From Making Deals to Handling the Unexpected: What It's Like to Be a Corporate Attorney

My day consists of three different types of activities. First, I interact with clients every day on pending transactions, and I answer general questions they have or discuss transactions they are thinking about doing. It often involves legal issues outside of my core practice, which is when I bring in my colleagues from different practice areas at the firm.

Second, I spend time each day with the teams on my deals. I tend to be the most involved in the early stages of a deal, when I may review and comment on every turn of the main documents. As the deal progresses, and depending on the seniority of the associates I am working with, I delegate more to the associates and try to hand over to them leadership in the process, following up frequently to discuss key substantive or procedural issues. I really enjoy doing the actual legal work and supporting associates in their roles.

Finally, I spend a good part of each day staying up to date on market or legal developments as they relate to my practice.

Elizabeth Cooper, Partner, and Michael Chao, Associate - Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Ms. Cooper: The only thing typical is that there is no typical! You never know how the day will unfold. As you build your practice, you tend to spend more time speaking with colleagues and clients, thinking and advising, and having relationship discussions. I spend a lot of my time on the “big picture,” and it can be challenging to fit in document work—drafting and reviewing material—because my focus has shifted. What I’ve learned above all is that clients want their lawyer to be a trusted advisor and decision maker—able to quickly take in and sift through the broad range of issues that unexpectedly arise and to keep their eye on the larger business goal. Whether it’s during a lengthy in-person meeting or a quick telephone chat, the ability to analyze, exercise good judgment, and cogently present one’s counsel is key.

Mr. Chao: I’ve noticed a shift in focus even during the course of my career as an associate. Younger associates work on more discrete assignments within the larger transaction where they interface with mid-level and senior associates, who mentor and supervise their work. Junior associates also have contact with their peers at the relevant client. As you become more senior and take on more responsibility, you increasingly understand where your work fits within a broader picture and the client’s ultimate objectives. Although I, too, have no typical day, my focus remains the same regardless of whatever project I’m handling: “How do I keep the deal moving forward?” This might involve talking with someone on the other side of a deal, talking to a client, drafting a document, researching, or reaching out to colleagues in another department.

There really is no typical day for me. Like a doctor in the ER, my day is often filled with unexpected situations involving a very wide range of legal issues in different jurisdictions, followed by a feeling of excitement after resolving many of these issues and getting deals done. I travel frequently to meet clients in mainland China and work closely with our teams in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. Like all of the Skadden partners, I am directly involved in my matters, so I really cover all major aspects of the deals.

Elina Tetelbaum, Partner - Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz