general research

Question 1

example of banking deal

Answer 1

E.g. We assisted the lead banks on a USD 25 billion acquisition loan facility for British American Tobacco, to back the USD 49.4 billion acquisition of the 57.8% stake in U.S. peer Reynolds American Inc. which it did not already own. This was the largest deal in the European syndicated loan markets in 2017.

Question 2

corporate m&a summary

Answer 2

public takeovers, private m&a and international equity offerings
transactional deals combined with areas such as commercial, environment, employment

§ 21st cent Fox bidding for Sky. Disney made bid for Fox
§ Comcast made bid for Sky and work
§ Fox sold shares to Comcast - this is what A&o advised on

Question 3

international capital markets

Answer 3

§ Focus on markets where people raise and invest money
§ Regulatory demands = important
§ E.g. bonds & short and long-term debt
§ Behind start up that launched world’s first crypto-currency bond
§ Took place in innovation space, Fuse
§ Changed bond market

Question 4

2 main categories of law

Answer 4

○ Transactional law - bring people together

○ Litigation - resolving differences

Question 5

response to rona

Answer 5

• Maintaining client service and remote working
  ○ Using technology to support working from home
  ○ Secure network
  
  • International travel
    ○ Video conferencing
  • Meetings and events
    ○ Cancelled conferences and in-person client events
    ○ virtual

Question 6

client relations

Answer 6

• Come to them with challenging deals
  
  • Every client = unique. Need personalised solutions
  • Think radically in their investment in legal services
    ○ Non-traditional services inc. document review, online legal service (derivative services - subscription), contract lawyers (peerpoint) and legal consulting hybrid solutions
  • Advanced Delivery & Service
    Consulting, doc revie

Question 7

training

Answer 7

• Core transactional areas: banking, corporate and international capital markets
  ○ You do at least two of these
  
  • Litigation course or litigation seat
  • Professional Skills course with three compulsory modules:
    ○ Client care and professional standards
    ○ Advocacy and communication
    ○ Financial and business skills
  • Large trainee intake - community feel
  • Seats pair you with senior associate or partner
  • 73% of work involves two or more jurisdictions
  • 80% of trainees have international or client secondment e.g. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley
    4 x 6 month rotations

Question 8

fuse

Answer 8

• Start up incubator, Fuse - partnership with tech companies
  ○ Fuse is designed to bring forward-thinking tech companies together with clients and A&O experts to develop practical solutions to legal, regulatory and deal-related issues.
  ○ Space for trainees to experiment with new technology
  ○ 3 key areas: legaltech (legal advice, in-house legal functions etc.), regtech (regulatory compliance) and dealtech (helping with negotiation of deals)

Question 9

iflex

Answer 9

• New management system - flexible working via iFlex

○ Global informal working policy

Question 10

resourcing options

Answer 10

• Resourcing options inc. Peerpoint and aosphere
  ○ Peerpoint connects consultant lawyers with organisations - can apply to join A&O peerpoint panel as consultant
  ○ Aosphere = online subscription platform for legal/compliance teams inc. reports on cross-border marketing, international data transfers, shareholding disclosure etc.

Question 11

digital hub

Answer 11

• Digital Hub
  ○ Looking at issues like impact of coronavirus on data protection
  ○ And future of M&A with covid
  § Fintech m&a has slowed (see article in other section)

Question 12

personality types

Answer 12

○ Taking risks and challenges
○ Looking for next big step
○ Sees opportunities in trying new things
○ Open-minded, innovative, collaborative, critical thinking
○ Need ambition, determination

Question 13

inclusive culture - women

Answer 13

○ 45% of partner promotions = women

Top employer for women in UK - times top 50 employers for women

Question 14

pro bono

Answer 14

○ Social justice
○ 44,000 hours of pro bono
○ Community Investment programmes
○ Human rights working group
○ Social finance and impact investment group - internal and external awareness
○ Environmental sustainability - reducing CO2 omissions and carbon footprint
○ Environmental policy statement
§ Natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions
○ Hope & Homes for Children

Question 15

mental health

Answer 15

• Mind Matter programme - mental health
  ○ Wellbeing apps
  ○ Trainees have own mental health network
  ○ Mindful Leader training