Exploring new horizons

Cherrie is currently a trainee solicitor in the Hong Kong office and was seconded to our London office for 6 months during her traineeship.

Applying for my training contract

I grew up in Hong Kong and pursued my legal studies at the University of Warwick. I then went back to Hong Kong to take my professional qualification.

I did my winter internship with NRF and sat with the dispute resolution team. During my time there, I assisted with various legal research, drafted witness statements, and attended case management conferences.

I decided to apply for a training contract at NRF because I was attracted by the friendliness of the people at the firm. They had an “open-door” policy and everyone was eager to teach. Besides, knowing that NRF is an international firm, I was intrigued by the connections the firm has overseas and the many opportunities it has to offer. I also appreciate the wide range of work the firm is involved with, and as a result training here would guarantee exposure to different types of work throughout two years of rotation. Little did I know that within two years, I would be able to assist with listing a company in the stock market (while being in the corporate department), research technical construction law (while being in the disputes department) and witness many loans from start to finish (while being at the banking department). Working under teams with different styles and mindsets has also been helpful particularly at a junior level, as I learn to be flexible and develop my own style going forward.

Before starting my training contract, I took a gap year and interned at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. It was a valuable opportunity to gain insight into the work of arbitration. There were also several networking events with arbitration practitioners, through whom I gained valuable insights. This experience was particularly helpful to a graduate with an interest in dispute resolution.

I spent the rest of my gap year taking French classes. As a language enthusiast who speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and a little bit of German, I knew that taking on French would expose me to a different culture and also open doors to new experiences both professionally and personally.

My secondment seat

I was at the Construction and Energy disputes team during my secondment in London. During my time on the team, I was given valuable training from experienced practitioners in the disputes department. I was involved with legal research, liaising with clients, and attending hearings, which were fascinating given the scale of work at NRF. As one of the only Chinese speakers in the team, I was frequently invited to assist with matters that involved Chinese parties, liaising between offices, and translation work. I came to appreciate the work of NRF at an international level.

During my time as a secondee, I was also part of the firm’s Pro Bono initiatives. In particular, I drafted witness statements for a client in a construction dispute involving defective flooring. This experience not only provided me with a better insight into construction disputes, but has also given me a chance to act for clients of different backgrounds. Further, I was involved with drafting responses to the public enquiry about Covid-19 lockdown measures for the charity Save for Children, which was a valuable opportunity to show the corporate responsibility commitments of the firm.

Aside from work, I participated actively in the events of Music In Office (MIO), an organisation that aims to bring music to the workplace. Having partnered with NRF for around 20 years, the organisation aims to encourage office workers to pick up a new instrument by taking music classes for a term. Music teachers would come and teach at the office, which was a new experience for me. While I enjoyed my weekly classes with my piano teacher, I also had the privilege of performing a piece in a pupils’ summer concert. The concert was followed by a networking session with pupils from other law firms and companies, which was a great opportunity to network.

An interesting project

It is difficult to single out a deal that I would call the most memorable. I would say that each seat had its own highlight which I enjoyed.

When I was in the corporate seat, I was given the chance to fly to Singapore on my own to conduct due diligence for the client. I truly appreciate the trust that the firm puts in me even as a first-seat trainee, and value the opportunities to develop different skills that flow from these experiences.

During my disputes seat, I had the opportunity to do a site visit alongside with some industry experts to examine a defective building of the client at Canterbury, which was part of a contentious construction dispute. I felt like a part-time engineer as we examined the deconstructed parts of a building. It was also fascinating to move from paperwork to practical work – and see the building that we were working on in real life.

My experience in the banking seat was equally fascinating. The deals were often cross-border transactions, involving offices such as Singapore, London, US, and the Netherlands. Cooperating with colleagues from different offices to close a big deal was truly rewarding.

As a trainee in the Hong Kong office, we also get the chance to run the annual Christmas Party for the office. This includes planning the logistics, holding events, and well as liaising with different departments. It is a great opportunity for trainees to get involved and to get to know members of the firm, especially those that we don’t work directly with. Another highlight is being the MC of the party, which is a valuable experience.