Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Iwan, and I grew up in Monmouth, Wales. I am currently in my final year of studying law at Durham University, where I am working on my dissertation, “Corporate Takeovers: A Force for Good or a Source of Harm?” Beyond my academic interests, I am actively involved in university life, serving as the social secretary for my college's boat club and a member of the rugby club. In my free time, I love playing guitar and bass, travelling, and supporting Bristol City.
What inspired you to apply for the trainee solicitor programme at Goodwin?
I was inspired to apply to Goodwin for four key reasons. Firstly, its structure fosters collaboration. The firm's rapid growth in London, driven by strategic lateral hires, and its 16 offices around the globe provide the opportunity to work with a diverse range of highly talented individuals on multi-jurisdictional matters.
Secondly, I was drawn to Goodwin’s smaller trainee cohorts, which allow trainees to take on greater responsibility early on, aligning with my preference for learning on the job.
Thirdly, Goodwin’s strong expertise in private equity and private investment funds. Previously working as a private equity fund analyst, I loved the personal dynamic and how a lawyer’s friendly and confident demeanour can significantly impact the sentiment surrounding a deal.
Finally, Goodwin provides the platform to work with the best-in-class clients. Collectively, I believe these factors make Goodwin the perfect place for me to start my legal career.
What has been the single most important thing you learnt so far in your journey in law?
The importance of consistency. Throughout my journey in law, whether it was applying to university or vacation schemes, I inevitably faced challenges and setbacks. However, I found that consistently putting in the effort to learn and improve always eventually led to meaningful growth and ultimately helped me achieve my dream of securing a training contract with Goodwin.
What do you find most interesting about the legal sector/Goodwin?
Uncertainty in interest rates and inflation combined with the "denominator effect" is driving investors to search for liquidity solutions in the secondaries market. To facilitate this, Goodwin has been challenged to create original, tailored solutions of increasing complexity. These GP-led transactions include continuation vehicles and strip sales.
However, the increasing complexity of the transactions is not the only challenge for Goodwin. GP-led transactions are inherently conflicted as the GP sits on both sides of the transaction; therefore, Goodwin’s ability to mitigate conflicts, provide quality disclosures, and establish clear communication channels is of vital importance.
I have been fascinated by Goodwin's track record of executing innovative GP-led transactions and I look forward to learning more about Goodwin’s market-leading work in this dynamic field.
What is the culture of Goodwin like?
The team at Goodwin immediately came across as a tight-knit community. Everyone, regardless of their team or level of seniority, has the opportunity to collaborate and connect with colleagues across the firm. I believe this culture of collaboration fosters an environment where Goodwin employees feel the freedom to exercise their entrepreneurial spirit and develop innovative legal solutions for clients.
How did you find your vacation scheme experience?
My vacation scheme experience was, above all, a fantastic opportunity to learn. The time spent in my allocated department, private investment funds, gave me valuable insights into Goodwin’s culture and work environment. I found the time spent with my trainee buddy and supervisor particularly helpful, as it allowed me to ask detailed questions about life at Goodwin and the work involved in structuring a private equity fund.
The workshops provided great insight into Goodwin’s strategy, highlighting the firm’s ambition for growth and how each department contributes to this vision. Additionally, the assessments provided a clear understanding of the skills required to excel as a trainee solicitor. Finally, connecting with fellow vacation scheme students at a variety of workshops and social events and learning about their paths to Goodwin underscored the value of diverse qualities and experiences in reaching a holistic perspective.