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About our Trainees
A day in the life...
Henry Stewart - New York Secondment
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Arrive at the office early to deal with a matter I was involved in before I left London; a witness is giving evidence today from the New York office for an arbitration hearing that is currently taking place in London. Quickly log on to my computer to check if there are any emails from the client before he arrives.
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| 8.10am |
I check the meeting rooms to make sure the one I have booked is ready for the client and there is a technician on hand to help with setting up the video link to London. If anything goes wrong with any of the technology involved I know I am not going to have a clue how to resolve it!
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| 8.15am |
I return to my desk and check my diary for what I can expect later in the day. I respond to those emails that need immediate attention, then refer to my "to do list" and make a quick plan for the day ahead.
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| 8.35am |
Our client arrives so I go to reception to welcome him. We head to the meeting room and on the way I explain to the witness what is about to happen, so he feels comfortable with the process.
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| 9.00am |
The video connection to London is made and I introduce myself and the witness to the arbitral panel. A QC cross examines the witness while I refer him to the different documents that he is directed to. I interrupt proceedings so that a technical problem can be dealt with (the rest of the hearing runs smoothly) and soon the panel brings the proceedings to its conclusion.
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| 12.10pm |
Our client, the witness and I discuss the mornings proceedings and the status of the hearing back in London. We make arrangements for the rest of the week when there will be further witness testimony given from the US. I see the client and the witness out and return to my desk.
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| 12.30pm |
Send an email update to the partner and associate who are working on the matter in London which, they will get when they return from the hearing currently underway and make a note for the file.
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| 12.40pm |
Lunch! The associates on my floor have been taking it in turns to choose a venue for lunch and today is my turn. I have had a look on the internet and hope my choice isn't laughed at. Everyone seems happy enough and we chat about the usual things, which means the secondee from Belgium and I explaining European issues to the Americans and being asked our opinions on things such as the US election campaign.
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| 1.40pm |
Back to my desk and to my "to do list". An overseas client wishes to be registered as a LLP in New York and be licensed to act as a public accountancy firm in the State of New York. I call the New York Department of State and State Education Department to order the necessary forms and obtain some information. I receive the forms by email but these have to be re-drafted to make them specific to our client's needs. I discuss the re-draft with a partner, and send the forms to the appropriate bodies. I send an email updating the client about the status of the application.
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| 3.30pm |
Attend a conference call with a large multi-national client that has instructed us to act along side other European lawyers. The client's dispute involves aspects of New York, Bermudian, Swiss and UK law. The discussion relates to the different aspects of law involved in the dispute and how the different firms can work together and support each other. I take a note of the call.
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| 4.40pm |
An English law issue has come up in the call and the partner in charge asks me to research the point. This relates to issue and cause of action estoppel. I research the issue and draft a memo on my findings which I send to the lawyers involved.
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| 6.45pm |
Receive a call from a partner in another department who has an English law enquiry and wants my opinion and also wants to know who is the most appropriate person in the London office to deal with this matter. I discuss my initial thoughts with him and send an email to an associate in London explaining the query, copying in the partner from whom it originated.
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| 7.30pm |
Record my time for the work done that day on the system, then double check my calendar to see if there is anything the following day that requires my immediate attention and whether there is any reason why I have to arrive early at the office. I leave the office and head for a quick drink to catch up with some of the friends I have made during my time in the city.
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Henry qualified into Commercial Litigation in September 2008
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© Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP 2010 |
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