Alumnus profile: Graeme Payne, Law
Print versionCommercial Intellectual Property Lawyer, Field Fisher Waterhouse, LLP
The spread of work that myself and the Commercial IP team undertake is very broad and varied which keeps it interesting as well as challenging. In Commercial IP alone we handle: media – both film and TV financing and production work; German and Indian business development due to a number of dual German/English and Indian/English qualified team members; promotions, advertising and marketing; key brand exploitation disciplines such as sponsorship, merchandising and endorsement; technology transfer licensing - in particular in relation to key sectors such as healthcare, life sciences and green technology; manufacturing and supply agreements; traditional intellectual property licensing; and franchising, agency and distribution.Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
The sheer breadth of work that the Commercial IP team undertakes is quite representative of FFW as a whole. FFW is, in many ways not a traditional city firm – which therefore makes us different and in my mind appealing to graduates who have no idea of the area of law that they ultimately want to find themselves working in. This was certainly the case with me when I applied for my training contract.
As well as the traditional city practice areas such as corporate finance, banking, commercial property, employment, EU, competition and tax, FFW also has market leading expertise in professional regulatory matters, personal injury and medical negligence, data protection, technology, trade marks, the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), funds and travel.
FFW’s strategy is to be Europe’s leading legal advisor to highly regulated and technology and IP driven businesses. This strategy, together with FFW’s sector focus in areas such as energy and natural resources, life sciences, media and entertainment, public sector, retail, sport and technology and communications is another reason why FFW is appealing to both law and non-law graduates. A number of our lawyers have science or arts based degrees which are complementary to their chosen area of practice.
As well as the traditional city practice areas such as corporate finance, banking, commercial property, employment, EU, competition and tax, FFW also has market leading expertise in professional regulatory matters, personal injury and medical negligence, data protection, technology, trade marks, the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), funds and travel.
FFW’s strategy is to be Europe’s leading legal advisor to highly regulated and technology and IP driven businesses. This strategy, together with FFW’s sector focus in areas such as energy and natural resources, life sciences, media and entertainment, public sector, retail, sport and technology and communications is another reason why FFW is appealing to both law and non-law graduates. A number of our lawyers have science or arts based degrees which are complementary to their chosen area of practice.
Life as a Trainee
As I approach my ten year anniversary of starting life at FFW naturally my memory of my trainee days is beginning to fade. A number of factors however remain the same. As well as excellent training and support within FFW, FFW trainees have excellent secondment opportunities. Secondments include and have included full seat stints at clients such as Transport for London, the BBC, MTV, Apple, Turner (media) and from September 2010 there will be the opportunity for international secondments to our Brussels office.
There is a vibrant social side to being an FFW trainee with a number of events for both future trainees and existing trainees. The trainees have their own social committee made up of trainees from both the first and second year intakes. The committee organises a number of events throughout the year which include Ceilidh dancing, ten-pin bowling and karaoke. During the Easter and Summer vacation schemes, the social committee organises a large number of social events. Vacation schemers at the most recent Easter scheme were invited to a curry night, a jazz evening, a trip on the London Eye as well as dinner at the National Gallery. Each vacation schemer is also allocated a trainee ‘buddy’, who is on hand to be a ‘friendly face’ in the student’s allocated department that they can go to with any questions they may have about the work they’ve been given, the firm or anything else that has cropped up during their time there.
Future trainees are also invited to social events to help them get to know their current trainees and other people at the firm, including a drinks evening to help them celebrate the end of their LPC exams. Future trainees are also invited to regular information seminars at the firm where representatives from our different practice areas give an insight into their daily lives.
There is also a trainee committee which meets with the Training Partner, HR and Learning and Development once every two months to discuss any questions or concerns that trainees might have during their training contract. This can include anything from how the qualification will work, seat rotations and social events.
There is a vibrant social side to being an FFW trainee with a number of events for both future trainees and existing trainees. The trainees have their own social committee made up of trainees from both the first and second year intakes. The committee organises a number of events throughout the year which include Ceilidh dancing, ten-pin bowling and karaoke. During the Easter and Summer vacation schemes, the social committee organises a large number of social events. Vacation schemers at the most recent Easter scheme were invited to a curry night, a jazz evening, a trip on the London Eye as well as dinner at the National Gallery. Each vacation schemer is also allocated a trainee ‘buddy’, who is on hand to be a ‘friendly face’ in the student’s allocated department that they can go to with any questions they may have about the work they’ve been given, the firm or anything else that has cropped up during their time there.
Future trainees are also invited to social events to help them get to know their current trainees and other people at the firm, including a drinks evening to help them celebrate the end of their LPC exams. Future trainees are also invited to regular information seminars at the firm where representatives from our different practice areas give an insight into their daily lives.
There is also a trainee committee which meets with the Training Partner, HR and Learning and Development once every two months to discuss any questions or concerns that trainees might have during their training contract. This can include anything from how the qualification will work, seat rotations and social events.
What Makes FFW Attractive
During my time as a trainee and now as a Senior Associate there has been many plus points. FFW actively encourages early client contact and responsibility for both trainees and junior associates. This coupled with a true open door policy to all partners, including the very senior partners, combined with an approachable, friendly and supportive partnership has made my time at FFW a very happy one. All partners, including those at a senior level, take an active hands on role to training and career development and progression plus the partnership gives everyone an extra day off at Christmas!
Many of the trainees, particularly those in Commercial IP, comment on the quality of work that they are given, together with the encouragement to pursue and develop areas which they are interested in. For example, FFW’s iProBono initiative was developed by one of FFW’s trainees. The iProBono initiative is just one aspect of FFW’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and the fact that it was developed and is being led by one of our very junior lawyers show the firm’s willingness to promote individual responsibility at all levels and to embrace change. Indeed “embracing change” is one of the key mantras of FFW.
Many of the trainees, particularly those in Commercial IP, comment on the quality of work that they are given, together with the encouragement to pursue and develop areas which they are interested in. For example, FFW’s iProBono initiative was developed by one of FFW’s trainees. The iProBono initiative is just one aspect of FFW’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and the fact that it was developed and is being led by one of our very junior lawyers show the firm’s willingness to promote individual responsibility at all levels and to embrace change. Indeed “embracing change” is one of the key mantras of FFW.
Firm Values – Work/Life Balance
Professional life at FFW is founded upon a number of key values including teamwork, respect, integrity and responsibility. All members of staff are encouraged to ‘live the Values’ as part of their daily professional lives.
Whilst we do work hard, FFW does have a genuine commitment to a true work life balance. The last few years has seen the firm embracing flexible working, including working from home. A number of other measures and working practices means that having a family is no barrier to a career or career progression at FFW. As a result there are an increasing number of female partners that the firm attracts and retains. Quite notably our Managing Partner is female.
FFW is an exciting and innovative firm which clearly knows where it’s going. The firm was awarded in 2009 with the British Legal Awards Commercial Team of the Year Award and the franchise team, which I am part of, was awarded the ACQ Franchise Team of the Year Award in 2008.
Whilst we do work hard, FFW does have a genuine commitment to a true work life balance. The last few years has seen the firm embracing flexible working, including working from home. A number of other measures and working practices means that having a family is no barrier to a career or career progression at FFW. As a result there are an increasing number of female partners that the firm attracts and retains. Quite notably our Managing Partner is female.
FFW is an exciting and innovative firm which clearly knows where it’s going. The firm was awarded in 2009 with the British Legal Awards Commercial Team of the Year Award and the franchise team, which I am part of, was awarded the ACQ Franchise Team of the Year Award in 2008.
Field Fisher Waterhouse and King’s College London
Apart from my day job of being a Commercial IP lawyer I am also part of FFW’s graduate recruitment strategy team which amongst other things includes building a long and lasting relationship with King’s and its graduates. Having left King’s in 1998 its been good to go back for some meetings with the King’s careers advisers team as well as Professor Eva Lomnicka from the Law School. I am also looking forward to going back for many more meetings particularly in the new wing of Somerset House.
