also offers further training, support and
Learn more about our work experience programmes: aograduate.com/aofirst
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Vacation Schemes
partners as well as other students during your placement, which will broaden your knowledge of the firm and help to build your network. Each Vacation Scheme student has the opportunity to apply for a Training Contract, and last year, 93% of those on our schemes received an offer. International Vacation Scheme As one of the world’s largest law firms, our lawyers are working in multi-jurisdictional teams on a daily basis and we expect our lawyers to work overseas during their career – cultural awareness, teamwork and a global mindset are skills that are vital to your success as a lawyer here. That’s why we offer our International Vacation Scheme. All those offered a Vacation Scheme in our London office are able to apply to spend an additional week in one of our international offices in July 2017. In 2016, our Vacation Students spent time in Dubai, New York, Hong Kong and Amsterdam.
We often hear students have a difficult time in differentiating firms. For this reason, we recommend a Vacation Scheme as a great way to experience first-hand our work and culture. We offer the flexibility of three schemes across Winter, Spring and Summer with approximately 75 students joining us each year either in their penultimate or final year of undergraduate study, as well as those who have already graduated. Through a Vacation Scheme, you will gain experience in one of our practice areas, where you will work alongside our lawyers on real deals and cases. Before you join us, we will ask you to choose the area that most interests you to ensure you get the experience you are looking for. Alongside your legal work, you will attend events and presentations about key elements of our practice while developing the skills you need to be a successful international commercial lawyer. There will also be plenty of time to socialise with our graduate recruitment team, lawyers and
Learn more about our work-experience programmes: aograduate.com/vacation-schemes
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Law school
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Before you can practise law in England and Wales you must first pass the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at an accredited law school. If you have not completed a degree in law, you must also first study the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) before taking the LPC. We have selected BPP as our law school partner for both qualifications* to ensure that you arrive here with the best possible foundation in legal knowledge and skills, and are ready to start working with our clients.
Graduate Diploma in Law The Graduate Diploma in Law is a one-year compulsory qualification for all UK graduates who have studied degrees other than law. It provides a comprehensive grounding in all the relevant technical aspects of commercial and criminal law so that by the time you begin your LPC (alongside graduates who studied law at university) you are not at a disadvantage. You can take the BPP GDL, which has been tailored to meet the needs of Allen & Overy at any one of seven city locations around England. Under some circumstances we will discuss other study options on a case-by-case basis. A&O LPC (MA with Business) All future trainees, regardless of their degree, are required to take the A&O LPC (MA with Business) at BPP in London. This bespoke seven-month accelerated course has been designed to give you both the technical skills and the commercial awareness to be able to start delivering for our clients from your very first day at the firm. Alongside the standard technical modules you’ll undertake projects on business finance, business strategy and business intelligence that will give you real insight into the kinds of issues our clients are facing. We work closely with BPP to develop course content that accurately reflects the work of a City law firm and which features materials and examples drawn from our client work. As well as preparing you for your A&O Training Contract, completing this course will give you a Masters qualification in business, adding to your skills and further enhancing your future employability.
Coming together with other future trainees to study the A&O LPC (MA with Business) will also give you a head start in terms of building relationships and forging bonds with your future colleagues. You’ll be studying with the cohort of trainees with whom you’ll start at the firm and, as well as the informal social links you are bound to establish, you’ll attend numerous social and networking events organised by our recruitment and training team. These connections and relationships will mean that when you join the firm as a trainee you’ll already have a network of friends and contacts who are immersed in the culture and work of the firm. Financial support If you accept our offer of an A&O Training Contract, we will provide financial support during your law school studies, and pay your tuition fees. For candidates studying for the GDL, we will provide an annual maintenance grant of GBP8,000 in London (or GBP7,000 elsewhere in the UK). We will also provide a maintenance grant of GBP7,000 while you take the accelerated A&O LPC (MA with Business). In addition, we award a GBP500 prize to future trainees who achieve a first-class degree and/or a distinction in every module of the LPC. You can also apply for an interest-free loan of up to GBP2,000, to be repaid by the end of your period of training. This can be used as additional financial support while you are undertaking your studies or for something that will contribute to your development, such as a language study course or to undertake a pro bono or community initiative. * In the event that you have already completed the GDL or LPC with another provider, we will recognise these qualifications.
Find out about the support available during law school: aograduate.com/gdl-lpc
Law school 13
A&O Training Contract
Induction
Year 1
Year 2
Qualification
Seat 1
Seat 2
Seat 3
Seat 4
Allen & Overy internal legal training
Professional Skills Course* and Business Intelligence Project**
* mandatory requirement of the Solicitors Regulatory Authority ** the final element in the MA (Legal Practice Course with Business)
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A&O Training Contract
We take your training very seriously at Allen & Overy. When you join us, you may have some idea of where you want to specialise, but we believe it’s important to give you as broad an exposure to our business as possible. You’ll be performing important tasks and taking on meaningful responsibility, with as much client time as possible. The standards and expectations are high but you’ll be well supported by professionals who recognise that it’s people like you who represent the future success of our firm.
They are ideal preparation for life as a qualified lawyer. Currently, at least 80% of our trainees take advantage of these opportunities. International and client secondments take place in the final seat. Before this final seat, you will undertake department-specific training to ensure that you are able to make the most of your time there. In addition to your seat-based learning, you will also undertake our Professional Skills Course, which aims to build on the foundations you established during the Allen & Overy LPC. The aim is to develop your commercial skill-set and to enhance your ability to contribute to the teams you work with during your A&O Training Contract. As you go through the A&O Training Contract and gain experience, your level of responsibility will increase. Your professional development is a continuing priority for us and we will deliver training and support in a variety of ways, including mentoring from your supervisors and department-specific courses. People in every part of the firm will help you; there is a good balance between support and supervision, and being encouraged to work independently. We have a strong record of retaining our trainees – in 2016 we retained 89% of our trainees – but whatever your future holds, your A&O Training Contract will give you a platform of skills and experiences on which to build a long-term career.
Your A&O Training Contract will usually be based on four six-month rotations – known in the legal profession as ‘seats’. You will sit with a supervisor – usually a partner or senior associate – and actively contribute to the day-to-day operation of that department, working on transactions and cases, taking real responsibility and gaining plenty of client exposure. You will spend a minimum of 12 months of your A&O Training Contract in at least two of our three main transactional practice areas (Corporate, Banking and International Capital Markets) and you can express your preference for your first seat – generally, in one of these areas – prior to joining. Shortly after you start your A&O Training Contract, you will attend an information evening where all departments are represented, so that you get the chance to meet Allen & Overy lawyers from all of the different practice areas. Following this, we will discuss with you on a one-to-one basis to decide which seats you will do. You can identify a ‘priority seat’ in which you have a particular interest and also discuss the possibility of an international or client secondment. These international and client-based seats will give you a different perspective on the work of a lawyer and enable you to broaden your experience.
Find out about the journey and opportunities available: aograduate.com/training-contract
A&O Training Contract 15
Beyond qualification Qualifying as a lawyer is an important milestone, and is just the beginning of your professional development at Allen & Overy. We want you to continue to grow as a professional and shape a career that you find rewarding and stimulating, while continuing to contribute to our success as a business. Joining one of our practice areas as an associate, you will have access to a suite of Associate Development programmes that have been designed to build the core non-technical skills that you will need to progress your career and meet the demands of your new role. These include client skills, people management, and managing deals with maximum effectiveness.
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Whatever you decide is right for you, the training, experiences and skills you acquire during your time here will provide a valuable platform for your future development. Life beyond A&O One of the greatest benefits of training with our firm is the foundation we will give you in business and the exposure to decision-making at the highest levels within a wide range of organisations. We will help you become the most skilled, accomplished, business-focused lawyer you can be. Where your career takes you is then up to you. We want all of our trainees to develop long-term, rewarding careers, and we recognise that for some of our people, their futures may lie either partially outside the firm with A&O affiliated businesses or with another employer altogether. Many of our alumni are now pursuing successful careers as general counsel at multi-national corporates and banks, senior executives on the business side of our clients, and key influencers at regulatory bodies. Others will use their experience as a springboard to launch different careers in law, business, charity or even politics. This is a natural part of the life of a major law firm and we will support you in making the choices that are right for you at every stage of your career – even if that means moving away from our firm. It is important to us that we maintain positive relationships with all of our people, and we currently have a community of over 8,000 alumni in 70 countries. Through this network, you can share experiences and make new connections that lead to business and career development opportunities – including the possibility of returning to the firm one day. Our recently launched Return to Law programme, “I’m Back”, provides a platform for lawyers to rejoin the profession following an extended period away, and particularly supports our commitment to increasing the numbers of senior women in law.
As an associate, you will continue to be given challenging experience on deals, and will become responsible for increasingly complex elements of the transactions on which you work. We expect our people to spend time working in other offices; last year we placed hundreds of people on both long and short term international secondments. These short-term placements provide opportunities to increase your technical knowledge while learning more about other cultures and global markets. After around five years as an associate, you will be considered for promotion to senior associate. At this stage you will take on significant new responsibilities, including the supervision of trainees. Knowledge-sharing and developing others are fundamental to our firm’s culture, and you will be well supported in refining the skills and behaviours necessary to help your trainees to progress. Beyond that, there are many career paths you can take. We have a strong tradition of promoting our people into partnership, and last year we promoted 21 new partners across our firm. However, we do recognise that for many of our talented associates, partnership is not an aspiration. Some may choose the route of counsel, which offers you another way to operate in the firm at a senior level and specialise in a technical aspect of law. We are also pioneering new ways for our talented lawyers to use their skills and experience to work outside the traditional legal career framework. For example, we have launched a number of businesses that provide legal services to clients in alternative and innovative ways. Peerpoint offers excellent lawyers, including alumni of the firm, the opportunity to work on Allen & Overy deals - directly with our clients - on a contract basis. This option allows individuals more flexibility than a traditional employment relationship. Aosphere, another of our businesses, provides opportunities for securities-focused lawyers to deliver online subscription-based services in compliance and legal risk.
new partners promoted last year around the network. 21
Having trained with the firm, you will be someone whose qualities and experience are recognised and valued around the world.
Beyond qualification 17
Apply 1
Top tips for your application - Decide which route is right for you – we give you real flexibility in deciding what to apply for; such as the choice, from your penultimate year onwards, to apply for either a Vacation Scheme or an A&O Training Contract – the choice is yours - Understand our requirements – prepare some examples to show that you have the skills we are looking for - Make the most of your experience – highlight what you’ve gained from your experiences, try to show your appetite for responsibility and capacity to influence events and outcomes - Be commercial – show an interest in the legal industry and what’s going on in the world and how it might affect us and our clients - Focus on this firm – of course we expect you to apply to other firms, but make sure you tailor your answers to demonstrate why Allen & Overy is right for you - Be accurate – attention to detail is a fundamental skill of a lawyer. Your interview If your application is successful – whether for an A&O Training Contract or a Vacation Scheme – the next stage will be an assessment day comprising two one-to-one interviews. The first interview is based on a commercial case study and you will have time to work through the brief and prepare a short presentation to deliver to your interviewer. The presentation will be followed by a discussion with your interviewer on the key points from the case study. The second interview is based on your application form and will assess your skills and knowledge, your motivation for a legal career at Allen & Overy and your commercial awareness. Top tips for your interview - Revise and prepare – revisit your application form; we’re going to ask you about it - Stay up-to-date – track business and world events, form opinions and be prepared to explain them - Make the right impression – be confident, self-assured and enthusiastic - Ask us pertinent questions – it’s a two-way process, so ask insightful questions that will help you to decide if we are the right firm for you. Offer After your interview we will get back to you with a decision as quickly as possible. Having come this far we understand that you will be keen to hear our decision, and we also recognise that you may have some decisions of your own to make. Regardless of the outcome, we are committed to providing constructive feedback on your performance at interview. This will help you to understand our decision and also help you to refine your interview technique and preparation for any future applications. And, of course, if it’s good news, the Graduate Recruitment team will be on hand to support you in your decision-making and with the next steps.
Interviews 2
The application process Offer 3
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What we offer
Our reward and benefits package is designed to provide you with a wide range of financial benefits, facilities and services to help you develop a truly satisfying career; maximising your ability to support your clients, and enjoy a lifestyle that is as balanced as possible.
- Beauty and wellbeing therapies in-house including reflexology, massage, manicure and pedicure (at a cost to you) - Eye test vouchers - Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 helpline providing free access to specialist support, information and telephone counselling covering a wide range of issues including consumer rights and childcare. Time out - 25 days annual leave
- Life insurance - Permanent health insurance - Personal accident insurance - Business travel insurance. The figures GBP 42,000 Current salary for first-year trainees GBP 8,000 GDL maintenance grant in London, plus tuition fees paid GBP 7,000 LPC maintenance grant, plus tuition fees paid GBP 2,000 Interest-free loan GBP 500 Prize for future trainees who achieve a first-class degree and/or a distinction in every module of the LPC
My Cash Reward and Savings - Competitive annual starting salary of £42,000 - Public transport season ticket loans - Cycle-to-work bike loan - Access to wide range of discounted goods and services including the Xexec concierge team - Childcare vouchers - Payroll Giving. Health & wellbeing - Private medical insurance - Fully integrated health and wellbeing centre with services including in-house GP and nurse, physiotherapy, health assessments, dentist and dental plan - Complimentary on-site fitness centre, gym, sports hall and a wide range of exercise classes - Access to Havebike, London’s premier onsite bicycle servicing outfit
- Additional paid leave for special reasons such as marriage or civil partnership, or moving house - Holiday trading scheme - Options to apply for flexible working hours once qualified. Financial security
Find out more about rewards and benefits: aograduate.com/ what-we-offer
- Pension scheme – an occupational pension scheme, available on either a contributory or a non-contributory basis
What we offer 19
The A&O Index 1,549 Ranked highest within top ten law firms by total number of deals. *
A&O is ranked in over 220 categories across all Legal 500 directories – among the highest within the magic circle firms. 220 Young people in Tanzania benefitting from the projects A&O has funded with Amref Health Africa. 130,000 >50 times 34 Peerpoint placements within A&O's top 20 clients. 34 * In Global M&A, DCM, ECM, Loans and Project Finance transactions.
Voted number one by students as the most popular law firm for 11 consecutive years – TargetJobs. 1 for # In the last year we worked for 87% of Forbes’ top 100 public companies. 87% 44 offices in 31 countries worldwide with 73% of work involving two or more jurisdictions. 44 11
Last year A&O was named ‘International Law Firm of the Year’ ten times, and ‘Law Firm of the Year’ over 50 times across our network of offices.
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Get in touch
One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD United Kingdom T: +44 (0)20 3088 3399 E: graduate.recruitment@allenovery.com W: aograduate.com Follow the conversation @AllenOveryGrads facebook.com/allenoverygrads
Get in touch 21
Westminster Bridge, London
Allen & Overy is an international legal practice with approximately 5,200 staff, including some 530 partners, working in 44 major centres worldwide. Allen & Overy LLP or an affiliated undertaking has offices in each of these locations: Europe Amsterdam Antwerp Barcelona Belfast Bratislava Brussels Bucharest (associated office) Budapest Düsseldorf Istanbul London Luxembourg Madrid Milan Moscow Munich Paris Prague Rome Warsaw Asia Pacific Bangkok Beijing Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Jakarta (associated office) Perth Seoul Shanghai Singapore Sydney Tokyo Yangon Middle East Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Riyadh (associated office)
The Americas New York São Paulo Washington D.C. Africa Casablanca Johannesburg
Frankfurt Hamburg
aograduate.com
Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. The term partner is used to refer to a member of Allen & Overy LLP or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications or an individual with equivalent status in one of Allen & Overy LLP’s affiliated undertakings. © Allen & Overy LLP 2016
This brochure has been printed with vegetable-based inks on paper which uses wood pulp from sustainable, managed, commercial forests. Certified environmental management system ISO 14001.
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