Leading lawyers give the lowdown on disputes, deals and day-to-day practice
The Legal Cheek Winter 2025 Virtual Vacation Scheme, hosted in collaboration with The University of Law (ULaw), attracted 2,000 students for five days of talks, workshops, and an Employability Expo, featuring nearly 20 top law firms.
Throughout the Scheme, students explored a variety of practice areas — from real estate to disputes — through ULaw-designed case studies. These were unpacked during workshops led by expert speakers, offering attendees a glimpse into how key legal scenarios are tackled in real life. Here’s the lowdown.
Day 1
Session 1: Deals
The speakers:
- Tom Marr, associate in financial restructuring at Akin
- Maeve Sloan, senior associate in corporate M&A at Macfarlanes
- James Patton, associate in the financial institutions group (FIG) at Osborne Clarke
- Charlie Voisey, associate in tax and benefits at Ropes & Gray
The lowdown:
We kicked off the session with short talks from each speaker, covering their practice areas, career journeys, key commercial awareness issues, and advice for aspiring transactional lawyers.
Tom Marr (financial restructuring, Akin) explained how major global events, including geopolitical crises and the pandemic, shape the transactions he advises on. He highlighted the rewarding nature of working with debtors and creditors to reach mutually agreeable solutions that help companies manage unmanageable debt.
Maeve Sloan (corporate and M&A, Macfarlanes) outlined how trainees play a central role in project-managing M&A deals, leading due diligence exercises and coordinating across teams to ensure critical deadlines are met.
James Paton (investment funds, Osborne Clarke) discussed the skills essential for
transactional lawyers — drafting, attention to detail, and project management — and illustrated how legal technology, such as AI-assisted drafting tools, can streamline complex and time-consuming processes.
George Longworth (tax and benefits, Ropes & Gray) showcased the dynamic nature of tax practice and its role in larger corporate transactions. He also shared how transferable skills from non-law backgrounds can benefit aspiring solicitors.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A, allowing attendees to explore the speakers’ practice areas in more depth. A key theme throughout was why many lawyers prefer transactional work over disputes: the collaborative, cooperative process of closing deals, where all parties work toward the same goal, fostering teamwork rather than opposition. At the same time, speakers noted the peaks and troughs of the workload — periods of intense activity followed with quieter times — requiring adaptability and resilience throughout a legal career.
Session 2: Disputes
The speakers:
- Sophia Hanif, associate in the insurance, financial and professional disputes (IFPD) group at Clyde & Co
- Olivia Lee-Smith, associate in litigation & arbitration at Dentons
- Richard Cresall, partner in real estate disputes at Shoosmiths
- Patrick Russell, solicitor at Womble Bond Dickinson
The lowdown:
We wrapped up the first day by delving into life as a disputes lawyer, hearing from four practitioners across a range of contentious practice areas and paying particular attention to how this work contrasts with transactional law.
Sophia Haneef (IFPD group, Clyde & Co) gave us an insight into her work defending professionals against negligence claims. She highlighted various current issues within the area, including AI-related mistakes, insolvency of insured firms and a rise in litigants in person increasing nuisance claims.
Olivia Lee-Smith (litigation & arbitration, Dentons) handles varied disputes from tech litigation to treaty arbitration. She stressed the strategic challenge of contentious work and the importance of reading judgments to understand how cases are won. She also explained the different roles solicitors and barristers play in the lifecycle of a case and how this varied in litigation and arbitration.
Richard Cressall (real estate litigation, Shoosmiths) brought real estate expertise to the table, illustrating how these disputes are a mix of ancient legal principles and modern commercial pressures. He brought our attention to the stable demand for disputes, even in shifting markets, and urged trainees to focus on core building blocks — contract and tort — and follow judicial reasoning closely.
Patrick Russell (CDRI, Womble Bond Dickinson) works across commercial disputes and regulatory enforcement, often where business survival and reputations are at stake. He encouraged aspiring litigators to take the opportunity to watch hearings online and appreciate client emotion as much as legal outcomes.
The panel emphasised the strategic mindset need to succeed as a disputes lawyer and that the end goal is not always to go to trial. In fact, they noted that most disputes settle before trial, driven by cost, risk and commercial priorities, meaning lawyers must guide clients through commercial strategy as much as law.
Day 2
Session 1: Leveraged Finance
The speakers:
- Ashley Ken, associate in the London Finance practice at Weil Gotshal & Manges
- Ryan Prithraj, associate in the London Banking and Finance group at Weil Gotshal & Manges
The lowdown:
Day two of the Winter Vacation Scheme began with an engaging presentation by Ashley Ken and Ryan Prithraj, associates at Weil, demystifying and providing a comprehensive overview of what leveraged finance is: financing the acquisition of a business with debt.
Ken kicked off the presentation with a clear overview of what finance is, including who may need to raise finance, the different sources of this capital, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using debt finance.
The pair then delved into how debt can be used to increase the earnings potential of an investment. For example, if an asset is bought for £100 million funded 100% by equity, if the value of the asset increases by 10%, then the equity will also increase by 10%.
However, if an £100 million asset is funded by 50% equity (£50 million) and 50% debt, and similarly increases in value by 10%, the ‘equity’ here will have increased from £50 million to £60 million, provided a 20% increase in equity. Prithraj also crucially emphasised how using debt in this way (rather than seeking a co-investor who provides this other 50% in equity), prevents dilution of ownership and investment.
Beyond using debt strategically in this way to maximise returns, Ken and Prithraj spoke to the satisfaction of working on these transactional deals, finding fulfilment in contributing to getting a deal over the line and seeing the money move. Both lawyers stressed the importance of junior lawyers taking ownership of their work and having an eagerness to learn.
Session 2: Video Games
The speakers:
The lowdown:
Day two concluded with a session on video games led by Pete Lewin and Isable Davies at Wiggin, who both specialise in video games and interactive entertainment.
After briefly introducing their background and career journey, Lewin and Davies provided an overview of the video games industry, what types of clients they work with, and the significance of the industry in the global market. They then delved into the lifecycle of a games company, from offering advice on games development to tackling legal issues that arise from launch of the game. Finally, the speakers gave the audience some tips to get started on a career in this niche area.
In the Q&A following the presentation, Davies gave her insights into the impact of the Online Safety Act on gaming companies, while Lewin explained the legal implications of user-generated content in games. Before the session came to a close, both of them offered some practical advice for aspiring gaming lawyers — be passionate about the work you do, and be a friendly person to work with.
Day 3
Session 1: Capital markets and asset finance
The speakers:
The lowdown:
Day three kicked off with a session on capital markets and asset finance led by Vishal Mawkin and Abdulla Zaman. They began by setting out their respective roles within the firm, before explaining how capital markets enable sovereigns, corporates and banks to raise money from institutional investors via bonds. Mawkin outlined the three main ways in which companies can access capital (equity, debt and revenue) and the conditions that drive high-growth businesses to favour debt capital markets. Mawkin also shared his route into practice, as well as his first-hand experience of the global financial crisis which marked the beginning of his career.
The focus then shifted to asset finance. Zaman contrasted conventional corporate lending with structures secured over movable assets such as ships, aircraft and rolling stock, illustrating the jurisdictional and regulatory issues that arise when vessels are flagged or aircraft are registered in different countries. When discussing how specialist lessors acquire fleets and lease them to operators, Zaman highlighted the particular features of rail as an asset class. Throughout the session, the speakers returned to the increasingly important role that cross-border work plays, especially how these transactions support clients’ ESG goals while increasing their access to deep pools of international capital.
In the Q&A, Mawkin and Zaman discussed what life is like for trainees in their practice areas. They emphasised the importance of understanding how individual tasks fit into the wider transaction, using diagrams to map complex debt structures and supporting senior lawyers as a “safe pair of hands” through clear communication, proactivity and careful time management. They also encouraged aspiring lawyers to development their client care skills by thinking critically about how and when to respond to clients.
Session 2: Employability Expo
The speakers:
- Mandi Kaur, student recruitment manager at The University of Law (ULaw)
- Niall Carlin, programme and student lead at The University of Law (ULaw)
- John McKeown, careers consultant at The University of Law (ULaw)
- Linsey O’Donnell, careers consultant at The University of Law (ULaw)
- Kira South, student recruitment officer at The University of Law (ULaw)
The lowdown:
Firm Research and Applications
Mandi Kaur, student recruitment manager at ULaw kicked off the session by emphasising that applications are a two-way process, it is crucial to showcase the applicant’s ability to contribute to the firm, and their genuine interests towards the firm. While researching on law firms, Kaur suggested two approach – looking at the firm’s practice area or sector, as well as taking a range of considerations into account, such as location, firm culture and values, and secondment opportunities.
Different types of qualifying work experiences (QWE) like the structure of a training contract and in-house legal practice were introduced. While it is fundamental to recognise that QWEs will shape one’s future legal career, assessing one’s own employability skills is essential as well. Kaur talked about a variety of skills that a candidate should display, from problem-solving to commercial awareness to active listening. Lastly, she wrapped up the session with some practical application advice, stressing that relevant transferrable skills and thorough firm research are the cornerstones to a successful application.
The SQE Explained
Niall Carlin, programme and student lead at The University of Law, gave students a clear overview of the changes to solicitor qualification introduced by the SQE. She explained that the new route is split into two stages: SQE1 and SQE2. SQE1 tests black-letter law, while SQE2 focuses on practical legal skills, including advocacy and drafting. Carlin also outlined the different study options available — such as ULaw’s LLM with integrated SQE preparation — and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of completing Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) alongside your studies.
Where can I find legal work experience
John McKeown and Linsey O’Donnell, careers consultants at the University of Law, began their sessions by explaining why legal work experience is so valuable alongside academic study, stressing that it can differentiate applicants with similar grades by evidencing work ethic, professionalism and a realistic understanding of legal practice. They went on to outline the range of options available, noting how each can help develop the transferable skills that lawyers need. This was followed by techniques to source opportunities beyond advertised programmes, such as approaching smaller firms speculatively, requesting short periods of shadowing and using existing personal networks to open doors.
The speakers went on to share the common pitfalls they see in legal work experience applications, before laying out the key steps that applicants can take to improve their chances of securing legal work opportunities — i.e. focusing on firm-specific research, explaining how they could add value, and creating concise CVs that clearly distinguish legal from non-legal experience.
Drawing on questions from the audience, McKeown and O’Donnell also touched on issues such as qualifying work experience routes, visa and part-time work considerations, and how to stay motivated when facing setbacks in the recruitment process. To wrap up their sessions, they emphasised that any experience which builds insight, skills and contacts is worthwhile if aspiring lawyers are proactive, resilient and strategic in using each opportunity to move closer to their career goals.
Writing Effective CVs and Cover Letters
Kira South, student recruitment manager at ULaw, rounded of the Employability Expo by providing attendees with practical tips on how to optimise their CV and cover letters for strong legal applications. South began by highlighting the possible sections and structure of a chronological legal CV, with insights such as splitting employment history into legal and non-legal experience. She shared the useful tip of bullet pointing your skills with a relevant verb that links to activities that lawyers undertake (‘Researched…; ‘Drafted…’; ‘Organised…’).
South emphasised that non-legal roles should not be omitted, instead highlight the transferable skills gained from this background. Paying attention to detail is another crucial tip: with thousands of CVs to review, law firms will quickly reject applications that contain spelling mistakes or errors such as naming the wrong firm.
Turning to cover letters, South advised that they should be no longer than one side of A4. Applicants should include specific and well-researched reasons for their interest in the organisation/role, linking these reasons to relevant experience wherever possible. She encouraged applicants to focus on submitting between five and ten highly targeted applications, rather than submitting dozens of generic, copy-and-paste ones. South usefully hinted that each application should be treated as an individual project, being detailed and tailored to each firm.
Day 4
Session 1: Competition
The speakers:
- Tina Zhuo, partner at Slaughter and May
- Tom Carlton, trainee solicitor at Slaughter and May
The lowdown:
Tina Zhuo and Tom Carlton offered an inside look at the realities of working in competition law on a day-to-day basis. The pair explored the breadth of the field, from merger control and antitrust issues to cartel investigations and competition litigation, emphasising how the firm’s multi-specialist approach enables lawyers to navigate seamlessly across these areas.
Zhuo shed light on emerging trends in the sector, noting that increased regulatory scrutiny in relation to Big Tech has become one of the most pressing challenges facing the sector today. The pair agreed that staying commercially aware is crucial, stressing the value of regularly engaging with news and industry podcasts to keep pace with the commercial and regulatory developments.
To conclude, the pair shared advice for aspiring solicitors. Zhuo underscored the importance of seizing all opportunities, while Carlton encouraged future lawyers to trust their instincts and pursue the areas of law that genuinely spark their interest.
Session 2: Employment
The speakers:
- Laetitia Cooke, partner at Lewis Silkin
The lowdown:
Day four of the Winter Vacation Scheme concluded with a presentation by Laetitia Cooke, employment partner at Lewis Silkin. Cooke began by outlining her career journey, explaining what attracted her to employment law and to Lewis Silkin in particular. She then discussed the variety of work the employment team undertakes, including high-profile, celebrity-related matters.
Cooke highlighted both the non-contentious and contentious aspects of the team’s practice. On the non-contentious side, this includes corporate support, reward and share schemes, equality and diversity, tax matters, and immigration. She also outlined the contentious work the team handles, ranging from investigations (think Greg Wallace) and employment tribunal claims to advising on disclosure, drafting witness statements, and negotiating settlements. She touched on some of the complex whistle-blowing cases she has been involved in and the unique challenges these cases present.
Cooke also described what a typical day looks like for an employment lawyer at Lewis Silkin and shared the key qualities needed to thrive in the field, such as strong communication skills and the ability to think holistically. She concluded with practical advice for students preparing their applications and highlighted legal developments that are likely to affect employment law in the near future.
Day 5
Session 1: Reputation Management
The speakers:
- Zara Larmour, associate at Gateley
The lowdown:
The final day of the Scheme kicked off with a presentation on reputation management by Zara Larmour, associate in the commercial dispute resolution team at Gateley. Zara began by explaining that reputation management encompasses a wide range of media-related issues, including media litigation, defamation, privacy and data protection. Importantly, she emphasised that these services aren’t just reserved for wealthy celebrities, and that clients can also include governments, regulatory bodies and charities.
Zara went on to outline a selection of common ‘trigger points’ or reasons for calling upon a reputation management lawyer, as well as defining the two different types of legal defamation – libel (defamation in a permanent form, typically written or published) and slander (defamation in a transient form, such as speech). She also delved into the various ways in which a defamation claim can be resolved – such as awarding damages to the claimant, bringing an injunction against the defendant, publishing a summary of the court’s judgement, and ordering the removal of the original defamatory statement.
To round off the session, Zara encouraged aspiring solicitors to investigate SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) and deepfakes to further their understanding of this area of law and the commercial issues surrounding it.
Session 2: Private Capital
The speakers:
- Ashwin Pillay, partner at Charles Russell Speechlys
- Molly Moseley, senior associate at Charles Russell Speechlys
The lowdown:
We rounded off the virtual vacation scheme with a session on private capital led by Ashwin Pillay and Molly Moseley from Charles Russel Speechlys. They began by giving us an overview of the firm’s corporate team and explaining how private capital underpins much of CRS’s work. They described private capital as an umbrella term covering matters involving privately held assets rather than those on the public markets.
Moseley outlined the firm’s sectoral focus, speaking in particular about her expertise in sports law. She discussed her work on the growth of women’s sport, including acting for the International Tennis Federation on its joint venture with the Mark Walter Group to elevate the Billie Jean King Cup competition. Pillay then spoke about his experience advising Europe Snacks on its acquisition of Burts Snacks, highlighting the cross-team collaboration required to deliver such complex deals.
After their presentation, we moved into a Q&A session and discussed the speakers’ career paths and motivations for joining the corporate team. Pillay noted the satisfaction of working at the centre of major transactions — often coordinating multiple teams across the firm and acting as the client’s main point of contact. Moseley spoke about her preference for working on transactional matters, where everyone is driving towards a shared and constructive goal.
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