Perennially disappointed Leicester City fan James Johnson also finds time to be one of Clifford Chance's leading banking partners

Why did you become a lawyer?

Fate – after previously wanting to follow my father and be a vet, in picking my A-level subjects I suddenly decided I wanted to study law at university. No idea why!

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

No one person in particular. I have learnt a lot from many people I have worked with on the same side and on the opposite side.

What is your proudest professional moment?

Using my skills on a voluntary basis as part of the Lineker consortium to rescue Leicester City FC from administration. It is not often as a banking lawyer that you get the chance to make thousands of people very happy (unless they live in Nottingham, Derby or Coventry).

… and worst day on the job?

The day Laurence Reynolds died. Laurence was an associate and friend who came over with me from Wilde Sapte to Clifford Chance (CC). He was just 36. Six months previously we had all been to his wedding. Truly dreadful.

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

Nelson Mandela. I think how he came out of imprisonment and set aside any thoughts of retribution for the greater good was truly super-human.

What's your strongest characteristic and worst trait?

Strongest – loyalty. Worst – impatience.

How do you think associates in your team view you?

I have recently had an upward appraisal so I will just supply one (self-selected!) quote: "Great to work for if you can get hold of him". I won't comment on the first bit, but the latter bit was definitely fair comment.

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

Be yourself. It must make you so unhappy if you feel you have to change your personality when you go into work.

What annoys you about the legal profession?

In no particular order (although they all have a tendency to be found in the same type of person): arrogance; people who talk down to people they think are beneath them; and City lawyers who forget that they are extremely lucky to be earning ridiculous amounts of money when compared with the rest of the population.

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

Well (and here the cat is truly out of the bag), there is not a whole lot of law in banking law so the first one is out. Now, the only problem is that I don't think you would find a single person who would describe me as 'smooth'. So, I'll say my own brand of client skills.

Do the number of City lawyers who profess to support Chelsea and Arsenal get on your nerves?

If they were born locally and/or have supported their team from childhood, then good on them. As for the rest, I suppose it evens them up with the Manchester United fan base (Mark Campbell: please note the deliberate omission).

What's Gary Lineker like in the flesh?

Flesh? Surely some mistake – he is a god!

Four managers since Milan Mandaric took control of Leicester City FC – do you despair for the Blue Army?

My opinions on Mandaric are unprintable.

How do you reckon Chris Mort will get on at Newcastle United?

Don't know – depends if he can understand Geordie.

Who was wilder back in the day, you or Maurice Allen?

Funny you ask that. Whenever I see Maurice I always joke that I have now got his job. However, it is fair to him to point out that I think he was better than me at bonding with people.

Why should aspiring lawyers join CC?

At CC you can be yourself, there is no arrogance, people go out of their way to help you and while we work hard from time to time, we have fun.

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

To be honest, I don't know. I really do believe that fate conspired to put me in the job to which I am best suited.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time?

As a man who mentally still feels he is 18, I struggle to answer this one.

What's your favourite cheese?

Coming from Leicestershire, I should say Stilton. However, I spent most of my childhood Christmases with my mother's relatives on farms in North Yorkshire so I have to say Wensleydale – with Christmas cake, of course.

Dealmaker returns in two weeks.