What's your job about?
White & Case is an international law firm with more than 40+ worldwide world. White & Case is a truly global law firm, meaning our offices often work seamlessly together for our clients in an array of industries and sectors including energy, renewables, infrastructure, mining & metals, high-profile pro bono cases and more.
I am currently a first-year Associate in our Australian offices completing my final rotation in the Corporate M&A team in Melbourne. I completed my first rotation in the Debt Finance team in Sydney and my second rotation in the Corporate M&A team in Singapore. The opportunity I had as a Graduate to experience working in different teams across the network is a testament to the global opportunities White & Case offers. Debt Finance and Corporate M&A have been transactional areas of law that have helped me develop not only strong legal and technical skills but develop commercial acumen. I have been fortunate to be involved in both cross-border and domestic matters such as advising a client on loan arrangements with a syndicate of international lenders and preparing legal documentation about a joint venture between entities based in different countries. These opportunities to be exposed to not just Australian law and engage with clients or stakeholders from various backgrounds have been particularly rewarding. Experiencing the intersections of law, business and geopolitics is what I enjoy the most in my job!
What's your background?
My parents migrated to Australia from Harbin, China in their twenties and I am always immensely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had as a result of their decision and sacrifices. My Dad moved over on a ‘Distinguished Talent’ visa as a figure skating coach (definitely a rare talent down in Australia) and my parents now call sunny Sydney home. I grew up in Sydney and went through school here before studying Arts and Law at university. Naturally, alongside school, figure skating was a big part of my life growing up. My local ice rink was essentially a second home as I was competing at State and National levels. Being involved in this sport from a young age gave me the drive and tenacity to also pursue a career that was dynamic and challenging. Moreover, being a second-generation Australian and ABC (Australian-born Chinese as my Mum likes to call it) and having the opportunity to study at UC Berkeley in California for a year during university have also been experiences that have influenced my interest in an international legal career.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely! At White & Case, there is no “cookie-cutter” candidate. Now that I’ve worked across 3 different offices, I can attest to the fact that being in a law firm like White & Case is about being yourself first and foremost and then having a passion for the work and global offering. From my experience in the Australia and Singapore offices, I have had the pleasure to get to know so many interesting and impressive colleagues! Some have come into law as a second career after being secondary school teachers, others have grown up in countries around the world from Hong Kong to Saudi Arabia to New Zealand – each person is valued for their own unique lived experiences and strengths.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest parts of my job are the chances to learn and interact with such a diverse group of clients and colleagues. Being in transactional law is truly a collaborative and iterative process where to complete one deal, there are usually at least 10+ people working together to make it happen. In one day, I could be discussing legal strategy with clients, associates and partners from several different teams within the Firm to align on the deal process, then consulting an Australian regulatory body for guidance on certain approvals required for closing. As a junior lawyer, it is initially overwhelming to see how much work and thought goes into a successful deal, however, I now definitely appreciate being able to be in a job that is both people-oriented and intellectually challenging.
What are the limitations of your job?
As with any job, there will be tough moments and maybe a bit of a trial by fire. Firstly, whether it is due to resourcing or client expectations, one limitation I’ve experienced is the unpredictability of hours. You will learn from these experiences about how to better manage it and White & Case offers both support and resources to help along the way. Secondly, learning different workstyles and dealing with personalities is inevitable. One thing I’ve continued developing is my patience, empathy and cultural competency, as in the end we are all human and trying to do the best we can.
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