Dharshi Harindra

Dharshi studied Law at Cambridge and joined Linklaters in March 2008. She’s currently in her third seat in IP and has previously completed seats in our Corporate and Banking groups. She’s also experienced a client secondment to Citigroup.

People I wanted to work with.

As a hugely respected law firm, I’d always aspired to build a career with Linklaters. What really sealed the deal for me, however, was the culture and working environment. From graduate recruitment events to open days in the office, the people were always inclusive and friendly. Given the potential pressures of working for such a large law firm on complex deals, the people you are surrounded by are key. This, combined with the fact that the training and resources available at Linklaters are second to none, is what made the firm stand out over and above other Magic Circle law firms.

In at the deep end.

To date I’ve completed seats in Corporate and Banking and I’m coming to the end of my third seat in IP (Intellectual Property). A major highlight has to be my time spent on a secondment at Citigroup. Being on a client secondment can be particularly challenging for a trainee as you are thrown in at the deep end as part of the in-house legal team. When working in-house you have to act as a project manager for dozens of deals at any one time, which poses many challenges, but makes working for a client a varied and dynamic experience.

I was working with the GTS (Global Transaction Services) cash management team at Citi. The role involved working day-to-day with the business, which dealt with corporate clients using Citi’s various cash management products and credit cards business. My role as part of the legal team was to assist in drafting and negotiating agreements, negotiating credit card terms and conditions with Citi’s larger investment banking clients, managing projects, instructing external counsel and reviewing legal opinions.

An all-round international experience.

Highlights for me have also included the opportunity to spend time in our Frankfurt office, working with colleagues from London, New York, Frankfurt and Paris. My first two months with the Restructuring and Insolvency department were also incredible. I was located in Lehman Brothers’ Bank Street offices, just weeks after it went into administration. Putting UK Lehman entities into administration and having active involvement in such a groundbreaking event is something that will stay with me for most of my career.

It’s been a privilege.

It is hugely beneficial, particularly as a trainee, to understand how a client works, its business, and what is important to that business from a legal team. The learning curve on a client secondment is exponential and I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to work for one of Linklaters’ most-valued clients.