Baker McKenzie corporate finance head Helen Bradley recently advised on the demerger of the Bank of Georgia parent company BGEO Group, and is currently advising Saudi Arabia's Alawwal Bank on its proposed merger with the Saudi British Bank. She joined Baker McKenzie in 1996.

Why did you become a lawyer? Inspired by Perry Mason (re-runs obviously). I loved the drama of the courtroom and the power of skilful advocacy. When I started my training however, I soon realised that I was really a deal junkie and corporate was the only thing for me.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career? I have never told him this, and I doubt he would ever guess, but Paul Rawlinson, our global chair, has been the biggest influence on my career. He believed in me when I doubted myself.

What's your proudest professional moment? Seeing a hugely talented but struggling mentee achieve her potential and knowing, in some way, you helped her achieve this.

…and worst day on the job? Blocked out of my memory. I am a great believer in not dwellings on things, but rather to learn from it and move on.

Aside from your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why? Lots of great lawyers spring to mind, but it has to be my very patient and tolerant husband, though not only for these qualities but also because he has somehow managed to be ranked as a 'star individual' by Chambers!

What's your strongest characteristic…and worst trait? Driven, too driven – I wonder if my colleagues would agree!

What advice would you give to young deal lawyers starting out? Always act with integrity; network, network, network; get out of your comfort zone; don't be afraid to fail – but hold on to a sense of perspective and remember to laugh.

What's the best part of your job? The people and the fact that I never stop learning. I love learning new things, so to get to do this with a great team and get paid while you are at it, seems like a good deal to me.

What most annoys you about the legal profession? Our constant need to set ridiculous deadlines as if that makes the impossible, possible.

What's the most unusual/shocking request you've ever had from a client? Unrepeatable!

Most memorable deal you ever have worked on and why? Tricky one, as I have worked on loads of great deals but perhaps the most memorable was Ensco's inversion to the UK, which was the first of the US inversions, intellectually and creatively challenging and, of course, on a crazy timeline.

What is the daftest bit of corporate jargon you've heard (and did you smirk)? Most recent pet hate – "snackable content" (although smirk is not the word that springs to mind.)

Do you see yourself having a career outside law? Definitely… just not sure what yet!

What's your favourite item of clothing? A beautiful pair of cobalt Dior shoes, which stop traffic (literally.)

It's midnight and you're in the office for the night, where's your takeaway from? I don't do takeaways but, as my PA knows, I am always a great sponsor of a cake or sweet run at any time of the day or night.

What are your desert island discs? Influenced by my son George, it would have to include The Lonely Goatherd from Sound of Music and Vide Cor Muem from Hannibal.

Favourite box set? Watching Call the Midwife with my beautiful daughter Mimi.

What's your favourite cheese? Not sure – by that time of the evening the memory is not so good.