Alex Slade17 May 2021

Alex has enjoyed many aspects of home working, glad to avoid the commute into London and appreciating more time with his wife and children. “It has been lovely from a family perspective but far from ideal starting a new job.” Getting to know how ARC ticks and the nuances of the business, remotely, has been trickier and taken longer. “I hadn’t appreciated quite how much you absorb simply by overhearing conversations around the office,” he says. “Remote working also turns the quick two-minute chats to get a sense check on a point into a much bigger, more formal, call with the relevant exec.”

Now that Alex has found his dream job, what advice would he give to those embarking on their own careers? “Get good training, keep your eyes open for all opportunities and don’t limit yourself too soon,” he says. Alex knew he wanted to be an in-house commercial/IP lawyer but had no clear plan beyond that. “I’ve been alert to new opportunities throughout my career, actively keeping in touch with recruiters, watching the market and even cold-calling companies I wanted to join. There’s been a bit of good fortune in the moves I’ve made (BUPA, ITV, Nickelodeon and BT to name a few) but to a degree you must make your luck; it rarely comes to those who sit waiting on the side-lines.” He admits, however, to envying people who know what they want to do from the start as it saves “an awful lot of hassle and pain!”

One thing he was certain about was that an in-house role suited him better, though that’s not a negative reflection on WFW. “WFW’s strong alumni network reflects well on the firm and is consistent with the friendly, supportive environment I experienced as a trainee,” says Alex. He’s occasionally in touch with Helen van Acker (Palmer) and Lindsey Keeble and, when time allows, would like to re-establish connections with other former colleagues.