Rob Fell, Head of Dispute Resolution at Travers Smith, pays tribute to an unassuming genius & describes his escape from a career cul-de-sac
What was your route into the profession?
A well-travelled one, at least back in those gentler times. I studied History at university, panicked after finals at having already seemingly hit a career cul-de-sac and picked law as something I thought I'd like and be good at. 25 years later…
What does your practice cover?
Disputes of all different shapes and sizes. My practice, and indeed Travers Smith's, is a general commercial practice which handles complex commercial litigation and investigations of all different types. I have conducted sensitive investigations on behalf of the Bank of England, classic High Court litigation arising out of the financial crisis, and presently am dealing with disputes which cover engineering, retail, film finance and others besides. Variety is the spice of life.
What will your new role involve?
Building on Stephen's work. Providing a degree of direction and support to a group of wonderful lawyers who have a very clear idea of where they are going. Making their lives easier. Raising our already high profile in the market. ‘Not cocking up’, to quote our former senior partner, Chris Carroll.
What has been your biggest career challenge?
Leaving Freshfields for Travers Smith in 2007. I hoped it would work out, but I couldn’t really know at the time that it would. My son had just been born. I was leaving a terrific practice and a firm that I was very familiar with. It felt, for a lawyer, like a gamble. But it really could not have worked out better.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
Ian Taylor at Freshfields, an unassuming genius. He has been hard at it for four decades as a litigator and his apprentices are all over the City of London, trying to be half as good as he is.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
A writer. It might still happen!
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Judge Roban from the French crime procedural Spiral.
What change would you make to the profession?
Ban chargeable hours targets. They breed unfortunate behaviours. We don’t have them at Travers Smith but I do see the corrosive impact they can have elsewhere. Law firms are a business of course but we need to remember that we are professionals first and business people second.
How do you relax?
I stand on various touchlines bellowing encouragement and bad advice; I umpire my son's cricket matches. And I try to continue travelling to new places (Nicaragua last summer).
Rob has been appointed Head of Dispute Resolution at Travers Smith, succeeding Stephen Paget-Brown, who led the practice for the past six years.
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