Eversheds veteran banking partner Nigel Dale on suicidal corporate events, straight-talking and bus-driving dreams

Why did you become a lawyer? I anticipated that it would be more remunerative than becoming a meteorologist.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career? David Gray, our present chief executive. I became his trainee in 1984 and I learned a great deal. He still has a great influence today.

What's your proudest professional moment? Becoming a partner at Eversheds.

…. and worst day on the job? The day I woke up at my desk at 8am, having fallen asleep at 6am and therefore not having achieved a third night without any sleep – we then went on to complete the deal by lunchtime.

Aside from your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why? Trevor Borthwick, a partner at Allen & Overy – a superb lawyer with fantastic drafting skills.

What's your strongest characteristic… and worst trait? I say exactly what I think.

What advice would you give to young deal lawyers starting out? Understand the commercial implications of every transaction you are involved in before you do anything – if you don't know why somebody is doing something, you cannot advise properly.

What's the best part of your job? The people I work with.

What's the toughest ethical/moral dilemma your job has ever presented you with? As a junior lawyer advising on the sale of a business in administration, wanting the first buyer who would preserve 300 jobs to win the deal rather than the alternative buyer who would pay more but would close the business down and strip out the assets… the jobs were preserved.

What most annoys you about the legal profession? Lawyers who love arguing about the law and miss the real commercial issue.

What's your strongest card? Understanding clients' commercial objectives and helping them to achieve those objectives.

What's the worst corporate event you've ever attended? A recent dinner – the talk was all about the credit crunch and at the end of the dinner the whole room was suicidal.

Most memorable deal you have ever worked on and why? The £950m syndication and securitisation for Jerrold Holdings, which we completed in the first week of November 2007. Memorable for two reasons: firstly because it was great to get the financing completed on the cusp of the credit crunch and secondly because my wife will never let me forget the night I missed our wedding anniversary!

What is the daftest bit of corporate jargon you've ever heard (and did you smirk)? "Let's raise the anchor on that one and let it float" – ridiculous!

What will be the most significant market trend in terms of your practice areas over the next 12 months? The rush for refinancing (both positive and negative) as everybody realises there is no longer enough money to go round.

Do you see yourself having a career outside law? Not in terms of a heavyweight job … but I have always wanted to drive the bus at Disneyland in Florida.

What's your favourite item of clothing? Not a tie.

Favourite cheese? I hate cheese.

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