Any lawyer working in the financial markets space needs to keep their finger on the pulse and distill the subtle differences between matters. Here, four lawyers from Jones Day explain how you can kickstart your career in this global and multifaceted area.
*The views and opinions set forth herein are the personal views or opinions of the author(s); they do not necessarily reflect views or opinions of the law firm with which they are associated.
Chambers Associate: How would you describe Jones Day’s Financial Markets Practice?
Kimberly Desmarais, partner: Our market-leading and global Financial Markets Practice advises financial institutions, asset managers, private funds, and companies across all aspects of the financial markets spectrum. Our lawyers handle public and private financings, regulatory matters, and disputes, offering collaborative, client-focused counsel on both routine and complex, cutting edge matters. With subgroups specializing in banking, finance, capital markets, litigation, and regulation, we also emphasize areas like ESG, private credit, fintech, and structured finance. These groups foster thought leadership, entrepreneurship, and help lawyers develop expertise tailored to client needs.
Kimberly Pustulka, partner: Full Service. Jones Day’s Financial Markets practice was built to be full service, bringing all relevant corporate finance expertise together to effectively and efficiently serve our clients’ needs. This isn't just a collection of different practices; it's a truly integrated team designed to provide seamless, client-first solutions. Our Financial Markets practice is a large umbrella under which many subpractices work together, including banking, capital markets, real estate finance, securities litigation and derivatives. Because we represent both issuers and lenders, we see every angle of the deal, which means we can anticipate issues before they become problems, providing a level of strategic foresight that sets us apart.
Céalagh Fitzpatrick, associate: I would describe Jones Day’s financial markets practice as “seamless” because we operate as a single, integrated group that serves financial institutions from every angle. What makes us stand out is that we have specialists in areas like regulation, banking, litigation, ESG, fintech, and more, all working together in one united group. So, if an issue comes up, we almost always have someone who’s deeply experienced in that area, and we can tap the right people to help our clients.
Justin McKithen, partner: Jones Day’s Financial Markets practice is collaborative and dynamic - qualities which are necessary to serve our clients’ complex needs. Our services cover the range of transactional work, compliance, regulatory advice and litigation. Our lawyers are trusted advisors to a broad range of market participants, including public and private companies seeking to access the financial markets, financial institutions that serve as intermediaries and lenders, and private equity firms and hedge funds looking to invest and deploy capital.
CA: How did the practice come about and what are the benefits of structuring it in its current form?
KD: The practice initially operated as separate Banking and Finance, Securities, and Financial Institutions Litigation & Regulation groups but consolidated over the past decade. Previously, lawyers advised the same clients from different angles without unified client development efforts. About five years ago, the practices merged, significantly enhancing our ability to fully address client needs. While collaboration has always been central at Jones Day, bringing all financial markets lawyers together has made teamwork and communication even more seamless, helping us better anticipate client needs and market changes.
KP: Several years ago, we combined all of the corporate finance subpractices into one group to leverage the experience of all of our lawyers who were focusing on financial markets transactions and issues. This was a deliberate move to foster the kind of deep collaboration that defines Jones Day. This combination has allowed us to better align ourselves with our clients’ needs, provide seamless and comprehensive client service, communicate about important and developing issues in real time across all of the subpractices, and work more effectively and efficiently to leverage our experience within the firm with each new matter. We work on some of the most interesting, cutting-edge and complex financial markets transactions that exist. The structure of our financial markets group enables us to share lessons learned and insights quickly and seamlessly across the practice so everyone has the benefit of such information. For our lawyers, this means unparalleled opportunities for professional growth. Our associates benefit from the combination of the practice because we provide training throughout the year on topics that impact all aspects of the financial markets. As a result, our associates receive diversified training, develop a deep understanding of both the macro and micro topics that impact our work and our clients, and build careers that are both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
CF: We formed the group a few years ago by merging teams that were already working closely and for the same clients, but not in a formal combined group. By combining, we have made collaboration even easier. Clients benefit when diverse lawyers know each other’s strengths and work together to foresee risks. For example, if there’s a dispute over a structured financial product, our litigators will work directly with the lawyers who originally helped design similar products. This way, our legal strategy is informed by a deep understanding of the product’s structure and the business reasons behind it. There is also a lot of efficiency with that approach. Additionally, associates get to work with top specialists early on, which helps them figure out what areas they’re most interested in as their careers develop.
JM: Prior to our evolution into Financial Markets, we operated as a number of sub‑practices, including capital markets, banking & finance, regulatory enforcement, financial institution commercial litigation and more. Jones Day recognized that these sub‑practices had meaningful commonalities that, once combined, allowed us to better align our services with our clients’ needs and better leverage the diverse skillsets of our lawyers. Our associates also get the added benefit of cross-training across sub-practices, which only serves to make them more effective lawyers who develop a deeper understanding of the industry and the issues that impact our clients.
CA: How does collaboration between the subgroups occur within the financial markets practice?
KD: We hold regular monthly global practice-wide calls and quarterly partner calls, emphasizing communication and collaboration across the team. These calls cover practice management, client engagements, and development initiatives, with participation encouraged from all levels. Regular updates help us coordinate efforts and ensure the right lawyers are engaged when clients reach out. Our cutting-edge practice stays at the forefront of financial market developments, from new products to innovative approaches, thanks to consistent communication. Each working group also holds quarterly meetings to stay aligned on market trends and global practice activities.
KP: Collaboration is our secret sauce. It is the hallmark of our One Firm Worldwide motto and structure – and the key to providing superior client service. First, collaboration among the subgroups is constant. There are multiple ways we accomplish this. We have regular practice group and subgroup meetings across the US offices and worldwide – both in-person and virtually – where information is shared among the subgroups. Email updates are used in the interim for important and timely updates. Our training program is an integrated program among members of all of the subgroups who collaborate to bring together the right people, materials and topics to train our associates. We publish a number of Client Alerts to address noteworthy legal developments, which are often done in collaboration among the subgroups and serve to update clients and our lawyers alike on pertinent issues. And, most importantly, our One Firm Worldwide culture plays a critical role in everything we do, including collaboration among the subgroups. We talk to each other often and work together constantly to ensure we are bringing the right expertise to all of our client matters.
CF: We collaborate through regular meetings where we discuss ongoing matters and share updates, but there’s also a lot of informal, day-to-day information sharing as issues come up. Our leadership really sets the tone by encouraging everyone, including junior lawyers, to speak up and share our ideas and insights. Our group is driven by shared curiosity about what’s happening with our clients and in the financial markets, so we’re always learning from each other and staying up to date. It also makes the work more enjoyable!
JM: In addition to the constant interaction that we have with other lawyers on our day-to-day matters, we also have monthly practice-wide calls with all of our Financial Markets lawyers. These calls typically feature industry updates and market trends, as well as presentations from Jones Day partners and associates on exciting client engagements and innovative deals. Knowing what our colleagues are working on and understanding our collective skillsets is tremendously important because none of our lawyers can operate alone. Our clients’ most complex matters demand multidisciplinary teams, and at Jones Day, collaboration is our calling card. We strive to be a one-stop shop where seamless, integrated client service serves as the foundation for lasting relationships.
CA: Is it possible for attorneys to move between the subgroups?
KD: Absolutely. We encourage our more junior associates to work across our subgroups thus giving them an insight into all aspects of the practice, the type of work we do and the clients we represent. Of course, as you become more established in your practice you will need to focus on a particular subgroup since you will be expected to develop expertise regarding the market, precedent, issues and clients unique to that subgroup.
KP: Jones Day has an incredible program for new lawyers. We believe that great lawyering begins with each individual's careful decision about what type of lawyer he or she wants to be. That's why we give our new lawyers time—about a year—to explore and decide on a practice focus. After the first year, new lawyers generally are ready to join a practice group. This first year gives new lawyers ample opportunities to determine which practice group and subgroup fits them best. For the most part, lawyers tend to stay in their chosen practice groups and subgroups. That being said, lawyers are always encouraged to seek opportunities to work on matters that stretch their comfort zone and skill set, whether that is with lawyers in other subgroups or offices.
CF: It is possible to move between subgroups, especially early in your career thanks to Jones Day’s new lawyer group program, which lets junior lawyers try out different areas for about a year before choosing a focus. Once you’ve picked a practice and subgroup, it is less common to switch to something completely different, like moving from capital markets to litigation, but it does happen. More often, I see lawyers from different subgroups working together. And some subgroups, like ESG, are more thematic and involve both litigation and transactional work, which benefits our clients by bringing in a range of perspectives.
JM: Upon joining our New Lawyers Group, Jones Day encourages our newest associates to gain experience across as many of our practices as they desire. For those associates that ultimately choose to join our Financial Markets practice, we continue to encourage them to seek projects across our sub-practices. While our associates typically eventually settle on a sub-practice or two, the experiences they can gain in those earlier years can be invaluable. We think that license to choose-your-own-adventure pays dividends, as allowing our associates the flexibility to choose a practice area that suits them best generally makes them better lawyers, which in turn drives better results for our clients. I think this structure and how we approach associate development is a key differentiator for Jones Day.
CA: What factors are currently driving financial markets work?
KD: There are many, but I would say the primary ones are greater financial regulation, growth of financial technologies and expansion of the private capital markets.
KP: Financial markets are like the weather—always changing, sometimes unpredictable, and occasionally stormy. Financial markets work tends to follow the economic cycles and interest rate movements; however, even in down times, distressed situations can generate a lot of work. Three big drivers of financial markets are M&A activity (companies seeking funding for large merger transactions), refinancings of existing debt (including the impending debt cliff), and corporate growth (including issuing debt and equity to raise capital to fund new ventures or expansion).
CF: Changes in regulatory priorities—including with a change in administration—really drives the work we do. Banks are highly regulated, so even minor shifts in priorities can result in a lot of legal advice and review. Recently the changes have been significant, so there is a lot of work to do on that front.
Over the last several years on the civil litigation front, we were handling a lot of antitrust cases for financial institutions, many of which are still ongoing. But lately there has been a shift toward more consumer class actions and qui tam (whistleblower) matters. The underlying theories have been more diverse, which makes it hard to predict trends.
JM: As a general matter, our work is always impacted by macroeconomic trends, including interest rates, market dynamics and fiscal policies, because those trends directly influence the decision-making of corporations and investors. At Jones Day, we strive to keep our eyes on present challenges in addition to what’s coming around the corner, and our clients really value that insight.
CA: What are the biggest challenges for lawyers and their clients in financial markets?
KD: The financial markets are consistently evolving and continue to develop new products and stakeholders and, as a result, new and novel challenges. We strive to ensure that we have teams that are focused on developing strategies to meet and stay ahead of such challenges. Our clients want to know that we have their back and are here to support them, no matter the issue that could arise in the financial markets. To ensure that we can do so, we motivate and support our lawyers in bringing solutions to the table and finding ways to navigate and anticipate ways to support our clients in combatting these challenges.
KP: One of the biggest challenges we face in doing financial markets deals is timing. The volatility of world financial markets and interest rates is hard to predict and can have an enormous impact on the timing, pricing and execution of deals. Deals can be prepped and ready to launch when market conditions change suddenly causing clients to postpone or alter the structure of proposed deals. As financial markets lawyers, we have to be nimble and sophisticated to respond quickly to these changing market dynamics.
CF: I think AI is both a challenge and a huge opportunity for us and our clients. We’re really embracing it and having a lot of conversations about how to use it safely and efficiently, especially since privacy and security are such big concerns for banks. If you use AI thoughtfully, it can help with all those goals—making things faster and more accurate while still protecting sensitive information. But I also think that as AI becomes more common, our judgment and critical thinking skills become even more important. It’s an exciting area, and I love that associates get to be part of figuring out how to use these new tools.
JM: As a capital markets lawyer, I’ve seen firsthand how our public company clients have had to adapt to new disclosure and regulatory obligations. In addition, investors continue to exert influence on companies through evolving shareholder activism tactics. These pressures are not only challenging for companies to navigate, but they are also at times conflicting with one another. As lawyers, the legal landscape is everchanging, so it is critical that we remain nimble and educated on the latest developments in these spaces.
CA: How do you see the financial markets practice evolving over the next few years?
KD: Over the last five years, we have seen a significant uptick in the number of private credit funds providing financing solutions at the portfolio company and fund level. As a result, I see our practice continuing to follow this trend and to focus on developing our fund knowledge, experience and expertise, as well as collaboration with our corporate and restructuring practices. In particular, direct lending has taken over a larger part of loans provided to middle-market companies. Financial technology is another area where I see continued focus and growth, both around ledger-based technologies and machine learning, including AI.
KP: Private credit continues to drive change in the financial markets practice. Private lenders have become a mainstay in the financial markets practice and a viable alternative to banks – not just at distressed companies. While the economics of those deals can mirror traditional banking deals, there are important nuances in private lending deals where experience is key.
CF: There has been a lot of speculation about a market correction or a recession, which often results in an increase in litigation in this space. When deals don’t perform as planned, disputes are more likely to come up. On the transactional side, that often means more workouts or adjustments to existing agreements.
Even absent a changed market, I think AI will continue to have a big impact on our work and our clients. We will keep finding new, efficient ways to use AI to sharpen our practice.
JM: The new SEC Chairman has publicly stated that his regulatory agenda will be marked by deregulatory rule proposals to reduce compliance burdens on companies and facilitate capital formation. That’s probably welcomed news for many public companies, particularly on the heels of the slew of rules that have been implemented in the last several years, so that’s something we are keeping a close eye on. In addition, continued growth and availability of private credit as an alternative to traditional lending sources is an area to watch.
CA: How can students keep up to date with trends in financial markets?
KD: There are various media sources that cover the financial markets, but in my view Bloomberg, the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal are a few of the best in terms of covering both trends and developments, as well as related regulatory and litigation issues.
KP: Read. At Jones Day, we cultivate a mindset of continuous learning to stay at the forefront of the market for our clients. Read the WSJ and other business and legal publications that highlight corporate finance deals. Pay attention to litigation and regulatory developments that impact how corporate finance deals get done. Listen to finance podcasts and the earnings reports of blue chip companies to get a sense of the factors affecting corporations, business operations and earnings.
CF: I recommend staying current by reading the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, since they cover the big stories in finance and banking. I also think podcasts are a great way to learn—Bloomberg’s Odd Lots is a favorite of mine because it explains complex topics in a really accessible way. Matt Levine’s “Money Stuff” newsletter is another excellent daily read for anyone interested in financial markets. If I need to get up to speed on a specific product or issue quickly, I’ll search court dockets for expert reports, since those are usually written in plain language for a jury and can help you understand something complicated in a short amount of time. AI can also be useful at simplifying complex topics.
JM: Reading the latest market developments and newsworthy events in the Wall Street Journal and similar publications will always be effective. I also think there is a wealth of information out there being delivered through podcasts. You have to be a bit more discerning about what is and isn’t reliable, but there is a ton out there and the format and perspectives could be very appealing to students. On that note, Jones Day regularly publishes articles, blogs and podcasts on the latest trends, too. Our JONES DAY TALKS® podcast series is a great listen and is available on our website at jonesday.com.
CA: Can you run us through a highlight matter you worked on? Why did it stand out to you?
KD: A recent matter that comes to mind is the cross-border acquisition and related financing for Groupe Solmax Inc. a Canada-based company. We advised Solmax, the global leader in the production of high-quality polyethylene geomembranes for industrial and environmental applications, and its shareholders (including institutional investors Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec and Fonds de Solidarité FTQ), in connection with Solmax’s acquisition of TenCate Geosynthetics Holding B.V., a global provider of geosynthetics and industrial fabrics, from Dutch conglomerate Koninklijke Ten Cate (Royal Ten Cate, the Netherlands), and advised on the related senior secured revolving and TLB financing to support the acquisition. The senior secured credit facilities were arranged by Barclays Bank PLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC. The credit facilities provided for credit support from material subsidiaries located in specified jurisdictions, including Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
This matter stands out to me because it truly symbolizes the collaborative nature of our practice and the firm, as well as the top-notch, cutting edge lawyers with whom I have the honor to practice. The acquisition and related financing involved members of our financial markets, PE, M&A and tax practices across NY, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Singapore and Hong Kong, to name a few. In particular, when working on a cross-border acquisition financing of this magnitude communication with the PE and M&A teams is crucial. The fact that we had all of this expertise within Jones Day meant that we efficiently and seamlessly advised the client across all of the overlapping aspects of the transaction.
KP: Although a few years have passed, one of my favorite deals remains the YETI IPO. The client team was filled with really incredible and interesting people, and I had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented lawyers at Jones Day. The deal was complicated and intriguing-the kind of high-profile matter you get to work on here-and the YETI products were fun! We worked on it for several years, and it was extremely rewarding to see our collaborative, multi-disciplinary team guide it to a successful conclusion.
CF: Lately, I’ve been on teams advising financial market clients on technology licensing agreements, which are important because financial institutions rely so much on outside tech providers. These deals can be tough to negotiate because the vendors often have a lot of leverage, and switching providers is complicated and expensive. We had the experienced technology licensing lawyers, who know these deals inside and out, but we also had a few litigators who know banking very well. Bringing litigators in early—before there is a dispute—is helpful to spot potential issues and help identify other sources of leverage. I enjoy this kind of work because it’s very hands-on and lets me build close relationships with the business side of our clients. It also uses my litigation skills in a different way. Plus, these teams are usually small, so junior lawyers get to take on meaningful roles and interact directly with clients.
JM: In 2024, we represented a leading long-term care pharmacy services company in connection with its IPO. It was tremendously rewarding for the entire deal team, as the closing marked the culmination of years of efforts to reach that point. Even more impactful was seeing how much the deal meant to the founders and team members of the client, who had put so much into the company to get them to that stage. Being able to help guide them through that process, and now continuing to partner with them as they navigate life as a public company, has been one of the best experiences in my career at Jones Day.
CA: What is the day-to-day work like in your subgroup?
KD: I’m on the banking and finance side of our Financial Markets practice and what I like about our subgroup is that we are all generalists that can handle nearly any type of financing for our clients. We represent both lenders and borrowers on general lending, leveraged finance, asset-based or backed loans, acquisition financings, fund financings, as well as workouts and restructurings. On any day a lawyer in the practice can be working on one ore more of these types of financings. We also get pulled into the deals early on by our clients so that we can assist with navigating innovative deal structures. In addition to reviewing and drafting the documents, we have regular calls or meetings with the client or opposing counsel to iron out open terms, issues or other considerations.
KP: I am in the Capital Markets subgroup. Every day is different for me, which is one of the aspects I love most about my job. I spend about a third of my time counselling companies on disclosure issues, like SEC compliance, a third on corporate governance issues, like activism and board counselling, and a third on corporate finance deals, like debt and equity offerings. Each part requires a special skill set and substantive knowledge. I get to work regularly with lawyers in a multitude of practice groups across the firm and with clients in a wide array of industries, all of which keeps my days very busy and interesting!
CF: My day-to-day really depends on the stage my cases are in. I do mostly civil litigation, which means I spend a lot of time preparing for depositions, working with expert witnesses, drafting or responding to motions, and managing document reviews. Litigation is a team sport, so there are also a lot of calls with our team and with clients to ensure everyone is on the same page about our strategy. We value strategic thinking from everyone, especially junior lawyers, and I love how empowered our junior lawyers are to contribute to the direction of our cases.
JM: Rarely are any two days the same, and that helps to keep things fresh. One of the most intriguing parts of practice in the Capital Markets group at Jones Day is that we are regularly on the frontlines of addressing issues for our clients and dealing with things as they arise in real time. For our public company clients, that may take the form of navigating tricky disclosure issues in timely and compliant fashion, or executing on a capital markets transaction with an aggressive timeline that is critical to the business. The common theme through it all is client engagement, and it is both interesting and rewarding to consistently interact with our clients while getting to know them and their businesses.
CA: How can lawyers build a career in financial markets?
KD: I would say there’s no one-size fits all approach. If a lawyer has an interest in the financial markets, they should try to get as much experience within the various subgroups to see which ones speak more to them. Once they find one or two, they should pursue more work in those subgroups, attend subgroup meetings and seek input and advice from lawyers in those subgroups. The more you do, the more you see, the more you know and you’ll soon realize you’re on your way to building the career you want in the financial markets.
KP: Get as much experience as you can and do as many different kinds of deals as possible. I always encourage our associates to seek out different and unusual deals. Those are where the most learning happens. No experience is wasted. It may take several years for that experience to pay off again, but it always pays off in the end. I would also encourage lawyers to seek out people they enjoy and who have a practice that is interesting to them. Working with people like that can lead to a really rewarding and satisfying career. I often tell our associates, when choosing a subgroup, your choice of people is as important as the work. You have to like both.
CF: I think the most important thing for building a career in financial markets is being curious about financial and banking clients. You do not need a finance background—I didn’t have one when I started. We learn a lot on the job, case-by-case or deal-by-deal, and I’ve found that the more you work in this space, the more interesting it becomes. That curiosity really helps you keep learning and growing.
JM: As an up-from-the-ranks partner, I’ve had the benefit of working with and observing so many talented lawyers at Jones Day. I think what has been most beneficial in that regard is seeing how many different ways there are to build a career in Financial Markets. We have corporate governance gurus who are sage advisors in the boardroom, deeply experienced deal lawyers who have navigated all aspects of complex transactions, and so much more. In any event, there is no replacement for being technically sound, knowing your stuff, and being a highly effective communicator.
CA: What is the most exciting aspect of being a lawyer in this area?
KD: Being both a deal lawyer and a thought-leader.
KP: Financial markets practice is so dynamic. Although I love the fast pace and global nature of the deals, what I most enjoy about my practice is my relationship with clients, some of which span the entirety of my 25+-year career. Because we are in constant communications with our clients with respect to disclosure and governance matters, we have an opportunity to develop strong client relationships that not only lead to wonderful working relationships, but also many meaningful friendships.
CF: For me, the most exciting part is working on sophisticated matters that have a real impact on the financial markets. With each case, I get to learn more about how banks and financial institutions operate behind the scenes. That broader knowledge helps me become a better advisor to our clients, because I can see the bigger picture and understand how our work fits into the industry as a whole.
JM: I have a two-part answer. First, I really enjoy helping clients solve problems. Second, I love bouncing ideas off of my colleagues and getting varying perspectives when it comes to dealing with novel questions.
CA: What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in this area so far?
KD: That knowing your clients (including their business and industry), staying abreast of the markets and legal developments and communicating with your colleagues does make for a successful lawyer and practice.
KP: Dig in and spend the time to truly get to know your clients and their business. This enables you to be a strategic partner with your client and add tremendous value by seeing issues and opportunities with their perspective in mind. We believe client service involves leveraging the firm’s resources and our knowledge and understanding of the client to anticipate and solve client’s problems before they even articulate them.
CF: I think success in litigation means really digging into the details of each case—knowing the facts inside and out—but also being able to step back and see the big picture. It’s important to understand not just what’s happening in your case, but how it fits into your client’s overall goals and the broader market. Developing both of those skills is key.
JM: I’ve learned the importance of creativity and thinking outside the box. In many ways, the capital markets practice is very structured and rule-oriented (which is one of the aspects that was very appealing to me), yet there are also countless times when bespoke solutions are needed to accomplish a client’s goals. I’ve learned that trying to avoid “no” answers and instead focusing on the art of the possible—while minimizing risk—is more desirable to clients. At Jones Day, I’m consistently amazed at our ability to accomplish goals, even at times when the odds seemed insurmountable.
CA: What experience could somebody gain to figure out whether they might be suited to working in the financial markets space?
KD: A few that come to mind are an interest in financial markets such as investing in and research related to the various markets, including the stock market, bitcoin and other digital assets, learning how credit cards and home mortgages work, and other areas related to analytical reasoning and problem solving.
KP: First, read and pay attention to what you enjoy reading about. To be an exceptional financial markets lawyer, you have to be curious about businesses, how they operate, and their interaction with economic drivers. If that excites you, this could be a great fit. While taking business or accounting classes is helpful, it's not a prerequisite. At Jones Day, we value diverse backgrounds and look for that intellectual curiosity. We provide extensive training and mentorship to help our lawyers develop the specific expertise they need to excel, regardless of their starting point.
CF: Internships are super helpful for anyone interested in financial markets. Some banks offer summer associate positions, which can give you a great inside look at how things work from the client’s perspective. I did a six-month secondment at Citibank, and it was invaluable for learning a practice approach to providing legal advice. I also think government experience—especially with agencies that regulate financial institutions—can be valuable, because you get to see how the rules are made and enforced.
JM: At Jones Day, there is no better experience available than applying for our summer associate program. The program is designed to give law students meaningful opportunities to work with our lawyers and learn more about our practices, which facilitates their ability to select a practice group that best suits their talents and career goals. Having been a political science major in college, I never expected that a financial markets practice was in store for me, but my time as a summer associate at Jones Day, coupled with the New Lawyers Group, really opened my eyes to the work. Years later, I’m very grateful that I chose a Firm that allowed me to gain that experience during my formative years.
CA: What advice do you have for students considering a career in financial markets?
KD: To take as many financial market and commercial law related classes as they can in law school, including securities regulation, secured transactions and accounting, to name a few. These will give you a feel for the types of companies, issues and transactions that are involved in the financial markets.
KP: Talk to as many people as you can, because no two careers in financial markets are the same. Find out what others have done and pay attention to what piques your interest. What's special about Jones Day is that we don't just encourage this exploration-we actively foster it. Our unique non-rotational program for new associates provides unparalleled opportunities to try different types of work and discover what is most fulfilling. You can carve a unique path for yourself here, supported by colleagues who want to see you succeed. Be curious, don't be afraid to stretch your comfort zone, and find the right combination of work and people. This is the place to do it.
CF: I’d recommend taking some time to learn a bit about financial markets, even if it’s just reading up on the basics or following the news. You’ll see how interesting and rewarding this specialty can be. Then, if you get the chance, try a few different types of work within the space—like litigation, transactions, or regulatory matters—to figure out what you enjoy most and where you can be most successful.
JM: Seek out mentors. Your law school education will be important, but there is simply no replacement for the on-the-job training you will receive from more experienced lawyers when you start your career. Having mentors who are willing to develop you along the way can put you on the best path for success.
