Corporate finance
Amixed bag of work Associates at the firm begin their career as a qualified solicitor by undertaking a mixed bag of corporate and corporate finance work. As Lillie explains, the system works by allowing lawyers to start broadly and specialise more narrowly as they advance in their careers. “I currently work on a lot of M&A and corporate work, but have also done some restructuring and project finance work too. You get to learn different parts of the law and the different types of deals that occur in various areas – as well as the kinds of skills they require.” Currently working on a restructuring matter, among other matters, Lillie explains her role in the deal: “There are a lot of parties working on this matter, so there are consequently a lot of documents. My job is to draft documents, oversee the general process and communicate with the client and lawyers on the other side. I am responsible for ensuring that everything is moving forward and that it connects in an organised way.” Day to day, this involves being on calls, checking emails, drafting issue and document lists, and advising on issues with the team.
Corporate finance lawyers advise clients on all aspects of the buying and selling of interests in businesses or business assets, relationships with their shareholders, corporate governance and equity financing matters. This includes advising on compliance with company law procedures, the raising of equity financing and, in the case of cross-border transactions, compliance with domestic and foreign laws. It is possible to work primarily on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with public or privately owned companies. Alternatively, a corporate lawyer may focus on equity capital markets work, the private equity, venture capital or hedge fund sectors, or spend their whole career as a generalist assisting small and medium-sized enterprises and small-scale entrepreneurs. Becoming a barrister was never a career option for Lillie Peichl. “I knew that I wanted to do transactional work and work closely with clients to achieve a common goal,” she explains. As an associate in the general practice group of Sullivan & Cromwell, Lillie advises step by step on transactions, something which has always been the most appealing part of the job. “I really enjoy advising clients and businesses,” she says. Having trained at Sullivan & Cromwell, Lillie enjoyed the smooth transition from trainee to associate. The firm’s small trainee intake meant that she got to know her fellow trainees well, and could meet and work with them during their time studying for the Legal Practice Course. “It was nice to join a firm with a close and friendly culture,” she says. “And when I became an associate, I really appreciated having already had a good experience of the work before qualification. Plus, it was beneficial to stay in an environment I was familiar with.”
Don’t forget about the bigger picture
The sheer scope of the work and number of documents involved means that organisation becomes immediately apparent as a crucial skill for those looking to enter this area. “You have to be very diligent and thorough,” confirms Lillie. “You need to make sure you have a good attention to detail, and that you aren’t missing anything.” With so much going on at once, and everyone working at a fast pace, Lillie also stresses the importance of staying focused in a high-pressure environment.
For more firms that work in this practice area, please use the ‘Training contract regional indexes’.
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