Adam Au
Adam did a double degree in Economics and East Asian Studies at Brown University, Providence, USA before completing his Law degree at the University of Oxford, UK. He completed his Training Contract in our Hong Kong Office.
“I was really pleased when I was told that I was going to spend six months in the Equity and Debt Markets Group. Linklaters consistently ranks at the top of the capital markets league tables, and our Hong Kong office is the market-leading team for the region. With that in mind, I expected this seat to be a challenging experience for me.
My hunch transpired into reality two days into my seat when I was delegated with the challenging task of commenting on a complicated PRC legal opinion drafted by another party to a capital markets transaction. The steep learning curve at this group meant that I had the opportunity to work on multiple tasks, ranging from preparing all the underlying documents for a convertible bond issuance to negotiating with another working party on fine legal points. Despite the stress and demanding nature of the job, support was always nearby. Unfailing guidance and encouragement from partners and associates alike had a meaningful influence on my interest in this area of law by providing me with first-hand transaction experience, and with the associated drafting and negotiation skills training that are integral parts of its quotidian practice.
Law is an ever-evolving practice. As a trainee at Linklaters, I have been blessed with the opportunities to work on some of the most complex and groundbreaking transactions. The rapid change of the global economy never ceased to challenge our conventional ways of thinking. This is particularly illustrated through our capital markets practice where solutions are always innovative and new challenges forthcoming. Only with an open mind will I be able to continue to adapt to these challenges and benefit from working alongside some of the brightest minds in the profession.”
Cassandra Wu
Cassandra has now qualified in to Banking & Projects after doing an internship and working as a paralegal at Linklaters. She did a double degree in Commerce and Law at the University of Sydney.
“My fascination with law goes right back to when I was doing my Higher School Certificate – anything I studied which had a legal aspect fascinated me. It also helped having a sister as a lawyer – she gave me a real insight into what I could expect from a legal career.
“I did an internship at a number of firms – Linklaters being one of them – and what stood out more than anything else, was the people. I felt so welcomed, there were lots of social events and I even had a buddy and principal I could speak to. In fact, everyone was really approachable and the scheme was really structured – and it was clear that if I came here I would get the depth of work and the depth of support that I was after.
“After I got a training contract with Linklaters, I took the opportunity of doing paralegal work in the office whilst I did my Postgraduate Certificate in Laws; and like the internship, it was a great experience - the partners and associates were very approachable and open, both in giving information and in helping out on various aspects of the deals that we worked on.
“I always wanted to work in Hong Kong. China is the world’s fastest-growing economy, so that makes it a pretty exciting place to be, especially as the country is changing so fast and we are seeing the opening up of the legal and banking framework. In China, Linklaters is the place to be. The work here is truly international, complex and cross-border; and when you join as a trainee you really get to see how these deals progress and share in the success of their completion.
“I think one of the things that impressed me most is the responsibility that you get here, right from the start. You feel part of the deal team and have a role to play even though you may not have the greatest level of experience. And the people are really helpful. I recently had a situation where a client needed some information that related to a different practice area and needed it within the hour. I could have looked through the resources we have at the firm, which are incredible, but due to time pressures I had to seek some help. So I talked to an Associate in another practice area and they stopped what they were doing and gave me the information there and then. It demonstrated to me what this place is really like.
“If I have one piece of advice for anyone who is interested in pursuing a legal career, it will be to do an internship. It’s a very good way to get an impression of a firm and to see whether it is right for you.”
