A day in the life of… Jennifer Arkell

Jennifer is a solicitor in HCR Law’s banking and finance team helping lenders and borrowers secure financing through leveraged, real estate and asset-based lending arrangements.

Having trained at HCR Law and qualified last September, she immediately joined the banking and finance team as a solicitor based in our Thames Valley office, working alongside HCR Partner Victoria Dingle and trainee Brogan Dent.

HCR has 13 offices spread across the Midlands, South West, Wales and South East of England, but that hasn’t stopped her building close working relationships.

“It’s a real pleasure to work with such a cohesive team. Location is no barrier to working with my team members,” she said.

And because HCR acts for such a wide variety of clients, both lenders and borrowers, including high street lenders and challenger banks, private credit funds, alternative lenders alongside growing companies, individuals and property investors, it’s a great environment in which a junior lawyer can learn.

The science of law

But she hasn’t always worked in banking and finance. She graduated with a Chemistry Degree from the University of Bristol, and followed that with a Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course

And before formal training at HCR, she gained invaluable experience as a paralegal in civil litigation, competition and corporate law.

She said: “The legal profession offers a unique cross section of fast paced problem solving, academic rigor, real world impact and relationship building, all of which I enjoy.

“Constantly deepening my technical knowledge while helping clients achieve tangible outcomes is an addictive combination and is great for those who are ambitious and energetic. That’s what I love about my role.”

She also enjoys the high degree of client contact, making sure that client objectives are met and keeping them up to date as their transactions progress.

She likes to provide updates to client before they have thought to ask her themselves, and sends summary emails at the end of the day to make sure everyone is abreast of the transaction’s status when completion is imminent, before kicking off again the next day.

A typical day

A typical day as a junior banking and finance solicitor involves drafting ancillary documents, including those providing security for loans and corporate authorisations to ensure that a transaction has been validly entered into.

Then there’s managing the transaction, from receipt of the term sheet right through to post completion formalities, such as registration of security interests at companies house within 21 days of completion.

Banking and finance law can be fast paced and demanding, so staying on top of matters, particularly when working on multiple concurrent transactions can be a real test of memory and organisation.

Working in the banking and finance team within the Thames Valley’s close knit business community gives her a full overview of the spectrum of work going on in the area.

Attending networking events and getting to know other Thames Valley based professionals is also part of her job she enjoys.

Post qualification, Jennifer is focussing on building on the skills learnt during her training contract and taking more responsibility on as she progresses.

What sets her apart is her diligence, analytical mindset, passion for learning and her innate ability to build rapport and relationships inside and outside HCR.