Diva Gaur
Trainee
Departments to date: Commercial Property & Planning
University: Cardiff University
Degree: LLB Law, First Class Honours
8.55 am: I get into the office just before 9am, as I like to review my calendar and make my to-do list before the daily email flow starts. I picked up my coffee this morning which gives me a boost of energy to make a start on my list of tasks and action points I have created.
10am: We have a training session this morning with our firm’s Professional Support Lawyer, who runs regular sessions throughout the term. This week’s session is particularly helpful as it is on ‘Leases: Common Clauses and Negotiating Points.’ I am currently working on drafting some Renewal Leases for a matter I am assisting a senior associate with, so it is valuable to have this knowledge to assist with that.
11.15am: I am assisting the Property Partner and Associate with the purchase of a Retail Park for a client. We have weekly due diligence calls set up with the client team to discuss the status of the transaction, next steps and any queries that are raised. This week, we have decided to set up an ‘All Parties Call’ with the Seller’s solicitors to iron out any last points that are needed before we can progress to exchange. I take notes and circulate a memo to our internal team in case they need to reflect back on anything that was said in the call. I then work on creating and organising Annexures for the Report on Title we have been preparing for this matter.
1.30pm: I show the new trainees the roof terrace, which is a popular lunch spot over summer, and we discuss our weekend plans over coffee.
2:15pm: I am assisting the Planning Partner with a Judicial Review Case, that has a hearing scheduled in the High Court. I am tasked with drafting a Schedule of Costs for the hearing. As it is my first time drafting this document, I have a meeting with an associate and senior associate in the Litigation Department who provide me with helpful advice and a spreadsheet on how to work out all the different aspects of the Schedule. This is a prime example of how the departments all work together collaboratively on matters and how approachable people are if you need guidance as a trainee. Later on in the day for this same case, I visit the Court (which is only a short distance from our office) to drop off a hard-copy bundle in the drop-box to meet the relevant filing deadline.
3:45pm: We have a catch-up meeting with members of the team planning the annual Diwali Lunch as part of the Firm’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee initiative. We co-ordinate which members will take on each of the tasks and a diary invite is sent around to the firm to save the date.
4.30pm: I finish creating a sales datasite and draft replies to CPSEs for a sale transaction that the Property Partner is running, incorporating any comments the Partner had on the documents and then email them over to the client for their comments and approval. I keep an internal list as a tracker of the documentation we have requested to ensure that I am aware of anything outstanding. Coincidentally, the property we are helping sell is situated in my hometown so I have visited it before, which is a great reminder of how tangible and impactful commercial property work can be.
5:45pm: I make sure I have finished any outstanding tasks on my to-do list that had a deadline of today and then get started on creating a draft to-do list for tomorrow. I flag any emails that I will need to prioritise in my inbox and set any relevant reminders on my outlook calendar. Once I am done, I head out with the other trainees and junior members of staff to commute over to Embankment for a work event. It is Maples Teesdale’s 150th Anniversary celebration tonight and the firm is hosting a client party at a venue with wonderful views of the evening skyline.