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In Vault's Practice Area Resource Centers, among other things, we highlight Q&As from various attorneys employed at law firms who have ranked for prestige in the relevant practice area. In this series, we will highlight some answers from attorneys at ranked firms regarding what their typical day is like working in a given practice area. Today, we feature some answers from our Banking & Financial Services Practice Area Resource Center.
Gordon Mak, Partner & Penelope Yan, Associate, A&O Shearman:
"Penelope: My day starts with catching up on emails that have come in overnight on cross-border deals as I frequently work with A&O Shearman offices in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia and, if I’m working on a leveraged finance bid with a bid submission deadline, finalizing issues lists and commitment paper markups. I might spend the rest of the day reviewing and commenting on transaction documents, responding to urgent questions from clients, giving instructions and feedback to junior associates, or taking conference calls with clients or opposing counsel.
Gordon: With A&O Shearman being an international firm, I am usually on several cross-border transactions at a time. After responding to emails from European clients that come in overnight, I can start dealing with New York-centric work. This typically includes reviewing drafts of primary financing documents such as commitment letters or credit agreements or issues lists prepared by associates of the same. A good portion of my day is spent on calls with clients going over the issues lists that we’ve prepared or answering questions about existing deals. Once the calls are over, we revise the documents to reflect input from our client and send it back to the other side for review."
Maria A. Alevras-Chen & Nicole Goodman, Partners, Mayer Brown:
"Maria: I spend time on conference calls to discuss issues with clients and negotiate documents as well as with colleagues working through the preparation of drafts. My days are varied, and that is one of my favorite things about my position.
Nicole: Every day is different, but I typically spend my days drafting credit agreements, explaining terms in our agreements to our clients, negotiating terms with opposing counsel, and training junior associates."
Jordan M. Hook, Of Counsel, Paul Hastings: "No two days in my practice are ever the same. While I may start the day with a clear plan, the fast-paced nature of finance transactions often requires adaptability and quick thinking. A typical day might include drafting and reviewing complex documentation, analyzing deal structures, and collaborating with clients to refine strategies and approaches. I also spend a significant amount of time negotiating terms with opposing counsel, ensuring my clients’ interests are protected while keeping transactions on track. Each deal presents unique challenges, requiring a tailored approach rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. The variety and complexity of the work keep me engaged and constantly thinking creatively to deliver results for my clients."
Justina Chen, Partner, Weil: "A “typical” day for me involves calls with clients, members of the Weil team (whether in banking and finance or in other practice groups) and/or opposing counsel. For active matters, we discuss any issues that have arisen, including talking points for clients to raise with their business counterparts, and coordinate to ensure the transaction is developing in the right direction. I also spend a big part of a “typical” day on inactive matters. We get a lot of questions from existing clients about their existing loan documentation; often, clients are looking into potential transactions and want guidance on whether or how they could complete the transaction in compliance with the terms of their existing loan agreements. Weil prides itself on client service, and answering those questions promptly is an important part of our work. I also spend a large portion of my typical day reviewing and commenting on drafts of loan documentation prepared by associates or opposing counsel."
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