Marco Compagnoni is one of the leading partners in Weil Gotshal & Manges' all-singing, all-dancing private equity team

Why did you become a lawyer?

I wish I could say that from an early age I had a burning ambition to study law, but the truth is that I chose a law degree because I thought it would be a sensible thing to do at university, and, after that, the various career steps towards becoming a lawyer were always the default option. That alone would ensure my failing miserably to get a job now.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

I have always been more influenced by relationships with clients than with other lawyers. There are four or five clients who have had a major influence over the way I do things, some relatively new and some stretching back 15 or more years.

What's your proudest professional moment?

There have been many, ranging from first becoming a partner, the successful merger of Lovell White Durrant with Boesebeck Droste (I was on the core negotiating team for Lovells), winning the bid for the Daily Telegraph Group for the Barclay brothers, being instructed by Terra Firma to act on the Alliance Boots bid and then on their bid for EMI, and seeing the associates with whom I work developing.

…and worst day on the job?

That really is too difficult (and probably too embarrassing). Ask my assistant, Maria. She will be able to fill that in.

Can we speak to Maria?

I have chatted to Maria and the truth is that our most terrible professional moment must go to our graves with us… but, the second most terrible day is (jointly) each of days six-to-10 of the 10-day marathon which was acting for ING in its purchase of the collapsing Barings Bank, with a total of 12 hours sleep across the 10 days, and buying a house at the same time.

Aside from your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why?

Lesley MacDonagh – the former managing partner of Lovells. She was a consummate managing partner, a clever businesswoman, a visionary in terms of the business and the most inspirational person you could have as your boss.

How do you think assistants in your team view you?

Exhausting.

What advice would you give to young deal lawyers starting out?

Pick your firm, and who you work with within that firm, very carefully. Your experience will largely define what you are able to become professionally, so those first new steps are vital. There is a Chinese proverb that the most important part of any journey is the first step, and a legal career is no different.

What most annoys you about the legal profession?

Pedants generally and, in particular, other lawyers who argue about silly things that really don't matter in the context of the deal as a whole.

What's your strongest card – technical wizardry or smooth client skills? (you can only pick one)

I would say I was more of a client man.

What will be the most significant market trend in terms of your practice area over the next 12 months?

The way in which the recent turbulence in the credit markets plays out. Most people are telling me that it is a relatively short term issue – I hope so.

What is the most common misconception trainees have about the firm before they arrive?

The idea that if they join a US law firm they will be worked to death. One of the things that came as a pleasant surprise to me and to my team when we left Lovells was that we work no harder here than we did before. It is the type of work you do that determines how hard you have to work rather than the firm you join.

What's the silliest bit of private equity jargon you've heard? And did you smirk?

I quite like 'BOGOF' (buy one, get one free – a term used in relation to share option schemes). Also, as a newly-qualified I was asked by a client to go and 'tweak the mezz'. I had no idea what I was being asked to do!

What would you do if you weren't a lawyer?

I have no idea – maybe running an impoverished arts organisation, or a failed opera singer!

What's your favourite item of clothing?

I don't have one. But since joining Weil Gotshal I have become a total convert (much to my surprise) to not wearing ties.

What's your favourite cheese?

Both from Italy, the natural home of all good food: Taleggio and runny Dolcelatte (but in their natural state from Borough Market, never pre-packaged from supermarkets).

Dealmaker returns in two weeks.