From Intern to Principal Associate

Hi, my name is Marie, and I’m a lawyer in our Antitrust, Competition and Trade team in Brussels—the heart of the European Union. My journey at Freshfields began in the summer of 2015 with a one-month internship while I was still at university. Since then, it’s been a path marked by several defining moments in my career.

Pursuing an LL.M.

One of the first was during my time as a trainee. I knew I wanted to pursue an LL.M. in the US, and colleagues at Freshfields - across all levels of seniority - supported me wholeheartedly. They shared their own experiences and helped me prepare my application materials, which enabled me to gain admission to my top-choice schools. In 2018, I proudly graduated from Columbia Law School.

A Global Experience

After returning from my LL.M., I worked at Freshfields for a couple of years before being offered a unique opportunity: a secondment to our then newly founded Silicon Valley office. This was an incredibly enriching experience and a true reflection of Freshfields’ commitment to supporting each colleague’s individual growth.

Collaboration Without Borders

That experience also strengthened my connections with our US colleagues - something that’s invaluable given the cross-office and cross-practice nature of my daily work. Not a day goes by without me collaborating with colleagues based in London, or the US.