May 2024: Belinda Harvey is a partner in the global Antitrust Practice based in Sydney. She tells us about her career story so far, and what advice she has for the next generation.
I didn’t choose law, law chose me.
After I left school, I worked as a travel consultant. I worked and traveled for six years, with two of those years living in London. I moved back to Australia, and I went to university to study for a business degree. I found I was good at, and enjoyed, the law element of my degree, and with a bit of encouragement from my university tutor, I switched to a double degree in business and law.
I experienced a lot of self-doubt early in my career
Some people know from a young age that they want to be a lawyer, but that wasn’t me. I was an average student at school; there wasn’t an assumption that I’d even go to university. It took a while for me to find my groove. Even after I graduated with two degrees and started my career at the Australian competition authority, I asked myself, am I good enough to do this?
I tell young lawyers now, have faith in yourself
This is a big job, a demanding job. It asks for a lot of your time and your brain capacity. From time to time, doubting that you can do it is normal. As you advance, you build up the skills and resilience to know that you can.
The culture at White & Case was ultimately what persuaded me to move
I wasn’t necessarily looking to move from my previous firm, but the opportunity to establish an antitrust practice for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region was an exciting next step in my career. Still, I took my time—I think I met 45 partners here before I made my decision. In the end, it was the collaborative and collegial culture that persuaded me to come over.
Your classmates and early career connections are your future clients
One key thing that you can do to set yourself up for a successful career is to understand that building a network starts with the people you studied with and others that you form connections with early in your career. You’ll be amazed at how and when they will reappear in your professional life. Foster and value those connections, so you grow up professionally together.
Business development isn’t about you
It’s about understanding your clients’ world and anticipating their needs. If I see something coming down the track that will impact their business, I’ll get in touch. It’s knowing what’s going on in their world and showing that I’m interested that builds trust.
Antitrust work is also international
We have a lot of transactions that need to be dealt with on a global basis. On a global deal, you’ll need to work with regulators around the world, across multiple different jurisdictions. Being part of the global Antitrust team provides me with a phenomenal resource and knowledge base, a network of great lawyers who understand the intricacies of competition law.
I feel like I work in a startup – and also in a well-established, global firm
Establishing a new practice feels like I’m in a startup, but on a leading global platform. The Australia practice continues to grow at pace. There’s a wonderful group of partners here, and we know each other well. It feels like a big, extended family.
Flexibility is a two-way street
We all have 24 hours in a day, and sometimes more of those hours will be taken up by your family and personal life, and sometimes work takes up your time. We have one life—I enjoy my work, I like the people I work with and what I do, which is important.
As a solo parent, I have always needed to work with a level of flexibly. What I have learnt over the years is that you need to build a support network around you—create a village that can be there for you, and create the stability that raises a happy child.
Keeping all your balls in the air
We all get one life and it’s a constant juggle, but I have learnt that fighting against the juggle doesn’t help. Lean into the ebb and flow. If a ball is going to drop, you need to make sure you catch the glass balls—the things that are most important to you—and catch the others that bounce on the way back up!
Looking out for each other: The White & Case way
At this Firm, it means lawyers are looking out for ways in which to extend their relationship with a client to create an opportunity for someone else. It fosters a culture and environment that makes it a really positive and great place to work.
