What began as curiosity became passion
From day one, the environment at Gleiss Lutz has been both supportive and inspiring. When I started out at the firm in April 2016 as a research assistant in Compliance & Investigations, I expected long hours, a rigid hierarchy and little room for a personal life. But instead, I was welcomed by a collaborative team that shared knowledge and provided room for growth. Now, nine years later – after my practical legal training and the birth of my now two-year-old son – I’m in the partner development programme and still thoroughly enjoying working with the same team.
First experience with an international law firm
For most of my studies, I never considered a career at a major law firm. I had preconceived notions about long hours, a cut-throat mentality, and the incompatibility of family and career. My exposure to major law firms was also limited in the rather sheltered town of Bayreuth, where I studied from October 2009 to January 2016. When my current mentor, Dr. Eike Bicker, gave a talk at my university in early 2016 on companies in compliance crises, I was immediately fascinated – not least because of my passion for murder mysteries and true crime. Just a few weeks later, I joined Eike’s team as a legal research assistant at the Frankfurt office. From the very beginning, the associates involved me closely in casework. I still remember the details of my first interview, which was conducted as part of an investigation for a French client. The interview took place via video conference – which was still fairly rare in 2016 – and I assisted our of counsel in criminal law.
Initial responsibilities
At the time, my main responsibilities included business partner checks, i.e. background research checks on our clients’ business partners, and e-mail review, a traditional forensic investigative tool. Working on e-mail reviews brought me into close contact with the associates, giving me insight into their day-to-day work and teaching me a great deal about practicing law at a large law firm. After three months, my mentor told me I was performing at the level of a first-year associate. That made me quite proud, and I knew then that I wanted to stay. It was the family-like atmosphere in the office, the collegiality, the appreciation for everyone as individuals, and the exciting casework that convinced me.
During my practical legal training, I continued to work one day a week in the Compliance & Investigations team alongside my regular training sessions, and I also remained with the same team for my placement. I sometimes still think about the first case I worked on during that time (advising the insolvency administrator of a large furniture manufacturer on D&O liability and other issues).
Toronto calling
After my exam, I was able to go to Toronto, Canada, thanks to Gleiss Lutz’s support. I spent three months in the litigation department at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, one of Canada’s largest law firms, where I gained valuable experience in a case law jurisdiction. One of the highlights from that time was accompanying two associates with boxes of files (stacked on a trolley!) to a hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice. My time in Toronto broadened both my professional and personal horizons; I also met lots of interesting people and built connections that have lasted to this day. I even met one of the litigation partners again at a recent conference in London.
„From an initial supporting role, I have moved into an advisory and coordinating position and now enjoy a high level of trust from both partners and clients, often serving as clients’ primary point of contact.“
My career as a lawyer
My career as a lawyer began in October 2018. Initially, my focus was on preventive compliance advice, including drafting guidelines (such as for a sporting goods manufacturer), preparing compliance training for employees, and conducting compliance “health checks”, i.e. analysing companies’ compliance management systems. As our Compliance & Investigations practice was expanded, my work increasingly focused on investigations. I particularly enjoy supporting clients through crises following a compliance incident, as it gives me close insight into the strategic decision-making at the leadership level of our clients’ organisations. I’m also drawn to the sheer variety of the work involved – from forensic measures and employee interviews to communications advice, legal project management, drafting investigation reports, and, finally, supporting the implementation of remediation measures. We advise clients across multiple industries and on a range of matters, which means I am constantly exposed to new business models and a broad spectrum of allegations – from violations of the Medical Devices Act to #MeToo cases to traditional fraud. Working on investigations and compliance remediation projects is a constant challenge – especially as the mother of a two-year-old son. While the dynamic nature of the cases can be demanding at times, that’s exactly what makes my work so interesting. After returning from parental leave, I also made a conscious decision, in consultation with my mentor, to work full-time. To be honest, it wouldn’t be possible without careful organisation and support at home. However, Gleiss Lutz gives me the flexibility to spend time with my family, as far as client commitments allow, while continuing to play a leading role in my cases. This is because I have grown tremendously over the past few years: from an initial supporting role, I have moved into an advisory and coordinating position and now enjoy a high level of trust from both partners and clients, often serving as clients’ primary point of contact.
I especially like working with colleagues across different offices and practice areas, mentoring junior colleagues and contributing to the strategic development of our cases. After seven years in practice, one thing is clear: I’m here to stay.
