Why did you decide to become an M&A lawyer? Was there anyone in particular who inspired you early on in your career?
I loved the buzz and fast pace of corporate finance and M&A on my vacation scheme and during my training contract. I was particularly inspired as a trainee and junior associate by the managing partners of the London M&A team at the time – Andrew Ballheimer and Richard Browne – and my supervisor in corporate – Richard Hough: they had a tangible sense of ambition to grow the profile of the A&O corporate team so that we would be mentioned in the same breath as our UK-based rivals and I wanted to be a part of that.
What has been the absolute deal highlight of your career so far and why?
It would have to be a deal I did as a senior associate, that allowed me to prove my partner potential – acting for Virgin Money on its share for share takeover by CYBG. At the time Virgin Money had an all-female leadership team in Irene Dorner, as chair, and Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia as CEO. We worked intensely with the board and Jayne-Anne’s executive team and the relationship partners at the time allowed me to be front and centre.
What do you think are the key skills you need to succeed as a lawyer operating at the top of the public M&A markets now?
The first (more to do with deal-doing than the shape of the markets) is the ability to structure effective deal teams to whom you can delegate appropriately because it’s important to be able to step back, retain sight of the overall picture and stay close to your client’s objectives, in a world of complex, detailed issues generating thousands of emails.
The second is adaptability – to be an effective adviser, you should be able to advise through the life cycle of a business, from growth and good governance to IPO, through to public takeover, and also, in a downturn, on reorganisations and restructurings.
What are your top tips for those looking to become M&A partners?
In the business of M&A, it’s key to build trust among your clients – trust that you want what is best for them and trust that you will deliver. Invest time in clients who value legal advice because those are the most fruitful relationships.