John McInnes

Title: Senior associate
Division: EU and competition
Location: London

I have been at Herbert Smith since April 2006. I arrived here after studying European Law at Warwick University followed by a traineeship at Watson, Farley & Williams then as a legal adviser at the Office of Communications (Ofcom).

I was attracted by the excellent reputation of the EU and competition group and the quality and broad range of work it undertakes.

Most of the clients I work for are big, multinational companies and a reasonable proportion of the work I do involves some international element. I frequently involve lawyers from around the world in order to obtain local law advice. In one day, I might speak to people based as far a field as Sydney, Johannesburg and Beijing.

Whilst Herbert Smith has a specific approach to law - thorough, pragmatic, commercially-focused and innovative - I don't think that there is a specific Herbert Smith "type". One of the good things about working here is that there is no pressure to conform to a particular stereotype.

If you are prepared to work hard, you will be rewarded with a huge range of opportunities to do interesting, high profile and sometimes groundbreaking work, in the UK or overseas, for a wide-range of blue chip clients. 

My time here has allowed me to be involved in some interesting and important work - and to work with and learn from some of the best people in their field.