After completing a four-month internship with us in 1998, Vincent Ponsonnaille joined another law firm. He soon returned, and became a partner last year. Why the change of heart? Total immersion.

“At Linklaters, there’s simply so much to get involved with. There are large, complex, international projects – across an astonishing breadth of disciplines. It’s a huge draw for me, along with the European working culture, and the virtually unrivalled global opportunities.

“However, all that’s complemented by the interaction with other teams. By nature, my role in private equity law demands detailed understanding of a huge mix of legal areas. Here, that doesn’t mean locking yourself away in an office: you learn by immersing yourself within the organisation, by drawing expertise from others, by learning from the best talent around the world.

“Now, as a partner, I’m learning how to lead that talent and give my teams the freedom to perform. It’s a new challenge that requires new skills – skills I’m looking forward to perfecting.”