October 2023: Hong Kong trainee Vanessa Chui was recently on secondment in our London office. We checked in with Vanessa to find out about her overseas experience.
Tell us your first impressions of White & Case's London office
The office is very spacious, and is conveniently located near Bank and Liverpool Street, where most financial institutions and firms are based. I was also really surprised to find our Broad Street Kitchen staff restaurant where barista coffees and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are provided every day, free of charge!
How easy was it to settle into the London office?
I found the transition to be very smooth. Prior to the secondment, the London HR and Global Mobility teams provided us with tips and briefings on the office and London in general. The Firm also covers travel expenses, provides accommodation and additional days of leave to accommodate the relocation. On arrival, the London IT team was also really helpful—they even arranged for a monitor to be sent to my flat which makes working from home much easier!
What team have you joined in London?
I'm with the EIPAF team (Energy, Infrastructure, Projects & Asset Finance). The work has been interesting and diverse, and I have had the chance to work on deals involving satellites, aircraft, and green hydrogen. I also appreciate that there are 9 trainees in the team—we have a group chat to discuss work and share tips and tricks, which is super helpful.
What's it like to experience the Firm's global culture from another office?
One highlight for me though was a recent Asset Finance deal with a super tight deadline—we ended up working very closely with the Miami and New York teams, adopting a tag-team approach and providing advice round the clock. I was able to experience first-hand the interconnection between our offices, which the client mentioned was a great strength of our Firm.
What has been a highlight of your time on secondment so far?
Definitely the EIPAF team socials. In the course of my 6-month secondment, the team organised a Go-Karting night, Pub Quiz, ABBA Voyage concert, a cricket match and more… It's a great opportunity to connect with different members of the team while having good fun away from the office environment.
What tips do you have for future trainees who want to make the most of their secondment at White & Case?
Keep an open mind and get out there! Whilst overseas offices are likely to be bigger than Hong Kong, don't let that faze you. The Firm's overall culture is consistent across offices—it's very collaborative and welcoming, so embrace the new way of life and enjoy your secondment!
Finally, how do you think your secondment will benefit your career?
This secondment has enabled me to expand my network and form meaningful relationships with colleagues from various offices. On a personal level, I think it is also a good opportunity to experience and understand different cultures and ways of thinking.
