|
Trainee Profile - Jane Anthony
 I started at Covington in the firm’s Employment Practice. The work was varied, interesting and challenging. Amongst other things, I prepared first drafts of many different types of agreement, helped prepare for and attended employment tribunals, was involved in obtaining a without notice injunction in the High Court against an employee of a publicly-traded US company, prepared the first draft of a paper that my supervisor presented at a conference on corporate social responsibility held in Barcelona and had constant direct client contact in the form of meetings, conference calls, phone calls, emails and lunches.
During my second seat, in the firm’s Corporate Practice, I had the opportunity to work for a wide variety of clients, including a state-owned company based in Africa that is the world’s largest exporter of phosphates and phosphate derivatives, a prolific Italian fashion house, a wireless telecommunications research and development company based in California and large pharmaceuticals and health care companies. Recently, I traveled alone to Barcelona on a work assignment for a client active in the power and gas industries.
Having expressed an interest in financial services work before joining the firm, Covington accommodated my request and gave me the opportunity to work closely with the partner in the Financial Services Practice throughout both my employment seat and my corporate seat. The most enjoyable project in my year as a financial services trainee involved evaluating financial services causes of action in a potential class action, initially for the purposes of obtaining funding from an insurance company. As well as preparing a first draft of a memorandum to a leading Q.C. in the financial services field, I assisted in witness interviews and attended a consultation with the Q.C.
There are many fantastic opportunities at Covington if you are willing to be proactive. For example, although I will not be doing a seat in the Dispute Resolution Practice until next year, I replied to an invitation for any one trainee to attend an arbitration hearing with a partner from the Washington office who was representing a sovereign client from the Middle East. I was also invited to join the partner and the client’s representatives for lunch and dinner.
Covington emphasises the importance of pro-bono work. I have worked for six such clients during my first year, on issues ranging from general corporate administration to assisting a Zimbabwean client obtain a visa for his wife and children to join him in the UK and reviewing agreements for a solar energy project in Zambia. A highlight was attending the final of the world’s biggest youth speaking event, facilitated by a pro-bono client.
The firm organises regular social events including a monthly drinks trolley, a 4th of July barbecue, a thanksgiving lunch, Associate Committee dinners and events, trainee dinners, summer and Christmas parties and a new associates’ retreat to Washington DC. Sporting activities are also encouraged and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the firm’s very successful softball team this summer. Participating in a dragon boat race with 16 colleagues this autumn should be an interesting experience too!
|
|