2025

Please explain why you have decided to pursue a career as a solicitor and what has attracted you to Debevoise? (250 words)

My desire to become a solicitor arises from my passion for helping people solve problems. Initially, I aspired to be a politician but changed paths during my first year. I volunteered at the advice clinic, participated in law firm open days and insight events, and completed Forage legal simulations, all of which gave me a sense of the work done by solicitors. The client-centric focus and emphasis on collaboration and problem-solving in the commercial sector interested me. I am drawn to Debevoise & Plimpton because of its esteemed expertise in commercial disputes and private equity. I admire the firm’s reputation for excellence in contentious law, having been named the “International Arbitration Firm of the Year, alongside a strong track record in litigating significant commercial disputes involving Fortune 500 companies. The opportunity to work here in a collaborative environment that fosters innovative legal strategies for high-stakes cases, such as its representation of Shell in the Bille and Ogale proceedings, is incredibly appealing. Furthermore, I am excited by the firm’s renowned private equity practice, which recently advised LeapFrog Investments in successfully closing its fourth fund, exceeding its $1 billion target by raising $1.02 billion. This expertise in navigating complex transactions and providing tailored solutions demonstrates a strong commitment to socially responsible finance. Finally, I admire the firm’s dedication to pro bono work, especially its involvement in the Windrush compensation cases. Having worked as a Windrush caseworker in the advice clinic, I look forward to assisting with these claims while training at Debevoise. 

Please indicate if there are any preferred practice areas that interest you. (250 words)

I am interested in the Commercial Litigation and Arbitration & International Disputes practices. My passion for international arbitration began during my studies at Stockholm University, where I studied an introduction to international commercial arbitration. This foundational knowledge was further enriched by a module I took last semester on European and International Litigation and Arbitration at Paris Nanterre University, culminating in a final paper on the ICSID arbitration procedure, reflecting my deep interest in this area. I visited the SCC Arbitration Institute in Sweden, gaining valuable insights into the practical aspects of international arbitration. Additionally, my participation in an insight program at Reed Smith provided real-world exposure to commercial litigation. I shadowed a senior associate on a case involving a ship casualty progressing toward arbitration, observing client meetings where a Judge, also serving as an arbitrator for the firm, outlined the strategic approach. I contributed by proofreading witness statements, gaining firsthand experience in the meticulous preparation and attention to detail required in contentious law. I am also interested in the private equity practice, as I am fascinated by the concept of acquiring struggling businesses and advising them on becoming profitable. I participated in a private equity simulation on Forage, where I helped draft NDAs for an acquisition and created transaction structure charts. This experience taught me about private equity deals. My academic foundation and practical exposure will enable me to make meaningful contributions to these practice areas, characterized by a commitment to excellence, innovative strategies, successful outcomes, and a client-focused approach. 

Please detail any extra-curricular activities and leisure interests, including any relevant responsibilities and achievements. (250 words)

I currently volunteer at my university’s Legal Advice Clinic, where I have gained a solid legal practice foundation through client interaction, research, and document drafting, and have offered crucial legal support to many in need, significantly impacting their lives. Additionally, I was selected for prestigious programs such as the UK Civil Service Early Diversity Internship and the UK Government Legal Department summer diversity scheme. These experiences exposed me to the intricacies of the legal profession within the public sector and enhanced my understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion within the legal field. Being selected by my university as one of 20 students for week-long employability programs in Singapore and Belfast, alongside practical skill-building programs with Circl and WeSpeak, has significantly increased my employability, understanding of diverse work cultures and career development. I received funding from the University of Westminster’s Ignite Fund and the Global Mobility Bursary in my second year. This support allowed me to attend a summer school in Sweden, where I studied international commercial arbitration and visited the Stockholm Arbitration Institute. I also have a very active LinkedIn presence, which enables me to share my insights and extracurricular activities and promote the ignite fund to students. Finally, as president of the Nigerian Student’s Association at my university, I have supported and guided Nigerian students, significantly those new to the UK, to ease their challenges and foster a sense of belonging. This role has honed my leadership and organisational skills, allowing me to impact our community positively.

Please tell us about a difficult or demanding achievement that you are particularly proud of, with focus on why it was challenging and the contribution you made towards achieving the end goal. (250 words) 

One difficult achievement I am proud of was my decision to maintain my weekend job at [redacted] while studying abroad in France this academic year. This situation presented significant challenges as I faced the dilemma of either resigning from a job I was passionate about or giving up a valuable exchange year. When my requests for unpaid leave were denied due to my lack of tenure, I knew I had to think creatively to accomplish both goals. I devised a plan to commute every weekend between Paris and London. This meant sacrificing my social life and a portion of my salary to cover train tickets (discounted for rail staff), but my dedication to my job and studies motivated me to push through. Balancing work with coursework required me to effectively manage my time and prioritize responsibilities. My contribution to this achievement was my resilience and adaptability. I took the initiative to negotiate earlier shifts on Sundays with my managers, which allowed me to better fit my work schedule around my classes during the week. This not only demonstrated my commitment but also earned their support and respect. Completing the first semester while juggling both work and school obligations was stressful, yet the experience has honed my time management skills and expanded my networking abilities through interactions with diverse travellers. Ultimately, I take pride in my ability to overcome obstacles and maintain financial stability, enabling me to focus on my studies without the anxiety of job hunting in a new city. 

Please tell us something that not many people know about you. (250 words) 

[Redacted as is a sensitive personal story]

Please tell us about a recent commercial deal that has captured your interest. If you could represent a side, which would it be and why? (300 words)

In 2022, investment management company M&G acquired Ascentric, a wealth management platform, to enhance its presence in the UK savings market and improve services for financial advisers. The deal involved transferring £15.5 billion in assets and relationships with over 1,500 advisory firms and 90,000 clients. Following regulatory approval from the FCA, this acquisition positioned M&G for competitive growth in the wealth management sector. However, a recent lawsuit by M&G against Royal London has raised concerns regarding due diligence and investment risks on the Ascentric platform. If I were to represent a side, I would choose M&G for these reasons: Alleged Misrepresentation: M&G claims that Royal London failed to disclose risks associated with certain investments offered on the Ascentric platform, specifically CFB Bonds. This alleged misrepresentation could have significantly impacted M&G's decision to acquire Ascentric. Regulatory Scrutiny: The involvement of the FCA adds complexity. M&G faces pressure to compensate customers who invested in risky products, which could lead to substantial financial liabilities. Potential for Damages: M&G is seeking at least £27 million in damages from Royal London. This significant sum underscores the potential financial implications of Royal London's alleged actions. Protecting M&G's Interests: Allegations of misrepresentation by Royal London could lead to financial and reputational harm for M&G. Representing them is essential for safeguarding their interests and securing appropriate compensation. Advocating for Fair Dealing: This case offers an opportunity to promote higher standards of due diligence and transparency in M&A transactions, particularly within the financial services sector. Successfully representing M&G can help create a fairer environment for future acquisitions. In representing M&G, I will argue that Royal London did not conduct their due diligence process in good faith. This lack of transparency, alongside regulatory pressures and expert testimonies, supports a compensation claim. I will pursue a favourable settlement before considering litigation. 

What do you hope to get out of a career at a Firm like ours? (250 words)

I anticipate the satisfaction of helping clients achieve their goals and the opportunity for continuous professional growth at Debevoise. My objective is to apply the skills I develop during my training contract to support others effectively. I am motivated by the opportunity to provide exceptional legal counsel that directly impacts every client. Witnessing their success—whether it’s securing a favourable settlement, closing a complex deal, or navigating challenging legal issues—is incredibly rewarding. Building lasting relationships with clients is crucial for both their success and the profitability of law firms. I am committed to staying current with legal developments to ensure our clients receive the best representation possible. Upon qualification, I will focus on helping businesses navigate the complexities of my chosen practice area. I also aspire to become a dual-qualified lawyer. Many lawyers at Debevoise hold qualifications in both the US and UK. Achieving this would be a dream for me, as it would allow me to be an asset to the firm in whichever country I qualify, including France, where I have a foundational knowledge of the legal system. I also hope to advance my professional legal career and contribute to my firm’s success. Career progression is important to me, and I find inspiration in the stories of partners and senior associates navigating their paths. I have a keen interest in dispute resolution and look forward to refining my skills and taking on more responsibility, advanced courses and more certifications, with the goal of becoming a qualified arbitrator at Debevoise.

2024

Please explain why have you have decided to pursue a career as a solicitor and what has attracted you to Debevoise? (250 words)

A career as a solicitor enables me to advise clients on both commercial and legal issues to further their commercial objectives. Being a commercial solicitor is important to me as during my time at [REDACTED], I served on the [REDACTED] team where I advised ten start-up companies from acquisitions of real estate assets, and employment contracts, and supported them with investor pitches. I have received high commendations from clients for my entrepreneurial mindset tied in with my excellent legal knowledge. I am eager to apply my skills as a solicitor.

Debevoise’s small trainee intake of ten per year makes the firm a key interest to me. By employing leaner teams, Debevoise’s environment allows me to get the highest standard of exposure while giving me a high degree of responsibility. At [REDACTED], within my first month, I had successfully volunteered and won a high-risk £100k claim. By employing creative arguments, taking the initiative by seeking more work, and utilising my organisational skills, I was able to excel. I am confident my skills will contribute effectively from day one at Debevoise.

Debevoise’s highly regarded white-collar team is also attractive to me. At Covington & Burling, I was particularly interested in learning how businesses must consider both legal and public-facing responses. By completing Latham & Watkin’s Forage internship, with a high degree of accuracy I was able to complete a draft memo for an interview. I want to pursue a seat in a white-collar tier-one firm like Debevoise.

Please indicate if there is a preferred practice that interests you. (250 words)

I am interested in Debevoise & Plimpton’s white-collar and regulatory defence practice area. During my vacation scheme with [REDACTED], I gained experience in this sector by sitting in their white-collar team. Being commended by a partner for presenting a research note breaking down a complex case, was rewarding to me. I found this high-pressure sector, which mainly focuses on government investigations, intriguing. Lawyers working in this area have to consider both law and practicality, for example, by seeking DPAs instead of risking trials. 

Debevoise & Plimpton’s market-leading position, evidenced by being band one ranked in the sector, and its team of former US, UK, and EU regulators attracted me. The firm’s strategy of employing former regulators ensures that clients receive advice from those who know the process best. Additionally, being offered a training contract for a top UK regulator cements my skillset to suit white-collar crime.

My primary interest is examining the work of white-collar crime in the context of international sanctions. As some countries, such as the US, impose extraterritorial reach on their own sanctions, this area of white-collar crime can be complex and demanding, but fulfilling as a career. However, I would approach the practice with an open mind and would seek as many opportunities to explore other areas such as whistleblower investigations, securities enforcement, and banking enforcement. The skills I learn in white-collar crime will prove essential as a trainee solicitor and give me first-hand exposure to both litigation and advisory work.

Please tell us about a difficult or demanding achievement that you are particularly proud of, with focus on why it was challenging and the contribution you made towards achieving the end goal. (250 words)

During my vacation scheme at [REDACTED], I was assigned to draft a partnership agreement for a complex acquisition. Unfamiliar with partnership agreements and the involved parties, I promptly organised my calendar, dedicating my time to understand the parties and terminology. I consulted the firm’s intrant and iManage system to see sample agreements, creating a base document accordingly. Finally, I sought guidance from my trainee buddy, who gave me insights into the key components and additional sources for drafting the partnership agreement.

By organising my time, I was able to give this agreement my full attention while reserving less important work for later. I divided my day to ensure I could focus on specific areas of the partnership agreement, to ensure I would be able to deliver the overall project after dealing with specific issues. By utilising my strong organisational skills, my eagerness to proactively review the firm’s intranet page, and my collaborative skills in seeking support from colleagues, I was able to draft a partnership agreement with minimal errors.

This experience highlights my proactive approach to issues by seeking support, researching and utilising the firm’s intranet pages, and my strong organisational skills. This issue was challenging to me as it required me to complete a piece of work I had never done before. My ability to take the initiative and seek support reflects my ability to thrive doing new work. My client commendation further reflects my ability, which I would utilise at Debevoise & Plimpton. 

Please tell us something that not many people know about you. (250 words)

Social mobility is very important to me. I was raised in a house with a single mum who was long-term unemployed. Growing up, I became accustomed to going a day or two without eating, having to wear shoes till they were physically torn apart, living a year without Wi-Fi or broadband, and continuously having to move somewhere cheaper. Despite these circumstances, I never stopped pursuing my goals with the support of my mum. Social mobility is crucial as it offers a diversity of thought and opinion.

The Social Mobility Commission has found that affluent students have twice the chance of achieving higher-paying jobs compared to their working-class peers. While the ONS estimates the widening income inequality has increased to 35.7%. it is this inequality in educational and employment opportunities that perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits the potential contributions of talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. I am determined to change this.

I regularly participate in school workshops where I have delivered sessions to over 1000 students on CV practice, application support, and insight into the legal profession. I also mentor students applying to university or apprenticeships, through which, over 20 students have gone on to receive interviews or their first-place preference. By allowing students from working-class backgrounds to build their transferable skills, they develop the passion to continue growing like I do.

I am passionate about including individuals from all backgrounds as it fosters diverse opinions, increases creativity and productivity, and advances social mobility. Everyone benefits from social mobility.

Please tell us about a recent commercial deal that has captured your interest. If you could represent a side, which would it be and why. (300 words)

The Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard caught my attention. This deal has the potential to significantly reform the gaming industry by enabling Microsoft to expand its reach in the gaming industry, disrupting a very concentrated sector. The deal also supports Microsoft in shortening its time-to-market with new gaming creations. At [REDACTED], working with our gaming clients, I learned the significant impact this deal has on the sector. I would be enthusiastic to represent Microsoft.

Microsoft’s slow but aggressive push into the gaming industry makes Microsoft an ideal company to represent to shake up the industry. By acquiring 343 Industries for Halo and Mojang for Minecraft, Microsoft has built its reputation for acquiring market-leading products and their companies. By turning to Activision Blizzard, Microsoft is focused on severely disrupting the highly concentrated market for top-tier gaming companies. The future also makes Microsoft an interesting client, as it may seek to pursue opportunities in the “on-demand” sector dominated by Valve, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, and EA. Working on this deal would allow me to gain valuable insight into Microsoft’s plans to expand even further into a very concentrated industry. 

The work itself on this deal would be particularly interesting. For example, reviewing the competition issues and maximising the potential to avoid competition issues and responding to the CMA’s block on the deal, would be very engaging. Further, the international reach of the deal, requiring an understanding of various contractual obligations in multiple jurisdictions would be exciting. Conducting due diligence in the gaming industry – a particularly appealing sector to me because of my gaming background – would also be a great opportunity. Finally, considering how to market the acquisition publicly, supporting drafting employment contracts, and being involved in numerous different departments, would provide me a platform to seek a significant number of opportunities to learn.

What do you hope to get out of a career at a Firm like ours. (250 words)

There are three things I hope to get from a career at Debevoise. Firstly, I aspire to engage in continuous learning opportunities to enhance my commercial and legal expertise to provide exceptional advice to clients. For instance, Debevoise’s unique mini-MBA program in conjunction with Columbia presents an opportunity to acquire business knowledge to support clients. My eagerness to participate in such initiatives reflects my commitment to developing my skill set, enabling me to deliver excellent services to clients. A key value at Debevoise.

Secondly, I desire the independence to undertake challenging tasks with great levels of responsibility. Debevoise’s emphasis on identifying trainee who display initiative, seek demanding work, and are motivated by high stakes but rewarding projects assures me that Debevoise’s work environment will suit me. By pursuing work that captures my interest and challenges me, I am motivated to deliver exceptional quality work.

Finally, I want to work on cross-jurisdictional and international projects that demand extensive collaboration. As Debevoise is renowned for its leadership in the private equity sector, representing a majority of the biggest private equity firms while also advising sponsors or investors of over 2,800 private investment funds, I am confident that the work offered will be varied and require international exposure, eagerness for cross-jurisdictional work, and high levels of collaboration across the firm’s global offices.

By attaining these ambitions, I am confident I would contribute to Debevoise’s market leading position by delivering a high-degree of level services, a key fundamental value the firm seeks for.

2022

Please explain why you have decided to pursue a career as a solicitor and what has attracted you to Debevoise?

Personally, I have found that to understand the inner workings of law on a global cross-jurisdictional scale is to effectively understand the functioning of the global markets across all industries. This variety of intellectually challenging work makes law extremely riveting in a way that few other domains can offer. It is for this reason that I was initially pushed to become a solicitor.

Debevoise’s small teams and emphasis on on-the-job learning immediately makes it stand out as somewhere that I would receive the highest standard of exposure, but also somewhere that would allow for higher levels of autonomy and responsibility at an earlier level. I believe my entrepreneurial and pragmatic approach would allow me to hit the ground running at Debevoise & Plimpton.

Having the opportunity to study both civil and common law systems has propelled my desire to train in a firm with a strong global outlook, where I can utilise & expand my knowledge of international affairs in dealing with cross-jurisdictional matters. I aspire to train in a firm where I could utilise my competencies in Chinese business, language and culture. Debevoise's strength and presence in the Asian market is very exciting and I know this would lead to very interesting complex work.

The possibility to train in a firm with such a focus on business development, combined with unparalleled transatlantic private equity expertise, makes Debevoise & Plimpton somewhere that I believe I could develop best as a solicitor, both within a team and in an autonomous capacity.

Please indicate if there is a preferred practice area that interests you.

An area of particular interest to me is private equity, specifically fund formation and acquisition financing. I had the opportunity to develop these areas of interest in Ireland's top equity practice with A&L Goodbody. The fast paced nature of the transactional work I got to grips with is key to my interest in private equity.

I am passionate to build on this experience in an international transactional domain with exposure to global markets. Debevoise & Plimpton has attracted me due to its transatlantic dominance in private equity markets, and more generally, leading transactional services.

However, my various exposure to specific practice areas has not been for prolonged periods. Consequently, I am also interested in gaining experience within a range of leading broader practice areas such as M&A, finance and regulatory. For this reason, I aspire to train within various domains in order to gain a deeper understanding of where my key interest lies and which practice area suits my strengths best.

Please detail any extra-curricular activities and leisure interests, including any relevant responsibilities and achievements.

I was awarded the [redacted] Prize 2020 for obtaining the highest grades throughout the academic year and consequently being ranked 1/17 in my class.

I was selected to partake in a [redacted University] two year long feasibility study for Mandarin as a secondary school subject. Subsequently, having received the highest result in Ireland, I was asked to return in an administrative capacity which has involved helping current secondary level students begin their education of both Chinese language and culture in conjunction with the [redacted] Business School.

During my year studying at [Y University], I was awarded the Certificat Supérieur de Droit International et European for my results.

Furthermore, I am passionate about competing in French Legal Mooting competitions and debates. In 2018 my teammate and I were fortunate enough to win the Irish National Intervarsity in [Z University]!

I acted as the Treasurer of the [redacted University] French Society between 2018 and 2019.

As a result of my Irish Leaving Certificate results, I was awarded the 2017 [redacted] Scholarship.

Orienteering is something which has grown to occupy a large part of my life and I now compete with my Irish teammates at events all around Europe. It involves a mixture of cross country running and map reading in rough terrains!

I was awarded the [redacted College] of the Year Award 2014 for achieving 10 Higher Level As in the Irish Junior Certificate (99th Percentile).

Please tell us about a difficult or demanding achievement that you are particularly proud of, with focus on why it was challenging and the contribution you made towards achieving the end goal.

In May of 2018, I set a personal goal to apply for a summer job working in a French speaking country. In June I made my way to the Ardennes region of Belgium where I would spend the next two and a half months working in a professional kitchen.

Working in the kitchen of a restaurant in Belgium, I was immersed into a work environment with no relevant experience and required to work in a highly pressurised and fast paced kitchen, which was exacerbated by the fact that, as the sole English speaker, I was required to communicate in only Dutch & French.

During my trial period, it felt very much like an insurmountable task and consequently, leaving the restaurant like many others were doing seemed likely. However, I was determined to see how much I could push myself to meet the demands of a task which was completely unknown to me, and fulfil my goal of living independently for the period in Belgium.

Over the following weeks, I drew on various challenges and problems I had overcome working on my family's dairy farm which has given me an arsenal of transferable skills. Fortunately, this allowed me to adapt quickly and work both resourcefully and independently, as professional chefs rarely have time to stop and explain a task during a busy service. This has motivated me to work in an area like law which demands punctuality and organisation while also being intellectually challenging with a strong sense of responsibility. 

Please tell us something that not many people know about you.

Science, specifically physics, has always been of great interest to me. Moreover, the possibility of grappling with challenging theoretical ideas that have no definitive answer is something that I find really exciting.

Reading of physicists like Planck, Fermi, Bohr and Curie, amongst so many others, constantly inspired me to try to look at ideas from new perspectives with an analytical mind.

It is for this reason that in my final year of secondary school I decided to enter the prestigious Irish BT Young Scientist of the Year competition, which requires students to propose a self-directed science project to be selected to compete at a national final.

Over three months I worked on my proposal entitled ' The Expansion of Space with reference to the Infancy Stages of Collapsing Nebulae and Supernovae. After having been selected by both my school and the BT Committee, I began work on the forty-two-page detailed submission to present to the judges.

I would often be stuck for hours trying to overcome a theoretical obstacle in order to further the hypotheses. These challenges are what made the process so invigorating and exciting.

Additionally, I successfully sought the advice of the renowned physicist Alexei Filippenko of the Berkeley Institute, who greatly aided me in breaking down certain challenges.

I subsequently presented and defended my thesis over three days to different panels of judges and was ultimately awarded the bronze medal in the Senior Physics category.

Please tell us about a recent commercial deal that has captured your interest. If you could represent a side, which would it be and why?

The takeover bid between private equity giants Blackstone and Global Infrastructure Partners for the private jet company Signature Aviation is a very interesting deal occurring at the moment. Despite international global airlines reporting unprecedented losses and FTSE 100 company Rolls Royce being forced to ask for a five billion pound bailout, Signature Aviation and its competitors have managed to maintain over 80% of its previous annual turnover, making private jet transport a surprisingly sustainable and pandemic immune business.

Both interested Private Equity groups, realising the potential for growth in this area, have put forward a joint bid for a majority shareholding of the business. The unique resilience of Signature Aviation's business structure makes this a very interesting deal and I believe it would be exciting to represent them in this takeover deal.

While the work on the potential Sponser's side would also be complex and challenging, Signature Aviation will require a significant amount of novel legal and business counsel moving forward with this deal. Given that they actually own very little material such as planes or runways, the 3.5 billion pound deal is purely focussed on its network of leasing contracts and logistical support networks sprawled across 4 different continents.

Therefore, in advising Signature Aviation, I would be required to look into its various contractual obligations in over a dozen different jurisdictions. Subsequently looking at this information in light of the proposed takeover offer and preparing both due diligence and share purchase agreements would be very engaging work.

Furthermore, I believe that the pre-signing phase of Signature Aviation's deal would be a particularly unique opportunity to gain a breadth of knowledge on an organisation's successful management of a global pandemic.                                                                                                                 

What do you hope to get out of a career at a Firm like ours?

I hope to be able to come to work as a trainee knowing that I am going to be challenged, both intellectually and in terms of the level of responsibility I am given. I want to undertake a training contract which will expose me to a dynamic legal career, but also that would allow for higher levels of autonomy at an earlier level. I know that Debevoise & Plimpton's ethos would allow me to do this in a cooperative and open environment.

I aspire to be exposed to a broad variety of challenging cases which would incorporate large international & cross-jurisdictional elements. In the same vein, I aim to be part of a highly collaborative environment, therefore allowing me to develop and learn from those within my team while being exposed to clients and high quality work.

In summary, I want to train somewhere that will allow me to become a leader in my chosen field. For this, I know that it is important to work somewhere that you can be treated as more than a trainee, whilst also being able to learn from market leaders in various sectors. Debevoise & Plimpton would provide me with the best opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge as a solicitor and I know that my enthusiasm, academic ability and hands-on approach would allow me to really succeed and contribute during the training contract and later on in my career.