Elin Gilmore

Title: Senior associate
Division: Corporate
Location: Tokyo


After studying Modern History at Exeter College, Oxford, I joined Herbert Smith on a training contract in 1998. Back then the firm had a reputation as a fun place to work – and that is still true now. It also had a high ratio of partners who had come through the ranks from trainees and a high ratio of female partners compared to other City firms.
 
I work within the energy/projects team, where you can be involved in deals with tangible results, like the construction of a power plant. Herbert Smith has also enabled me to go on client secondments. These experiences have been invaluable in developing a broad understanding of a client's position, an important part of any lawyer's development.
 
I think Herbert Smith is an excellent place to work for many reasons: the ability to work in international offices (which is encouraged); the nature of the work (many projects are newsworthy); the mix of work (no two deals are ever the same); and the quality and diversity of the people with whom you work. Also, the spectrum of clients and variety of work makes it impossible to get bored. That is a bonus when you've been at one firm for ten years.
 
Over these ten years, I've made some very good friends at Herbert Smith. When you have to work hard, it’s best to do it with people you like.