Mark Austin, Freshfields

Having advised on a steady stream of multibillion-pound transactions, Mark Austin has become a regular feature of London's IPO market.

So far this year, the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer corporate partner has worked on transactions including the listing processes of Swiss Re's ReAssure business, luxury watch seller Watches of Switzerland and payment solutions company Network International.

His clients have included the likes of Aston Martin, Hargreaves Lansdown and the London Stock Exchange.

Why did you become a lawyer?

Boringly, it was suggested to me as a career that would suit me by the careers coach at school. To a young boy who liked words, studying books and wasn't the biggest risk taker in the world,  it made some sense.

Initially I didn't take the advice though, as I was a journalist at The Sunday Times for a year before coming to law. I love my job but I can confirm that you get more amusing dinner party stories from a year on a newspaper than you do in nearly 18 years at an international law firm.

Have you ever regretted the decision?

I may be unimaginative but, honestly, not for a second.

What has been the standout deal you've advised on in the last year and why?

I'm lucky enough that I've had three – namely the IPOs of Trainline, Funding Circle and Aston Martin. Trainline was the most recent. A complicated and fascinating deal with a brilliant client. And, weirdly, it was called Project Austin. Named before I came on board, I hasten to add.

What are the best and worst things about your job?

It's probably easier to start with the worst, which can be the work/life balance it demands at times. But even that is fine in fundamental terms.

The best is everything else. Great clients, fascinating deals, fantastic colleagues of all seniorities, a constantly changing work subject, what's not to like? I'm very lucky.

What's the most stressful part of an IPO process?

It's actually winning a pitch in the first place. Although I also thoroughly enjoy pitching, it's great fun. After that, the rest of it is usually a fun and fascinating journey.

I have considerable faith in our collective ingenuity and determination as a city

How do you expect London to fare as a financial centre in the years following Brexit?

I'm not sure I can give a sensible answer to that as we don't know where we're heading. All I can say is I hope very much that it is able to maintain as much of a similar position to what it has now as possible. I have considerable faith in our collective ingenuity and determination as a city, so I'm quietly hopeful that it will be ok.

What is the daftest bit of corporate jargon you've heard?

As my team know, I have a pet hate for 'reaching out'. Similarly for 'smashing out' emails or advice.

What's the most outdated thing you've experienced in the industry?

It's actually the billable hour. While it can clearly be beneficial to us as a business, I've never really understood why it survives to this day in a client-centric service industry.

He had printed each document onto acetate and was able simply to overlay it on to the document in front of him and immediately check that it was the same. Genius

… and the most innovative?

Clearly there are many wonderful tech steps forward that we're making at the moment, many of which I think are fantastic.

But I maintain that the best piece of innovation I've seen – in its context – was when I was a trainee. I was doing a closing and one of my jobs was to check that all the deliverables from the other side were in order. There was I diligently reading through each document and making sure it tracked what I was expecting. When in came the trainee from the other side with a briefcase full of acetate. He had printed each document on to acetate and was able simply to overlay it on to the document in front of him and immediately check that it was the same. Genius.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

There have been many, as you would expect. From the point of view of taking a chance on me, the two interviewers at Freshfields who offered me a training contract, Tom Head and Deborah Dalgleish. I am forever grateful to them. From the point of view of developing as a lawyer, Simon Witty and Julian Makin were huge influences. But the biggest is probably Will Lawes. One of the nicest men you'll ever meet and also a rare mix of a genuinely brilliant indoor and outdoor lawyer. I've always thought that if I can be half as good as Will, I'll be doing ok.

What's your proudest professional moment?

Clearly, I could give the usual answer of the day I became a partner. But actually it was the day I heard I had been given a training contract with Freshfields. That was the first day of the journey.

What's the worst thing that's happened to you while on the job?

At a client's insistence, having to eat locusts in Mexico City one evening while out there on a deal. I haven't done it since.

It's a wonderful job but it's not for everyone

What advice would you give to young lawyers starting out?

I think it's probably true in any walk of life, but to succeed at something you have to be able to stick at it and you have to genuinely enjoy what you do. So I would say a key point is to do your research fully so that you can make a decision as to what you would like to do on as fully informed a basis as you possibly can. Talk to people who do it, research what the job entails, try to get work experience and placements as much as you can. And then be honest with yourself about whether you really think you will enjoy it. It's a wonderful job but it's not for everyone.

How many all-nighters do you tend to do per year?

Probably three or four I would say. Nearly-all-nighters… many more.

What's your strongest characteristic?

Stamina..?? But really I suspect emotional intelligence. You can know all the law in the world and have all the best ideas in the world but if you can't get on with people and get them to listen to you and warm to you – on both sides of the table – then you will never be as effective a commercial lawyer as you could be.

If you can't get on with people… then you will never be as effective a commercial lawyer as you could be

… and most unfavourable trait?

I can sometimes, when busy, be quite impatient and move too quickly. I am trying to improve but it remains a work-in-progress. There are some colleagues here who you would never be able to tell when they are under the cosh, and I constantly try to be more like them.

What do you hope to do when you retire?

Good question. I haven't really thought about it. I know myself sufficiently well that I suspect I won't be able to not work even when I'm older so it's possible that, like my father, I never retire completely. Too much nervous energy. Perhaps a bit more time around the edges to play tennis, ride motorbikes, go to the theatre, read books and travel would be good though.

Describe your commute in 10 words or less

It involves running or riding a motorbike, so fun.

Favourite boxset(s)?

Breaking Bad. Recently, Fleabag.

Favourite pastime?

Time with the kids. Running, playing tennis, reading books, riding motorbikes, watching sport.

What's your best party trick/hidden talent?

I know Ferris Bueller's Day Off off by heart.

What would your motto be?

Always try your best.