October 2025: We asked our graduates to look back on their six-month overseas seat experience. Huw Knox joined the Corporate/M&A team in Dubai; Elloise Campbell spent her seat with the Project Finance team in Singapore; and Olivia Tomiyama traveled to Tokyo to join the Debt Finance team. Read about their experiences now.

What was the professional highlight of your six-month overseas experience?

EC: One standout experience was working with a small team to manage the full life cycle of a megadeal, acting as lenders' international counsel for more than 30 international and local banks, as well as export credit agencies. I was entrusted with drafting documentation, coordinating conditions precedent and ultimately running the signing. It was an intense but transformative experience: I developed technical skills quickly, gained confidence managing clients directly, and felt supported at every step by the team.

HK: One of my professional highlights was working on the sale of a well-established Dubai-based taxi company. It was a particularly interesting transaction that gave me deep insight into the inner workings of the sector—one we often engage with as consumers but rarely consider from a commercial perspective. Getting to dig into the numbers and see how local regulations shape the industry was surprisingly fascinating and gave me a totally new appreciation for how much goes on behind the scenes.

OT: Despite being seconded in the Debt Finance Tokyo team, I was able to work with Debt Finance colleagues in the Seoul and Hong Kong offices, giving me the opportunity to expand my relationships in our APAC network. I was also fortunate to collaborate with the Tokyo Project Finance & Project Delivery team, and lead the closing and execution process for a lender-side project financing of a data center in Japan.

How did the new location compare to your home office?

EC: The consistency across offices is remarkable. Regardless of location, you feel the same high expectations, the same commitment to excellence, and the same willingness of colleagues—partners and associates alike—to offer guidance. The collaborative spirit mirrored that of my home office, from the way trainings and meetings are conducted to the daily rhythm of team check-ins and Zoom calls.

OT: At White & Case, no matter which office, there's always so much collaboration between different practices to provide an integrated service for clients. I also love that there's a down-to-earth office culture in both Tokyo and Sydney.

Share some personal standout moments from your time overseas.

EC: I took full advantage of the city's extraordinary food culture—whether at hawker centers or world-class restaurants and bars. Singapore's architecture and green spaces also drew me out frequently; I often explored landmarks such as Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands on foot or by bike.

HK: I was lucky enough to be in Dubai during Ramadan, which gave some fascinating insights into broader Middle Eastern culture. Many people move to Dubai on their own, so everyone in the office has experienced moving to a new country and are very happy to take you out on the weekends, and give you amazing restaurant and travel recommendations. Along with the other grads and trainees on secondment in the UAE, I was lucky enough to go to Uzbekistan, Georgia and Oman (among many others).

OT: Making amazing friends (inside and outside of work), seeing the cherry blossoms, skiing at Nozawaonsen and, of course, enjoying all of the delicious food in Japan! I feel so grateful to have had the experience of living in another country for six months.

How has this experience changed your idea of what working in an international firm really means?

EC: Returning to Melbourne, I will continue to think of myself as an Asia-Pacific lawyer—working with the same colleagues across borders, but now with an enhanced global perspective and a more nuanced understanding of cultural differences and client expectations, particularly when engaging with Asia-based banks.

HK: Working in the Dubai office impressed on me the truly enormous size of White & Case; its international presence allows you to work on deals across the world, as well as to form connections with employees in different offices. You never know when you need someone to give local law advice, and we are so lucky to have such an extensive network across the world.

How do you think that your overseas seat has contributed to your personal development?

EC: From the outset, I was given significant responsibility on a large transaction with a lean team. That dynamic demanded that I learn quickly, manage complexity and step into a forward-facing role with sophisticated clients. It was exactly the kind of challenge I had hoped for, and one that gave me a new level of confidence.

HK: Being in Dubai has pushed me to adapt quickly and solve problems in new environments, whilst also showing me the importance of getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new!