Why did you become a lawyer?
I had ideas about joining the Army but an illness stopped that. Even as a student I was interested in business and the stock market, so I decided that I wanted to work in the City. A law degree and a recommendation from a friend at university (now a partner in our Paris office) led to a place on the Travers Smith summer scheme. I enjoyed the work and the atmosphere and decided that a career as a solicitor would suit me. I joined Travers Smith as a trainee and 15 years later, I'm still here.

What advice would you give to younger lawyers starting out?
Make sure that you find an area of law that interests you. If you are interested in what you are doing, you will enjoy it and be successful.

Worst day on the job?
A client I had worked with for six or seven years went into administration for reasons completely beyond its control. It was a sad moment seeing a client I had worked with for all those years end up in that position.

Best day on the job?
When you have been working hard on a deal and it finally signs – it's a moment of relief and excitement and an opportunity to go home and get some rest. And then there are the completion dinners, which can be great fun. As a junior associate, I met Ridley Scott at a completion dinner. It was shaping up to be a great night until I realised that he did not want to hear my views on Gladiator.

As a junior associate I met Ridley Scott at a completion dinner. It was shaping up to be a great night until I realised that he did not want to hear my views on Gladiator

What's your strongest characteristic...and worst trait?
According to my associates and trainees I am very approachable, which I guess is a strong characteristic. But I have terrible handwriting! I frustrate people when I hand them mark-ups and they can't read any of it.

It's midnight and you're in the office for the night. Where's your takeaway from?
I don't tend to eat in the office but I often pop into McDonald's at Waterloo on the way home.

What annoys you about the legal profession?
When negotiating documents, debating what is or is not ‘the market position'. It frustrates me because our clients are paying us to be creative and find solutions.

Strangest request from a client?
Being asked to host a client wine-tasting dinner when the wine expert couldn't make it. I managed to bluff my way through the evening and I think the clients enjoyed it – the wine at least.

Most memorable deal?
The IPO of Hostelworld at the end of last year. I led a cross-departmental team where our corporate finance team worked closely with our private equity, commercial and tax teams. It was great seeing it all come together, making sure everyone kept a smile on their face and delivering for the client and the other advisers. We had worked on a lot of IPOs in the past couple of years and a number had ended up as sales, so it was pleasing to get that one from the start to the finish line.

Favourite item of clothing?
I do get ridiculed for my love of Lycra. I can often be seen cycling around the Surrey countryside in my Travers Smith cycling top.

Why did you become a lawyer?
I had ideas about joining the Army but an illness stopped that. Even as a student I was interested in business and the stock market, so I decided that I wanted to work in the City. A law degree and a recommendation from a friend at university (now a partner in our Paris office) led to a place on the Travers Smith summer scheme. I enjoyed the work and the atmosphere and decided that a career as a solicitor would suit me. I joined Travers Smith as a trainee and 15 years later, I'm still here.

What advice would you give to younger lawyers starting out?
Make sure that you find an area of law that interests you. If you are interested in what you are doing, you will enjoy it and be successful.

Worst day on the job?
A client I had worked with for six or seven years went into administration for reasons completely beyond its control. It was a sad moment seeing a client I had worked with for all those years end up in that position.

Best day on the job?
When you have been working hard on a deal and it finally signs – it's a moment of relief and excitement and an opportunity to go home and get some rest. And then there are the completion dinners, which can be great fun. As a junior associate, I met Ridley Scott at a completion dinner. It was shaping up to be a great night until I realised that he did not want to hear my views on Gladiator.

As a junior associate I met Ridley Scott at a completion dinner. It was shaping up to be a great night until I realised that he did not want to hear my views on Gladiator

What's your strongest characteristic...and worst trait?
According to my associates and trainees I am very approachable, which I guess is a strong characteristic. But I have terrible handwriting! I frustrate people when I hand them mark-ups and they can't read any of it.

It's midnight and you're in the office for the night. Where's your takeaway from?
I don't tend to eat in the office but I often pop into McDonald's at Waterloo on the way home.

What annoys you about the legal profession?
When negotiating documents, debating what is or is not ‘the market position'. It frustrates me because our clients are paying us to be creative and find solutions.

Strangest request from a client?
Being asked to host a client wine-tasting dinner when the wine expert couldn't make it. I managed to bluff my way through the evening and I think the clients enjoyed it – the wine at least.

Most memorable deal?
The IPO of Hostelworld at the end of last year. I led a cross-departmental team where our corporate finance team worked closely with our private equity, commercial and tax teams. It was great seeing it all come together, making sure everyone kept a smile on their face and delivering for the client and the other advisers. We had worked on a lot of IPOs in the past couple of years and a number had ended up as sales, so it was pleasing to get that one from the start to the finish line.

Favourite item of clothing?
I do get ridiculed for my love of Lycra. I can often be seen cycling around the Surrey countryside in my Travers Smith cycling top.