Posted: Thursday 9 February 2012
My 5 year traineeship with Morton Fraser
By Gordon Wilson, Legal Director at Miller Construction (UK) Limited
Linda Urquhart has collared me to contribute to this new Alumni blog for Morton Fraser even though it is almost 17 years since I left. Whilst I know that this is mathematically correct, I still find myself running over each job and how long I spent at each to counter my incredulity. Yes, it must be right..
Of course, it does not feel so long ago that I finished my 5 year traineeship with Morton Fraser. Not an official 5 year traineeship, you will understand - I wasn’t that bad. They did sign me off after two years – but I then spent a year in each of litigation, commercial property and corporate thereafter.
Faced with the effects of the last recession in 1992, it was suggested that I might want to take up an opportunity in litigation on completing my traineeship. It then took two years on revolving seats to get me to the corporate seat that I clearly thought was going to suit me. I mention this as this was one of the singular events that shaped my career. I ended up with a broad legal education from seniors steeped in expertise and professionalism that was difficult to replicate.
Fast forward to present day and I am now legal director of a construction business that requires disciplines ranging from corporate, property, construction, finance, IP, health and safety to industrial injuries. My recent “bag” has included health and safety prosecutions for causing a death, dealing with insolvency of sub-contractors and the refinancing of the Group. The numbers are much bigger – and I have recourse to external expertise – but it is the same issues which I dealt with in that three year extended traineeship which are still prevalent now.
I eventually reached the “corporate seat” but I knew by then that I wanted to work in-house – and ever since each stage of the my journey has shaped me for my present position. For a period I undertook a commercial role so I really know what it means to be a client. There is no hiding place when you are making the decisions, signing the contract, and living with the consequences. It also makes you understand how you want legal advice delivered.
Sometimes we are never convinced that our clients really understand the risks involved in a decision. As lawyers, we can see all the angles, competing arguments and nuances. Well – these decisions are difficult when you do not know the risks, and even harder when you do, but you have to be able to focus on what is going to happen rather than what is highly unlikely!
Whilst a broad range of knowledge of the law has been invaluable in my career, the real defining influence has been the example of those around me. From the gravitas of John [Wightman], the towering intellect of Bruce [Wood] and Peter [Braid], the sheer “niceness” of George Clark and Linda Urquhart (the latter, at least, concealing a Teutonic efficiency), the calmness of Hugh {Henderson] and Adrian’s [Bell] affability and modesty – all of them fantastic individuals and influences.
There are many other influences through my career but these first ones have remained with me. In these uncertain times for lawyers, it is the personal attributes and habits that we take from role to role that are most important. Many of us will have to adapt the fields in which we work to survive in the current markets, but underneath it all are the core attributes – shaped by those early influences around us - which make us the people we are. I am therefore lucky to have had these influences from Morton Fraser and that, in the final analysis, is its legacy for me.
