My legal life: Saira Henry, Dechert

My first career choice was to be an astronomer. But it was hearing and reading about a career in law, together with watching legal dramas on television, that triggered an interest in a more grounded career. When looking through lists of options at school and sixth form, a legal career, specifically that of a solicitor, nearly always came out as the most suitable option. I had an analytical mind, relished problem-solving, enjoyed presenting my point of view and was business-minded.

My route to qualification was conventional. I studied law at university, gained relevant work experience – albeit in a range of practice areas in my younger years, including in-house – and then applied for and obtained a training contract. My work experience helped me realise I was more suited to commercial law, although I was not familiar with competition law at that stage.

I first came across competition law as an undergraduate and found the interplay between law, policy and economics fascinating. The academic and technical nature of competition law also appealed. As part of the Erasmus programme, I studied in Germany and then completed an internship in Paris at a group which had been restructured as a result of European competition law-based measures – this highlighted the considerable real-world impact this area of law could have.

Perhaps an unconventional option among lawyers who studied and qualified in the UK was to complete a master’s degree (it is not a requirement to have one). I found European and international law interesting so wanted to study them in more depth and attain an additional qualification.

I trained at a magic circle firm in London and Brussels (where I was seconded for six months). I secured a position as an associate in the practice group of my choice: antitrust and competition. My practice area lends itself to cross-border and cross-practice collaboration. This is very much the case for matters concerning the technology sector on which I am currently focused. Regulators in the EU and UK have been grappling with large technology companies and the impact on the digital economy. This has resulted in an increase in demand for competition law advice in this sector and has had a corresponding effect on the balance of my practice in terms of sector focus.

Three significant developments have had a recent impact on my career. The standout has been the UK’s departure from the EU and the growing importance of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and UK competition law and policy more generally. There has been a considerable increase in demand for lawyers with UK competition law expertise. Subsequently, the introduction of a distinct UK national security screening regime through the National Security and Investment Act 2021 meant that I had to develop expertise in a new area of law.

The CMA has been offering six-month secondments to competition lawyers in private practice since June 2018. I put myself forward for a secondment in 2018 as I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the workings of the CMA so I could better advise clients on UK competition law post-Brexit. The working environment was different from a law firm in a number of ways, including having to work on matters with personnel from different disciplines and previous careers. I look back on my secondment fondly and it proved to be rewarding personally and professionally.

A career highlight was achieving unconditional approval (clearance) from the European Commission for a challenging transaction in telecoms. It reduced the number of direct-to-home (DTH) operators in the Nordic region from two players to one. This led to the creation of the leading pay-TV DTH operator in the region.

I manage the demands of my job by ensuring that I carve out some time for fun each week and do something I enjoy. My wellbeing is extremely important to me. I try to eat well most days and make time for exercise, even if it is just a 30-minute walk listening to a podcast or music. I have been studying wine with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in my spare time and my holidays allow me to combine this with my love of travel. I spend a lot of time exploring wine regions in Europe and the US.