Working in a different culture certainly gives you a different perspective, and the Russian way is very distinctive. Like any top tier law firm, you've got to work hard; the difference is in how you do the work. The way we approach our working hours is less structured than, say, the London office, but all our departments work well together, and we always help each other out.
We have a mixture of international and Russian clients. We advise our international clients on the specifics of the Russian market, and we provide both financial and legal advice to Russian companies. Often that means working with law offices from around the world, working across different legal systems can be a challenge, however keeping a flexible attitude ensures a smooth outcome.
My Freshfields career began in London with an unusually-varied practice group rotation across five different areas. In Moscow, I specialise in corporate and I've been here for over two years. It's such an interesting and exciting city, and I love exploring further afield with expat colleagues from the office.
The most important piece of advice I'd give to anyone wanting to work in Moscow is to try and learn a bit of the language. I started learning Russian at university, and of course I've become much more fluent since living here. It helps you get to know the people much better, and they'll welcome you into their culture. I've definitely been welcomed into the culture: I met my future wife here in Moscow!
Practice area:
Finance