In the Spotlight: Sonia Velasco

I was always the go-to person when there was trouble between classmates or siblings, and one thing led to another…

Who had the biggest influence on your career?

My parents. They both showed me that with hard work there are no limits.

What are your proudest professional moments?

Going for what was one of my dreams: to work at one of Cuatrecasas' foreign offices. The firm had not thought about a woman for the post, so I spoke to everyone I could, asking to be included on the list of candidates – and in the end I was one of many other women to follow.

What was your worst day at work?

I failed to understand how to support a colleague to reach partnership and my candidate did not make it.

Did you have a mentor who supported you in your early career? What was the most valuable thing they taught you?

The partner for whom I worked in my early years at Cuatrecasas supported me from the beginning, giving me the opportunities to grow and learn. In general though, I was fortunate enough to work with a great group of people who helped me to believe that anything is possible.

What advice would you give a trainee just starting out?

Cuatrecasas offers lots of opportunities. Explore, find what you want, and pursue it. Work on your network and remember to make friends during the journey. It will make your career and life much more fun!

What do you think will be the most significant trend in your practice over the next 12 months?

The exchange of information among tax authorities, as the Big Data they manage is increasing the number of cross-border tax audits. We will see a lot of these, and consequently clients in need of reliable advice.

What is the most unusual or shocking request you have ever had from a client?

A client asked me to reduce my bill to 10% of its initial amount!

What is your favourite midnight snack when you are in late from the office?

Chips and a coke - is there anything better at midnight?

What was your top lockdown box-set?

I enjoyed watching Friends again, with my daughter. Lots of laughs.

What do you do when you're not working? 

I like trekking, trail-running and hanging out with friends and family. I like skiing, but I am missing it this year.

What would you do if you weren't a lawyer?

I would have liked to become a journalist covering political news.

What is the book you'd recommend to everyone?

The Return, Hisham Matar. It's a memoir of when Matar went back to Libya. It won a Pulitzer Prize and is amazing.

Where can you see yourself in ten, twenty, thirty years?

No idea. I tend to focus on the present!

You're allowed to go on a (socially distant!) walk with anyone from history, who do you choose?

Cleopatra, definitively!

What song will never fail to get you on the dance floor?

Icona Pop or a song from the Catalan group called Oques Grasses. Check it out.