Chris Bird, in house-lawyer for The Wellcome Trust talks from a client’s perspective.
Why do you work with CMS Cameron McKenna?
The depth of the relationship we’ve built with CMS marks them out from other firms we deal with. It’s almost like having an extra team of in-house lawyers. They understand instinctively what we do. And because we’re the world's largest medical research charity, what we do is exceptionally varied and quite often groundbreaking.
In what way?
Well, for example, last year we became the first charity to ever issue bonds in the UK. Also, the way we’re structured is quite challenging when dealing with external investors. It’s the fact that we’re an unincorporated charitable trust. That’s going to set us – and CMS Cameron McKenna – some major legal challenges in the years ahead.
Practically, how does the relationship work?
Our team could be in the middle of a deal and someone on the other side might raise an issue about our position as an unincorporated charitable trust. The CMS Cameron McKenna team will very quickly be able to provide a very detailed, reasoned opinion – based on an in depth knowledge of us. This happened with a recent tax scheme we were working on. With that backing we were able to successfully field what was a very difficult legal query.
How do CMS trainees fit into the picture?
One way our relationship with CMS Cameron McKenna is maintained are through the trainee placements we offer. Perhaps inevitably, those who come here don’t quite know what to expect. And if they do have an idea, their perceptions are changed quite considerably. So what we look for in trainees are people with an open mind, who are prepared to go with what they’re given, to roll with it really. You can’t be too determined to stick to one kind of thing.
What do you think makes a good trainee?
When I interview trainees for a placement, I’m looking for the right personality. Most trainees come to us with fantastic CVs, but that makes a CV less of a measure of achievement. What we need are people who will get on with the rest of the team and are prepared to get stuck in. Success comes from an ability to be creative; even at trainee level that’s a skill worth having. A keen attention to detail is also vital.
What’s the secret of a successful career in law?
It’s the ability to understand clients and react to their needs in a timely way. And it’s the ability to be creative – to think sideways. As the client, we might feel that we’ve got all the bases covered. But the most useful advice is often when someone comes to us saying “you haven’t really thought about that” or “you need to think about this from another angle”. And CMS Cameron McKenna are good at that.