Application Questions Lesson 4 Why this firm ASPIRING

Application Questions Lesson 4: Why this firm? ASPIRING COMMERCIAL LAWYERS NETWORK IZZET HASSAN

Where are we at? We have covered writing style (Lesson 1) Why commercial law question (Lesson 3) How? Experience (work experience, vacation scheme) Case study / Open Days Discussed importance of attending a networking event in order to draft strong answers

Why is this question important? A continuation of your story Does your reasons for commercial law and your interest in the firm line up? Methodical step / natural progression? What have you done to strengthen your understanding of the firm? BIG DEAL – 2 year commitment + rest of your life? First-hand experience or a paper candidate? SHOW that you are an ideal candidate for the firm. * TIP: from reading your application, if you don’t believe that you’re an ideal candidate for the firm, then you need to try again.

Re-cap on focus of this question 1. The firm’s practice areas (Firm’s work) = FUNDAMENTAL Quality of the work Quality of clients 2. Strategy More relevant with some firms e. g. Slaughter and May, Macfarlanes, Travers 3. Trainee intake Large or small? 4. Culture

1. Firm’s work Based on your experiences so far… Practice areas Focus on transactional, unless firm is niche and focuses primarily on litigation. What does it mean to you… Quality of work and the quality of clients Complex and stimulating nature of the commercial transactions you are involved in. International dimension Show the firm’s strong cross-border capabilities.

Example of Firm’s work I discovered that an international dimension adds a layer of complexity and excitement to transactions. For example, as I was typically advising on the sale of aircraft in different jurisdictions, I had to liaise with local lawyers and seek their advice on the practical implications of relocating and re-registering aircraft. Coordinating the work of local counsel and ensuring compliance with their respective jurisdictions was an enjoyable and stimulating experience. At the [ ] event, Dan Smith and I spoke about the firm’s broad range of practice areas. Dan mentioned that the firm consistently works on some of the most complex transactions available. I was impressed to see that the Firm recently advised on …. . This transaction, which involved lawyers in Berlin and Frankfurt demonstrates the Firm’s strong cross-border capabilities and highlights the stimulating nature of the Firm’s multi-jurisdictional work.

2. Strategy This is quite specific for certain firms: Slaughter, Macfarlanes, Travers Exclusive PE firms e. g. Kirkland & Ellis (sponsor side) Jones Day – non-rotational training contract The point is to demonstrate an awareness of why the firm has adopted that specific business model. Servicing clients Understanding what the firm prides itself on- note that this is different to culture.

Example of Strategy Adrian Jacobs and I also discussed the firm’s business strategy. Adrian mentioned that the firm has no intention of merging and that its international needs are catered for by …… I admire this strategy as it ensures…. . Note: very difficult to link back to you, but that’s okay. How does it work in practice? Attributable to the firm’s success? – e. g. notable number of FTSE 100 clients? Rankings?

3. Small trainee intake 4. Culture 3. Small trainee intake What does this mean for you i. e. why are you attracted to it? Tie it back to you – when have you worked in an environment like this 4. Greater responsibility, working closely with associates and partners What did you learn from it Culture Through your interactions with someone, you learnt this about the firm Why do you like it? Do you have this skill i. e. are you an ideal candidate?

Example of 3. and 4. 3. [ ]’s small trainee intake is also appealing as it grants trainees exposure to complex transactions and quality clients early on. As a ……. , I have gained experience working directly with partners and senior associates, and discovered that I enjoy working on transactions in more streamlined teams. 4. The warm welcome I received from partners and trainees at the [ ] event convinced me that the collegiate / entrepreneurial / open atmosphere fostered at [ ] is one in which I can thrive. I developed my …… S. T. A. R.

My personal approach was… 250 words – Two well-developed arguments. 1) Work 2) trainee intake (80%), culture (20%) Private Equity Reading about Blackstone and Carlyle Group’s exponential growth alerted me to the calibre of clients…. Highlighted a legal career that would allow me to work on complex transactions across a broad range of industries Small trainee intake [ ] and I spoke about the firm’s small trainee intake, which grants trainees exposure to complex transactions and quality clients early on. During my …. . , I discovered that I enjoy working in more streamlined teams.

Let’s do it together… Applying to Linklaters We’ve done case studies / gained experience/ substantiated our interested in transactional law: Intellectually challenging nature of the work Quality of clients and work International dimension We’ve attended a networking event. Spoke to Alister Rutherford (Partner) and Harry O’Neil (Trainee)

Firm’s work: Quality of work and clients / International Dimension Research: Tier 1: M&A (upper mid-market and premium deals) Notable deals on which Linklaters have worked on this year include Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in its £ 46 billion recommended offer for Shire plc – one of the largest pharma companies in Europe, the largest ever outbound M&A deal by a Japanese company and the largest global public M&A deal this year. Other deals of note include Ablynx on its public takeover by Sanofi worth £ 3. 9 bn, its largest transactions in the past five years and the largest Belgian biotech deal ever. Linklaters named European M&A Legal Adviser of the Year by Mergermarket

Let’s bring it all together I recently attended the [ ] event, presented by Alister Rutherford and Harry O’Neil at Cambridge University, where I was able to learn more about the firm’s excellence across a broad range of practice areas. Harry spoke particularly highly of the Firm’s Corporate practice. I was impressed to see that Linklaters recently advised Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in its £ 46 billion recommended offer for Shire plc – one of the largest pharma companies in Europe, the largest ever outbound M&A deal by a Japanese company and the largest global public M&A deal this year. Having also been awarded the European M&A Legal Adviser of the Year accolade at the 2019 Mergermarket European M&A Awards, it is clear that Linklaters leads the market in this field. With such expertise, I would have the opportunity to learn from outstanding colleagues. *Remember, all of this is in the context of you already having successfully demonstrated your interest in transactional work

Key take aways Four elements to the why commercial law question: Firm’s work – main one Strategy Trainee intake Culture Continue your story Make sure you can explain why everything links back to you i. e. either saying what this will mean for you (practice areas / firm’s work / strategy) OR why you are suited to the firm (trainee intake / culture)

Curriculum Update Commercial Awareness Lesson 2: Article 1 Analysis Thursday 24 th October 2019 Friday 25 th October – Submitting Questions University Seminars: Edinburgh and City Application Questions Lesson 5: Work Experience Let’s get it