A career in law
Contents Clyde & Co - where individuals count...................................... 2 Does Clyde & Co offer the scope I’m looking for?................... 3 Am I a good fit?........................................................................... 4 How can I find out more about Clyde & Co?........................... 5 What is the office culture like?................................................. 6 What experience will I get?....................................................... 8 What training will I receive? .................................................... 9 Can I learn more about our clients’ business?...................... 10 How do I apply?. ....................................................................... 11 Sector focus and practice expertise........................................ 12 Awards. ...................................................................................... 14 International reach................................................................... 16
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Clyde & Co - where individuals count We could give you any number of reasons for applying to Clyde & Co. Here is just one: We select only a small number of trainees to join us each year. So it’s a real opportunity. As one of a select few, you are quickly integrated into the firm and are given as much responsibility as you can handle. The training you receive is tailored to your needs. From the outset you’re treated as an individual.
Clyde & Co is home to some of the finest lawyers in the world … this truly international firm has an impressive and rarely matched footprint which covers the Middle East, Asia, South America, Europe and the US. Who’s Who Legal
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Does Clyde & Co offer the scope I’m looking for?
Clyde & Co is a leading international law firm with an entrepreneurial nature. We are well-known for our advice on high-profile and complex cross-border matters and for our work in emerging markets.
Recognised as leaders in the insurance, transportation, energy, infrastructure, trade and commodities sectors, and with a fast-growing reputation in real estate, employment, regulatory, environmental, commercial and corporate transactions, we operate across the globe in over 120 countries.We now employ over 3,300 staff in 47 offices and associate offices, and our firm is unique in its focus, its scale and its international reach. Opened in 1981, Clyde & Co is one of the longest established international law firms in Hong Kong and our office is a hub for Clyde & Co’s Asia network. Our Hong Kong office is staffed by 12 partners and over 50 other lawyers and legal staff offering a full and integrated range of legal services. The Hong Kong office has a strong regional focus having advised local and international clients on business and investment opportunities in Hong Kong, China and throughout the Asia Pacific region for 36 years.We work closely with our network of international offices from around the world, in particular Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing and Singapore.
Our lawyers are qualified to practise law in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, England andWales, the United States, and Australia. Our Hong Kong practice is sector focused, specialising in insurance and reinsurance, professional practices, aviation, marine, construction, transport and trade, banking and finance.We have one of the largest dispute resolution teams in Hong Kong, and we are industry leaders in both commercial litigation and arbitration. Clients include multinational corporations, insurers and reinsurers, investment banks and other financial institutions, regulatory bodies, trading houses, airlines, developers, contractors, oil and gas companies, charterers, ship owners, P&I clubs, government organisations and NGOs.
Clyde & Co has a world class brand in the insurance industry. It is the market leader. Clyde & Co was therefore the natural home for our insurance practice, which focuses on financial institutions, directors, fraud, large casualty matters and product liability. The international nature of our insurance work is strongly supported, not only by the firm’s expertise, but also by its truly global network of offices, and insurance specialists. Along with a team of others, I joined Clyde & Co in 2012. In addition to working with people who are renowned for their abilities, the work environment is very supportive, collegiate and collaborative. The team works together to achieve the outcomes our clients need.
Simon McConnell Managing Partner
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Am I a good fit?
Personal qualities are paramount. Clients tend to assume you know the law. But are you commercially astute? Are you someone they can quickly come to like and trust? We look for trainees with outgoing personalities and keen interests, who are as fascinated by people as they are the law. There are no stereotypes. Trainees come frommany different backgrounds. We prefer applicants with at least a 2.1 degree or equivalent who have the ability to analyse a problem, develop focused solutions and communicate clearly. We look for candidates who want to be part of a team, who show enthusiasm and are not afraid of a challenge. You should be fluent in English and preferably in Cantonese and/or Mandarin and have the ability to get on well with people frommany different backgrounds.
I joined Clyde & Co’s Insurance Litigation Department in 2008. The firm has given me many opportunities to develop my legal skills and my legal practice as a whole. In the past few years, I have attended a career development training programme and a secondment programme in the London office and have had the chance to work with our colleagues in the UK. This short but eye-opening experience allowed me to see how Clyde & Co truly is an international law firm. The firm has been expanding globally and I am proud of being a member of Clyde & Co. I am excited by the firm’s dynamic growth and the new opportunities our growth brings. Working in Clyde & Co is not just about working on files in your office. I have a lot of fun taking part in the firm’s sponsored fund-raising activities and its dragon boat team. It is not just a job as a lawyer; the firm provides an excellent platform for you to develop and grow your career and widen your horizons.
I joined Clyde & Co as a trainee solicitor. Right from the start, I was given the opportunity to handle cases independently, with appropriate supervision of course, rather than doing bits and pieces. I was always encouraged to express my own opinions and discuss cases with my supervising partners. I was also seconded to the London office for six months during my traineeship. The training provided by Clyde & Co did not stop after qualification. I was sponsored by the firm to study a shipping course in the UK after working in the shipping litigation area for a few years. The firm also engaged external specialists to provide me with training and coaching on business development skills. Even after I was promoted to partner, I was encouraged to attend overseas workshops to further develop my partner skills. Clyde & Co aims to provide its staff with the right training and opportunities throughout their careers.
Matthew Lam Partner
Hermonie Hui Counsel
Over the past few years, Clyde & Co has been in a period of rapid expansion and diversification, with new teams regularly joining the business and new offices opening. I find it is positive to work in an environment that is focused on growth and has the client base to support that. This creates opportunities for those who wish to grasp them; something that the firm encourages staff at all levels to do.
Kevin Martin Partner
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How can I find out more about Clyde & Co? Our website www.clydeco.com can tell you more about us. To help you decide if we are the right firm for you, we offer summer and winter placement opportunities which enable you to experience the very real differences between academic study and legal practice.
Placement Opportunities During a placement, you will spend three weeks assisting lawyers in a variety of practice areas where you will have the opportunity to get involved in challenging work such as attending trials and liaising with clients, as well as undertake a range of exercises and meet employees at every level of the firm both formally and socially. You will work as part of a teamwhere you will have the opportunity to use many of the skills which we believe are essential to the role of a solicitor at Clyde & Co, such as analysis, team-working, report writing, interviewing witnesses, carrying out research, and dealing with clients. In short you will gain a “real life” experience of commercial law in practice.
I first joined Clyde & Co as a summer clerk. The mix of high quality work which I received and the friendly culture of the firm immediately convinced me that this is the right law firm for me. As a Clyde & Co trainee, you will be given the opportunity to handle a diverse range of contentious and non-contentious matters from various industry sectors such as construction, shipping and insurance. To work alongside partners and associates who are reputable lawyers in their specialist areas is truly an invaluable and rewarding experience. Most importantly, these partners and associates really take an interest in your growth as a young professional and will offer you ample support and guidance as you go along. Clyde & Co is an ambitious firm - over the last decade we have doubled in size and we are currently operating in 45 international offices around the globe. If you have an appetite for success and are looking to build your legal career with a dynamic firm, Clyde & Co should definitely be your next destination.
Priscillia Lam Associate
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What is the office culture like?
Our aim is to be friendly, informal, supportive, practical, efficient and business like. Responsibility and initiative are encouraged. Trainees are a valued part of the team from their first day.
Caring for our community The firm believes that in addition to providing a highly professional service and nurturing its staff, it has an obligation towards the wider community. Clyde & Co staff have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to pro bono and community work. The firm has a global programme which is an important part of who we are and the values on which we build our business. We work to locate projects that will put our skills and expertise to good use and will bring many benefits to our local communities. In 2013, the Hong Kong office formed a Community Council. There are two sub-committees under the Council - the Charities Committee and the Environment Committee. The Charities committee is tasked with selecting community projects for the Council’s endorsement and running the projects. The current two key themes are “Inspiring Young Lives” and “Access to Justice”, which are in line with our firm’s global initiatives. The environment committee is tasked with formulating and implementing the firm’s environmental conservation policy.
Our Hong Kong Charities Committee presented our first-ever Charity Musical Evening in November 2016 and Charity Bake Sale in June 2017. With everyone’s help we were able to raise an impressive amount for our two charity partners Sailability Hong Kong and InspiringHK Sports Foundation. Starting from 2016, we participated in a physically challenging local charitable hiking event, ‘Green Power Hike’. For the previous two years, our office sent teams to take part in the 25km and 10km races under the Corporation / Organisation Cup. All teams finished the hike with amazing results. In recognition of our donation, we had also been given the Outstanding Green Award. In Feb 2017, we are delighted to have been awarded the ‘Caring Company Logo’ by the Hong Kong Council of Social Services. The Clyde & Co Hong Kong Office has been presented this award in recognition for their commitment to Caring for the Community, Caring for Employees and Caring for the Environment.
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At Clyde & Co, there is a genuine commitment to train and develop us trainees into young professional lawyers. The training programme is well structured and gives us the chance to work in different practice areas over the course of our two-year training contract. We have been entrusted with a high level of responsibility and are given the opportunity to handle cases and transactions under the close supervision of partners and associates. Work is both challenging and rewarding. Clyde & Co also values our personal development and encourages us to participate in a wide variety of charitable and social events, including: charity bake sales, a musical evening, and hikes. There are numerous opportunities to take part in pro-bono work, which I find to be a meaningful and beneficial experience. Another highlight of Clyde & Co is the firm’s culture. The firm adopts an open-door policy and we are encouraged to share our thoughts and ask questions, especially when we encounter challenges in accomplishing our tasks. If you are looking for a firmwhich treats the professional and personal development of its trainees seriously, and provides a friendly and collegiate environment to work in, then Clyde & Co is the place to be.
I remember my first day with Clyde & Co, waiting at the reception area anxious to start my legal training. From that very day on, every day I step into the office, I face new challenges, and am given new instructions to work on matters of a wide spectrum – from simply calling a client to arrange a meeting, attending court for a brief summons to drafting complex pleadings from scratch. You will find that you are trusted with high level work and given the liberty to attempt them in your own way, yet able to reach out for help and obtain feedback whenever you need. The cases and work you are involved in at Clyde & Co are never easy, nonetheless you are expected to deliver top quality work and be in charge of the cases you lay your hands on. Over the past year, I have had the privilege to work within the firm’s Construction and Personal Injury departments, handling both contentious and non-contentious matters. All the work I have done thus far were alongside partners and associates under close supervision. Clyde & Co has an open door policy, partners welcome questions and as one partner puts it, “your question can never be too dumb if it helps clarify things”. As a trainee, you always feel supported, guided and at home. The firm also encourages us to grow into a responsible, all rounded individual. Just to name a few things I did aside from work: I managed to take part in this year’s dragon boat team, spending many Saturday afternoons in Stanley for practices. I have participated in the Green Power 25km Hike. We also set off to a local primary school on Thursday afternoons to spend time reading English story books to primary one students. I look verymuch forward tomy second year with Clyde &Co and what it has to offer!
Hadrian Ho Trainee Solicitor
Signory Ip Legal Manager
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What experience will I get?
You will be able to work in a number of these contentious/non-contentious areas:
• Financial Services / Regulatory • Insurance and reinsurance • International trade • Marine • Professional Indemnity
• Capital Markets • Construction • Corporate / M&A • Dispute resolution and international arbitration • Employment • Energy and projects
Where possible, we will try to accommodate your individual preferences, although these will of course need to be considered in the light of the overall requirements of the firm. You may not have covered a particular field during your studies but that does not matter. We make no assumptions about your prior knowledge and give full training in each area. There are also opportunities for secondment to our Shanghai, Dubai, UK and other offices.
Training at Clyde & Co has been an exciting journey, full of diversity – from the offices I’ve worked in to the types of cases I’ve handled. As a trainee I worked in three different offices, in Guildford, London, and Hong Kong, each bringing different challenges and opportunities. I gained valuable experience working in our market leading Marine department, where from the outset I was heavily engaged with an international arbitration, in a dispute worth over US$100M. The international scope of the work at Clyde & Co was evident from the beginning; and as a trainee it was a great experience to be involved in a dispute between international parties over an offshore project in Cameroon. I spent time working in the property litigation team gaining first-hand experience of the contractual negotiations between commercial landlords and tenants, and I was surrounded and supported by lawyers with very clear understanding of the nature of the relationships between the parties, of the market that they were trading in, and of the commercial pressures upon the parties. This comprehensive commercial awareness of the lawyers at Clyde & Co is a stand out feature of the firm’s lawyers and is really imbedded into the culture of the firm – in order that we can see beyond the law, allowing our services to be tailored to each client according to their needs.
Having worked as a paralegal in construction, I was interested in this area and joined the global Projects and Construction team, which I also qualified into. As a trainee in London I focussed mainly on ‘front-end’ or transactional construction work, such as the drafting of building contracts, or preparing the finance documents for multi-million pound projects. Then I transferred out to Hong Kong to gain further experience in the construction team, with a focus on disputes. As I flew from London to Hong Kong, a Hong Kong trainee was making that journey in reverse – a great benefit of the firm’s international practice is that as part of our training we can gain international experience. Indeed – I came to Hong Kong on a six month secondment, and then successfully applied to qualify out here. As a newly qualified construction lawyer I have significant responsibility as a case handler. My work covers both ‘front- end’ and ‘back-end’ matters, i.e. both transactional work and disputes, and my responsibilities see me liaise on a daily basis with clients, experts, and counsel. As a junior lawyer I feel that this type of responsibility and exposure is a fantastic opportunity for both personal and professional development.
Sholto Hanvey Registered Foreign Lawyer
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What training will I receive?
Training and your career Being a solicitor requires strong knowledge and skills. Achieving your ambitions as a solicitor depends on receiving good training from the outset. The high quality of training received at Clyde & Co will help you contribute to maintaining the excellence of the firm’s service to clients. It also assists in building your own contacts in the firm’s client markets, which is essential to your career advancement. How are you trained? Close supervision, coaching and attendance at external courses are complemented by a comprehensive programme of in-house courses which is designed to enhance your technical knowledge. What do the training programmes cover? We recognise that commercial appreciation and understanding business objectives are critical to clients, as well as your own career success, so our training is broad. Clyde & Co’s breadth and international practice is reflected in our regular lectures and seminars on legal systems and global business. Our programme of legal, interpersonal, client care and communication skills training includes tuition on effective networking, helping you develop your own contacts.
I joined Clyde & Co as a trainee in 1993. It is like a second family to me. A very high standard is
expected and dedication and loyalty are rewarded. Given our size, everyone works as a team and each and everyone is highly valued. Trainees are given excellent opportunities to handle cases under the close supervision of partners. Through this intensive training, they develop and mature professionally very quickly.
Gloria Jones Partner
Clyde & Co often achieves outcomes that exceed expectations in its core areas of shipping, aviation, professional negligence, construction and insurance litigation. Legal 500
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Can I learn more about our clients’ business?
Understanding our clients’ business is critical to both the firm and successful career progression. We therefore provide talks that cover the breadth of our practice, including insurance and reinsurance, corporate and commercial transactions, dispute resolution, international trade and commodities, marine and transport.
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How do I apply?
We receive a substantial number of applications for both our placement schemes and training contracts and are only able to offer a limited number of places for each. Details of our placement programmes and training contracts, how to apply, and application deadlines for each year can be found on our website: http://careers.clydeco.com/trainees/apply If you are applying for a training contract, you should apply two years in advance of your intended start date. If you wish to apply for both a placement and a training contract, simply tick the relevant boxes on the application form. After you have submitted your application, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt.You will also be able to return to your application to add further information. We are an equal opportunities employer. All applications are treated equally, regardless of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status or sexual orientation. How are trainees selected? Candidates are required to complete an online application. When selecting candidates for interview we look at not just academic achievements, but also personal qualities and extra-curricular activities. The best are invited to a preliminary interview and offers are made after a second interview. The interviews, which are held in our office, are designed to test analytical skills, commercial awareness and interpersonal skills. Our offer of a training contract is conditional upon successful completion at the first attempt of the Postgraduate Certificate of Laws (PCLL) course in Hong Kong. Sponsorship is provided for the PCLL course for those candidates who obtain a training contract with us.
Jessica Lee Associate
Clyde & Co has surpassed my expectations for a training contract. The training programme is well structured and throughout my two years of training, I have been provided with plenty of opportunities to work on a broad range of both contentious and non-contentious matters. Tasks given may be challenging at times, but with an open-door culture, trainees are always encouraged to share their thoughts and ask questions. This practice greatly enhances both personal and professional development, and eased the daunting transition fromschool to an international law firm. Work and training aside, Clyde & Co makes a point to include trainees in as many pro bono and social events as possible. I was involved in several pro bono programmes, charity fund-raising activities and the dragon boat race. At such a friendly and collegiate environment, it is difficult for trainees to miss the fun-loving side of partners and associates.
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Sector focus and practice expertise
Our combination of deep sector expertise and practice excellence delivers a distinct competitive advantage to our clients.
Capital Markets Our team has extensive experience of assisting clients to raise funds through the issuance of equity and debt instruments, and advises on the full range of transactions on the capital markets. We regularly advise companies seeking IPO or make secondary offering whether on an international or domestic stock exchange. We work closely with our colleagues from areas such as real estate, tax, regulatory and finance and our detailed sector focus means we understand the company’s business and the sphere in which it operates.
Commercial Our international Commercial group advises on protection and privacy, e-commerce, franchising, intellectual property, and technology, media and telecommunications (TMT). The team has built its reputation advising large corporate clients in the field of technology. We also operate in the media, advertising and tourism sectors.
Corporate and Regulatory Our Corporate team has a particular expertise in M&A, transfers of businesses, strategic alliances, joint ventures and capital raising. We have a strong emerging market focus and help businesses to enter and grow in new markets. Our regulatory team advises companies on issues such as industry regulation, competition, data protection, health and safety, trade sanctions and corporate governance.
Dispute Resolution Whatever the forum – court, arbitration or Alternative Dispute Resolution – our Dispute Resolution team is regarded as one of the strongest in the world. Our work also includes general commercial, insolvency and property litigation. This strength is reflected right across our international network.
Employment, Pensions and Immigration Our Employment practice spans the UK, Asia and the Middle East. Our global expertise is focused on the core industry sectors of insurance, transportation, energy, infrastructure, and trade and commodities.
Energy Our team of Energy lawyers is spread throughout our international network and has experience across every major hydrocarbon-producing area in the world. With our industry expertise and local knowledge, we are ideally placed to advise across the entire energy value chain, including oil and gas, power and utilities, renewables and natural resources.
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Finance We have teams specialising in a broad range of Finance law areas including: transportation (shipping, aviation and rail), insurance, real estate and commodities. Across the globe, we act for some of the world’s leading financial institutions. Many of the finance projects we are involved with are cross-border, which means we can take full advantage of our international network to provide a global service.
Insolvency and Reorganisation Our Insolvency and Reorganisation practice provides commercial advice to both creditors and debtors on complex, domestic and cross-border insolvencies. We advise on a range of procedures, including administration
Insurance and Reinsurance The Insurance and Reinsurance sectors demand specialism on a global scale. Clyde & Co is the only firm to fully meet this challenge, with unrivalled expertise in every class and the broadest international coverage of any specialist insurance law firm. We have the highest concentration of leading Insurance and Reinsurance lawyers of any firm.
and receivership, liquidation and restructuring, as well as tracing claims and fraud.
Professional Indemnity Our Professional Indemnity practice handles a wide range of complex and high-value claims against or involving professionals from solicitors, barristers and accountants to construction, property and finance professionals. Our clients include the largest UK and global professional services firms as well as their London Market and international insurers.
Projects and Construction We are a major force in the Projects and Construction industry worldwide. Our team advises on a variety of infrastructure, construction and engineering projects and project finance. Our emerging market focus means we are at the cutting edge of developments in high-growth regions, including Africa, the Middle East and the Far East.
Real Estate We have one of the world’s leading international Real Estate teams. We have acted on some of the most iconic development projects in the Middle East and we are at the forefront of real estate law development in emerging markets. Our capabilities span retail, industrial, commercial and residential real estate, mixed-use schemes and urban regeneration.
Shipping Our Shipping practice is active in virtually every aspect of maritime commerce. We act for shipbuilders, owners, charterers, salvors, financiers, port and government authorities, and insurers, along with clients across the broader trade, commodities and energy sectors. We firmly believe that, for shipping law, no other firm can match Clyde & Co’s combined size of practice, in-depth industry knowledge, specialist shipping expertise and global reach.
Trade and Commodities We work across the full range of
the commodities market – hard and soft commodities, oil and energy, futures and derivatives, including new specialisations such as carbon trading. Whether advising on commercial transactions or dispute resolution, our extensive experience of the whole trade cycle, from raw product to market, and throughout the full supply chain gives a particular depth of understanding to our advice.
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Awards
Transatlantic Law Firm of theYear Transatlantic Legal Awards 2017
Caring Company The Hong Kong Council of Social Service 2016 - 2017
Band 1 for Insurance (Hong Kong & China) Chambers Asia-Pacific 2017
Band 1 for Insurance (Hong Kong & China) Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2017
Firm of theYear Asian-MENA Counsel 2016
Best in Insurance APAC Dispute Resolution Awards Asialaw 2016
Best Community Engagement Winner MPF Awards for Management Excellence 2016
Tier 1 for Construction (Hong Kong) Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2016
Law Firm of theYear The Lawyer Awards 2016
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Employer of Choice (China & Hong Kong) Asian Legal Business (ALB) 2015 - 2016
Tier 1 for Shipping (Singapore) Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2016
Insurance / Maritime & Shipping (China) In-House Community Firm of the Year 2015
Telecommunications, Media & Technology (India) In-House Community Firm of the Year 2015
ALB Hong Kong Shipping Law Firm of theYear Asian Legal Business (ALB) 2014
Maritime & Shipping (Korea) In-House Community Firm of the Year 2015
Most Responsive Law International Firm (Malaysia) In-House Community Firm of the Year 2015
Maritime & Shipping (Hong Kong) In-House Community Firm of the Year 2014
Maritime & Shipping (Hong Kong) In-House Community Firm of the Year 2015
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International reach
Clyde & Co offices Associated offices
390 partners, 1,500 lawyers and 3,600 total staff 45+ offices across 6 continents
For full office details please refer to the Clyde & Co website www.clydeco.com/locations/offices Asia Pacific Beijing Brisbane Europe Aberdeen
Americas Atlanta Caracas Chicago
Middle East/ Africa Abu Dhabi Cape Town Dar es Salaam Doha Dubai Johannesburg Riyadh
Dusseldorf Edinburgh Glasgow Guildford Leeds London Madrid Manchester Nantes Newcastle Oxford Paris Piraeus
Chongqing Hong Kong Jakarta* Melbourne Mumbai* New Delhi* Perth Shanghai Singapore Sydney Ulaanbaatar*
Long Beach Los Angeles Mexico City Miami Montreal New Jersey New York Rio de Janeiro* São Paulo San Francisco Toronto Washington, DC
*Associated offices
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Clyde & Co is a limited liability partnership registered in England andWales. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. © Clyde & Co 2017
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www.clydeco.com
J389495 - July 2017
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