Freshfields' head of competition on setting the room on fire and making a spine-tingling mistake

Why did you become a lawyer? I wasn't brave enough to try acting… and I knew that my folks would be happy.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career? Actually, not a competition lawyer. Two young partners at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in the 80s, Bill Richards and Charles Ap Simon, respectively finance and corporate lawyers. They really knocked me into shape when I joined from the European Commission (EC) a couple of years after qualifying. Very sadly, both passed away far too early in their lives.

What's your proudest professional moment? It may sound a bit 'corporatist', but it was being asked to co-lead our global competition group.

…and worst day on the job? As an associate, waking bolt upright in bed with the sudden realisation that a mistake I had made could have rendered a network of distribution agreements unenforceable. I had the weekend to find a solution before reporting it to the partner on Monday morning. My spine went cold thinking about it for many years.

Aside from your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why? I admire Gerwin Van Gerven of Linklaters and Mark Leddy of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, who are both excellent competition lawyers with a range of skills. Mark is helping set the trend for competition lawyers to lead their firms.

What's your strongest characteristic…and worst trait? Maybe enthusiasm… and being a bit of a Welsh windbag.

Why go into competition law? Seeing the blend of law, economics and sometimes politics which is involved during my brief time at the EC.

What's your strongest card – technical wizardry or smooth client skills? Neither, really (although some people think I'm good with clients). I like to think it is my presentational skills before the regulators.

What advice would you give to young lawyers starting out? Do all the simple tasks you are given as well as you possibly can. It's the best way to be entrusted with tougher challenges.

What's the toughest ethical/moral dilemma your job has presented you with? I was acting jointly for a client when my co-counsel advised that some unhelpful documents that had come to light didn't need to be disclosed to the agency because it would be 'inconvenient'. I didn't agree and wrote a difficult letter explaining my position. That was the last thing I did on that job.

What most annoys you about the legal profession? Unlike most other professions, our astonishing commitment to league tables.

What's the worst corporate event you've ever attended? The one where I had the worst moment, I organised myself. It was the 20th anniversary of our Brussels office in a beautiful museum and one of the catering stands caught fire. Although we put it out quickly, I don't recommend setting fire to your clients as a relationship management technique.

Most memorable deal you ever have worked on and why? I acted for a party opposed to the GE/Honeywell merger which was blocked by the EC. For a period it had almost daily coverage in the media and the US Congress and White House got involved.

Do you see yourself having a career outside law? It might be too late to have a career, but I'd like to think what I have learned could be useful in a number of ways (other than in, perhaps, catering…).

What are the best and worst parts of the job? Best – trying a new idea and seeing it work and sharing the success of the team. Worst – timesheets.

What is the daftest bit of corporate jargon you've heard (and did you smirk)? I suspect I'm a bit too fond of it myself to respond.

What will be the most significant market trend in the competition arena over the next 12 months? I think there will be two. Clearly, private litigation in Europe will continue to expand. We'll also see more international deals being influenced by regulatory decisions in China, India and Russia.

What's your favourite item of clothing? My driving gloves and my boat shoes.

What's your favourite cheese? I've gone to the French Basque country often and I love their Ossau-Iraty, which is a hard cheese made from mountain sheep milk, traditionally served with a black cherry jam. Sounds strange, but seems to be loved by everyone who tries it.

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