Dentons partner Christopher Colclough on his career, training opportunities and life in the firm’s Milton Keynes office
For Christopher Colclough, head of corporate and banking at Dentons in Milton Keynes, the appeal of the office lies in its combination of international opportunities and close-knit culture. “There’s just no one within the region that has that sort of global footprint, so the opportunity to do international work on a regular basis is unique for us,” he tells Legal Cheek Careers. It’s an offering Colclough sums up as “the best of both worlds”.
Colclough’s interest in law began at a young age, initially with ambitions of becoming a barrister. However, a childhood traffic accident exposed him to the legal process and the solicitor’s role in guiding clients through a case from start to finish. His eventual move into corporate and finance law stemmed from a fascination with business. “I think I’m probably a frustrated entrepreneur and completely risk-averse as a lawyer, so I have to live vicariously through my clients and how their businesses work,” he jokes.
Colclough’s route to Dentons was somewhat unexpected. Having begun his career at a smaller regional firm, he joined what is now Dentons in 2008 following a combination of the two firms. “I have this unique position where I never applied to be at Dentons,” he laughs.
Before joining Dentons, Colclough had been happy working at a regional firm and hadn’t necessarily pictured himself at a larger international practice. “Being thrust into what was a moderately international practice, which then grew massively, reinforced that actually I’m more than capable of being here,” he reflects. Since then, he has progressed through the ranks, worked on international transactions and spent time on secondment in Budapest. It’s the variety of work and international opportunities, he says, that have kept him at the firm.
One of Dentons’ biggest strengths, according to Colclough, is the way its international platform combines global reach with local expertise. Rather than operating simply as extensions of major financial centres, its offices are embedded in the communities they serve. “We’re not a New York law firm in Hong Kong; we’re not a London law firm in Paris,” he explains. “Each office has local lawyers who understand their communities from an economic as well as commercial perspective.”
For the Milton Keynes office, this global network brings considerable advantages. “We have all of the support and resources of a global firm behind the scenes — whether that’s IT, talent development, or business development — that we can just draw upon,” Colclough explains. The office, which has around 150 people, has also seen the scale of its transactions grow considerably, with Colclough describing the quality of work as “top drawer”.
Lawyers in Milton Keynes also have opportunities to regularly work alongside Dentons’ London corporate teams. “It gives the team exposure to even broader range of transactions — sometimes larger and more complex,” Colclough explains.
As head of Dentons’ corporate and banking team in Milton Keynes, Colclough now finds particular satisfaction in developing the next generation of lawyers. While reaching partnership was an important milestone, he says supporting junior colleagues has become an equally rewarding part of his career. “What I find really satisfying is seeing junior lawyers develop and, in some cases, become better lawyers than I ever was,” he reflects.
Colclough has also worked with senior associates to establish a mentoring framework, providing trainees and apprentices with guidance and support. “When I speak to the trainees and apprentices, they consistently say how much feedback they get, the time they get with their mentors and buddies, and that they feel listened to and supported in an environment of learning and development,” he explains.
Alongside this guidance, junior lawyers are encouraged to take on meaningful responsibility from an early stage. “There isn’t a checklist of what things they can and can’t do,” Colclough explains. “We like to stretch people, give them stuff that teases out what they’re capable of, and push them in a supportive way to do more advanced and complex work.”
On corporate transactions, trainees and apprentices get involved in everything from managing virtual data rooms and coordinating with specialist teams to assisting with due diligence and drafting legal documents. “They sort of come into their own at completion,” Colclough explains, with juniors helping to manage the signing process and keep parties updated. On smaller deals, they may even be trusted with more complex drafting work. “Sometimes with a really good trainee, they might have a blank sheet of paper drafting exercise to really test them,” he adds.
Training at Dentons extends beyond the technical side of the job. “I’m also very keen for them to be involved in all aspects of a lawyer’s job,” Colclough says. “They get involved in business development: meeting clients, taking part in client entertainment events, and learning client development skills.”
So, what does it take for a trainee to really stand out? For Colclough, the answer starts with initiative. “People who use their initiative,” he says. “They try and find a solution to a problem.” But knowing when to seek guidance is just as important as having a go yourself. “It’s knowing how much to do, when to ask questions, and checking: ‘Is this right? Am I doing the right thing here?’” he explains.
Colclough also values juniors who can build a good rapport with clients, to the point where clients feel comfortable approaching them directly. Equally important is keeping on top of a transaction’s moving parts. A trainee who knows “exactly what is outstanding and where everything is” gives partners confidence that they are “all over it and working efficiently,” he explains.
The culture of Dentons’ Milton Keynes office is another highlight for Colclough. “Milton Keynes is an exceptionally friendly place to work,” he says. “There is no hierarchy.” Colleagues tend to know one another, while partners are, in his words, “approachable, friendly, and not stuffy.” He also points to the office’s social events, sports clubs and inclusive atmosphere, describing it as “a good community, very supportive.”
For trainees, the benefits of this close-knit culture extend to their day-to-day experience. “Because of the size of the teams, people get really great hands-on experience and opportunities to do work they might not get in a much bigger team,” Colclough explains. With trainees known across the office, there is a chance “to be an individual rather than just a number”.
For aspiring solicitors, Colclough’s advice is simple: “You get out what you put in.” Reflecting on his own training, he encourages juniors to put themselves forward for opportunities, attend internal training sessions and get involved in the firm’s social activities. “How are you going to meet the partners in different teams and senior associates, get to be known, and build your brand?” he asks, emphasising the value of building relationships across the firm.
His final piece of advice is to make those two years count. “Take the opportunities that become available,” Colclough says, “and have no regrets at the end of two years that you didn’t do as much as you could.”
Curious about life at Dentons? Explore the firm’s profile on Legal Cheek’s Firms Most List for an insider’s look at its culture, opportunities and what it’s really like to work there. Plus, get ahead of the recruitment game with all the key application deadlines for this cycle!
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