Davide Valli – Associate

I always knew Freshfields was the place I wanted to work. I had heard about the firm and was determined to get a job here. In 2006 I started working in the banking and finance team in Milan and it was the opportunity I'd been waiting for - working in two major areas of law on immensely challenging projects. After two months I was managing a securitisation transaction and although I had so much still to learn, I felt an enormous sense of achievement. I'm involved in a variety of projects each day, from banking to real estate finance, doing everything from simple transactions to more structured and complex projects. I know my contribution is recognised, especially when I get great opportunities, like my secondment to London.

However, success at Freshfields isn't just about legal expertise. A solid legal background is essential, but personal qualities are just as important. I've found that we need to know how to work with a huge range of people and build solid relationships, it's one of the ways we attract the best clients. Alongside this, we also need to deal with and understand the wider financial and economic implications of the work we do. The support Freshfields gives us has made this possible, we can access partners at any time, or receive help from specialist teams who are dedicated to providing us support and training.

While I was seconded in the London office of one of our major client, I truly experienced that Freshfields is an international firm. We can call on our local contacts all over the world to give jurisdiction-specific advice to clients, and that's why our service really meets the needs of international companies. Wherever our client do business, we ensure there is Freshfields lawyer that can help them.