This article is part of our 'Cambridge Spotlight' series, profiling our lawyers based in our Cambridge office. In the series, we find out about their backgrounds, their journey through law and hear why Cambridge is important to them.
Luke is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution department. He advises corporates and individuals on commercial disputes often with an international element. Luke is a highly experienced lawyer who assists clients with a broad range of issues, including shareholder and partnership disputes, fraud, commercial contracts, insolvency and urgent injunctions.
I knew I wanted to get into law when… I fell into law, actually. I had read Politics and Modern History at university, and then I knew a few people who were lawyers. I spent two years taking the law exams and joined a firm in the City.
I came to be in Cambridge because… I moved to Cambridge in 2008. I had a young family, young children, and London seemed less exciting once I couldn't go to bars and restaurants so much. I didn't join Taylor Vinters, but I moved across quite quickly to head up Taylor Vinters' Dispute Resolution department.
I chose to work in Disputes because… I've always worked in disputes. From the beginning of my training it offered me more variety, every day is different. Plenty of adrenaline (not always a good thing!).
The work achievement I'm most proud of is… I'm a big supporter of a Premier League football club (I can't say who for confidentiality reasons!), and I acted for them in a dispute which is real career highlight. I took witness statements at the ground and met some household names.
The thing that motivates me most is… clients have different backgrounds, different disputes, operate in different industry sectors and have different commercial drivers. I do something and learn something new every day.
The thing that makes Cambridge such a hub of innovation is… there are so many interesting clients here – people, ideas, investment, and professional support. They all feed off each other making a great economy with fascinating and energetic clients.
One opportunity from the merger is… there are more specialists we can offer the clients, a wider array of services. Clients like that and so do the lawyers.
Somebody that has inspired me during my career is… my first training supervisor was a partner, Mark Gill. He was very supportive and the best lawyer I have ever come across. I learnt a lot off him which I still use to this day.
One thing I wish I knew when I started my career is… being attuned to your client's business and what they want to achieve is a massive part of what makes you a good lawyer. The law is just a wrapper around that.
The future in my practice area looks like… technology with the lawyers focusing on what really matters. When I was a trainee the job was labour intensive on tasks you wouldn't dream of lawyers doing now. Technology is taking a lot of the mundane out of the job allowing the lawyers to focus on the most interesting and challenging parts of the job.
The one (Mishcon) thing you don't know about me is... I love history. That's what I studied at university. I was recently reading the Power of Geography by Tim Marshall. It's about historical development in countries and regions, and how that links to their geopolitics. It's not your average history book, but it was excellent. Currently reading about the spies who worked for Queen Elizabeth I and kept her on the throne. And I've got to finish the History of the Black Death….