Linklaters Milan capital markets partner Claudia Parzani is the magic circle firm's western Europe managing partner. She has been at the firm for 10 years, and between 2013 and 2016 she was also president of Valore D, an association of 150 companies that works to increase the female representation at the top of Italian business. She has advised many of Italy's biggest banks, including UniCredit, BPER and Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

Why did you become a lawyer? I always wanted to become a lawyer. My mother still remembers a time when, during lunch with friends and relatives, I said that I wanted to be a 'just' lawyer and represent people who needed help. I became a finance lawyer, but I developed a deep interest in many causes, the most dear to me being diversity. I want to leave to my three daughters, to my friends' daughters, and to the girls of my country, a world where meritocracy is the rule and the appointment of a woman is not news.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career? I have learnt something from almost everybody; an idea, a suggestion, a thing not to be done or not to be done in that way. I have always thought that I did not want to do things as they have always been done. I strove to look at things from a different angle, but I certainly did not invent anything. The people I have met always left a little of themselves with me.

What's your proudest professional moment? I am very proud every time we are able to close a transaction for our clients in these challenging and difficult markets. It is always the result of the work of an entire team and a rewarding achievement.

…and worst day on the job? When I see young girls not having the courage to raise their hands, to run the race when it is about to start, to get over their fear to fly. Certainly this is a consequence of a cultural heritage, but young girls should be aware that they have all they need to get where they want and that the limits before them are only reflections of their own thoughts.

Aside from your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why? I admire every person and every lawyer who is able to lead by example. I think this is the most effective way to teach young people and to be persuasive. I love givers; altruistic people who are able to give themselves and their time and who are able to listen to other people.

What's your strongest characteristic…and worst trait? My strongest characteristics are my creativity and curiosity. My wish to find new solutions to old problems for the benefit of my clients is certainly my strongest and distinguishing trait. Creativity and curiosity allowed me to be authentic, and encouraged me to find the way to get over obstacles and take down stereotypes.

My worst trait is that I am not always able to say no. I always try to find time for everyone who asks for my help. Sometimes, I realise that there is not enough time to do everything, but I always do my best.

What advice would you give to young deal lawyers starting out? My advice is to try to not do things the way other people do them. Look for your own corner, try to find an empty space, start to build your own role from there. If the corner is busy, bring your own personality, your style, always try to think outside the box. Above all, it is essential to have fun in everything you do and always be happy.

What's the best part of your job? I believe that the best thing is the interaction with people from different countries and different cultures. The possibility of exchanging ideas and experiences is always stimulating and rouses curiosity and creativity in my day-to-day professional activity. I always learn a lot, it's fantastic.

What most annoys you about the legal profession? The most annoying thing is the necessity, sometimes, to conform to a precedent practice and do things as they have already been done in a previous deal.

What's the most unusual/shocking request you've ever had from a client? After the closing of an important and long restructuring, a client asked me to assist him in a new transaction in Asia and to take a plane the next day. I was eight months pregnant, which he had forgotten.

Most memorable deal you ever have worked on and why? I am very proud of having assisted UniCredit on its four separate rights issues and generally of having assisted many Italian banks on their capital strengthening measures that have been necessary to support the entire Italian banking system.

What is the daftest bit of corporate jargon you've heard (and did you smirk)? Difficult question. There is a lot – I smirk every day!

Do you see yourself having a career outside law? I could imagine a career in the fashion industry, as the editor of magazines. Certainly a job where I could use all my creativity and at the same time interact with people.

What's your favourite item of clothing? I love vintage clothing and jewels. I love to reuse old things, clothes, shoes and accessories to give them new life. I love to mix old and new in an outfit, as well as in the decoration of my home.

It's midnight and you're in the office for the night, where's your takeaway from? If I have skipped lunch as well, I order the fastest takeaway. I eat anything.

What are your desert island discs? Discs of traditional Italian songs, I love to sing them at the top of my voice.

What is your favourite box set? I have not watched television for many years. I like to do many things and when I have free time my to-do list is always too long. My three daughters monopolise the television.

What's your favourite cheese? I like every kind of cheese but, with a European attitude, I have to admit that I love French cheeses. My favourites are Saint-Nectaire and Cantal.