Peter Coney

Title: Of counsel
Division: Dispute resolution
Location: Tokyo

I studied arts/law at the University of Melbourne and joined Herbert Smith's Tokyo office in June 2002, after working at Linklaters.

The benefit of working here is that we are not only the leading international dispute resolution firm in Tokyo, but we are also a relatively small and growing office - so I have the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of the firm, not just legal work but marketing and management activities as well.

About half of the work we do in my team here is purely international and the other half is local work with an international aspect - done in conjunction with local counsel - so there is a good mix to keep things interesting.

There are also opportunities for pro bono work and over the last four years I have been doing a pro bono litigation for an Australian charity (Australian Koala Foundation) in the courts in Yokohama working together with an animal rights activist who also happens to be an excellent litigator! Even though the court case is over – we won both at first instance and also on appeal to the Tokyo High Court - I am still helping the charity with residual matters flowing from the litigation.

I have found that Herbert Smith offers all manner of opportunities to develop yourself and the firm encourages you to take advantage of them.

In addition to a fulfilling career, Herbert Smith has enabled me to mix my interest in the law with my interest in Japanese language, society and culture.