Linklaters corporate partner Roger Barron explains his fashion rut and name-drops P Diddy

Why did you become a lawyer? I was initially inspired to study law by a combination of Crown Court and Rumpole (a bit like Judge Judy and Ally McBeal), followed by vacation schemes at a criminal practice in Yorkshire and a small Covent Garden firm. I enjoyed this but there was always a part of me that was attracted by the commercial side and by the buzz of international transactions.

What's your proudest professional moment? The end of each deal always brings great pride and satisfaction, both at a personal level but also in the achievements of our great teams of lawyers. Cheesy, I know, but true.

…and worst day on the job? Two years' qualified and standing in front of a board of directors in Moscow to explain that my client (a bank) was pulling out of the deal because their company didn't legally exist… I didn't hang around for questions.

Aside from your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why? Lawyers who work constructively to get the deal done while also looking after their clients' interests. Tim Clark (Slaughter and May) and Will Lawes (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer) spring to mind and perhaps it's no coincidence that both became senior partners. More recently, I've enjoyed working with Chris Haynes (Herbert Smith). Jim Woolery (Cravath Swaine & Moore) once sent me a bottle of Maker's Mark after a deal, so deserves a mention.

What's your strongest characteristic…and worst trait? From my first appraisal as a trainee: "unfailingly good humoured and considerably cool under pressure", which I hope I've kept up. I'm told by my continental colleagues that I speak too quickly (I tell them it's a sign of intelligence).

What advice would you give to young deal lawyers starting out? Don't forget the importance of getting the technical legal basics right. The goal is straightforward enough – it's the delivery that's the challenge.

What's the best part of your job? Quite simply it's the people and the deals, but it's also the variety. Being a generalist corporate lawyer means you can really get involved across a range of what matters most to companies and build broad relationships.

What's your strongest card – technical wizardry or smooth client skills (you can only pick one)? I think clients might say the former and my colleagues the latter.

What's the worst corporate event you've ever attended? I once attended back-to-back MTV Europe awards and backstage party in Barcelona (MC: Sean 'P Diddy' Combs), followed just five hours later by a Linklaters partner meeting in Paris (MC: our senior partner). One was the best event ever…

What will be the most significant market trend in terms of your practice area over the next 12 months? I'm an optimist, so I see M&A on the increase, with the cross-border element from less mature markets continuing apace.

Do you see yourself having a career outside law? No, but as a former choral scholar I toyed with the idea of a side-career in music. Let's just say I'd be a fairly hungry musician.

What's your favourite item of clothing? I have a Paul Smith jacket, but I wear it too much. I went back there to get another, and there was this great one which I loved. A few weeks later I realised I'd bought the same one again.

What's your favourite cheese? Anything but Stilton. I used to love it, but a friend brought a massive block over when I worked in Moscow in the mid-90s. As a respite from the office borscht (sorry Alla), I lunched on Stilton sandwiches for about three months.