Harkiran H

My Law Firm

Profile:

I have been a partner in the Litigation and Arbitration team in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis since 2010.

I was quite set on the idea of becoming a solicitor from a young age. As the child of immigrants from India, my parents were keen for me and my siblings to get a good education, attend university and become professionals. They believed, as many immigrants do, that this would provide us with the stability and financial security that they had come in search of to the UK.

I am the first generation from my family to attend university and the first solicitor in my family. After graduating from University College London, I did my LPC at BPP Law School. I did my training at Shearman & Sterling, now A&O Shearman. The format of the training contract appealed to me as the trainee intake was just 5 trainees. I was keen to do magic circle quality work but in a smaller office. There I qualified into the arbitration team. I moved to Kirkland & Ellis International LLP (“Kirkland”) at one-year PQE. This was an exciting opportunity, as I would be in a team of two partners and two associates setting up the Litigation and Arbitration practice in the London office of Kirkland. This move afforded me the opportunity to do high-quality work at a junior level. I have now been at Kirkland for over 18 years, and still enjoy the work and working with the team – though now it is a lot larger than 4 lawyers!

Being from a diverse background and working alongside a diverse range of people I see, first hand, the benefits that diversity of experience, thought and background bring to an organisation. Seeing things from different perspectives and seeking creative and innovative solutions to our client’s issues are key to our success as lawyers. Working with a diverse range of people enhances our ability to do just that.

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