Camerons finance head Will Meredith on overcoming a fear of cheese, trashing Austin Princesses and getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar

Why did you become a lawyer?

I showed a lack of imagination in not knowing what else to do with a law degree.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

Peter Illion at Beachcrofts. John White, Robin Parsons and Andrew McKnight – all ex-Cameron Markby. At the moment, the 18 other partners in our banking team have a pretty direct influence!

What's your proudest professional moment?

Nothing beats faxing the firm's headed notepaper to my parents on the first day my name appeared. Shame that doesn't happen in the larger firms anymore.

… and worst day on the job?

My family have a coach business in Cheshire. I took my coach test at the tender age of 18. Let's say the end result (a failed test and a prosecution for careless driving – £40 fine with £2 costs – after I accidentally 'collected' an Austin Princess in the town centre) was not in my contemplation at the start of that day. I passed the test a week later – same examiner, same route, same recently-repaired bus.

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

Joint first for Michael Duncan (Allen & Overy) and James Johnson (Clifford Chance), very different characters, but both exceptional lawyers with a drive to get the job done in a co-operative and professional way.

What's your strongest characteristic… and worst trait?

I'm very patriotic, which means I can't help Aussie-bating, whenever we come out on top in the sporting arena. We've recruited several Aussies into the team for that very reason (only joking – they are all good lawyers).

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

Give your bit of the deal 100%; and at the same time watch, observe and learn from all that is going on around you.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

When chipping onto the green, make sure your head is directly above the ball.

What's the toughest ethical/moral dilemma your job has ever presented you with?

It's always to do with how many chocolates/doughnuts/sweets I should take from the ever-present goodies in the office. Anything less than a handful and my conscience is clear.

What most annoys you about the legal profession?

Lawyers who forget the reason for their existence (to look after their client's interests and get the transaction done) and who enter into cheap and fruitless point-scoring exercises with the other side.

What's the best part of your job?

Watching and, hopefully, helping young trainees develop into able and well-rounded lawyers. Also, being part of teams that work together and get jobs done. The pub, post-deal, is always a good place to be.

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

Definitely not the former.

What takes up your spare time?

My wife would say football, rugby, cricket, golf and Formula One. I would say family.

Most memorable deal you ever have worked on and why?

The buy-out of a fishing business with a myriad of target subsidiaries, all of which had directors who were hands-on North Sea fishermen. Explaining financial assistance procedures to those guys at midnight on a Saturday was a challenge. We all wanted to be somewhere else, trust me. Oh, and Spurs managed to win that weekend – we watched Match of the Day in the office on Sunday morning before completing at 7pm on Sunday.

What is the daftest bit of finance jargon you've heard (and did you smirk)?

'Bull Spread'. Yes, the mind boggles.

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

Partial abolition of financial assistance and an increase in corporate financial restructurings.

Do you see yourself having a career outside law?

See my answer to the first question – I have limited imagination.

What's your favourite item of clothing?

Not my favourite, but the funniest piece of kit I see on a regular basis is/are Neil James' dayglow corduroy trousers – he has a job lot of them and actually wears them in the office.

What's your favourite cheese?

Hated the stuff from the day I was born, which made the first half hour of each day of my summertime student job in a cheese factory a stomach-churning experience. It was a case of mind over matter – I told my stomach not to mind as the money did matter.