MY STORY Mario My name is Mario, I am a partner in the Finance department, live near Frankfurt and have been with Freshfields since 2004. Freshfields Experience Growth Supported Connected Valued Personally, I have been able to build up an international network, both at Freshfields and in the industry. Mario Partner, Global Transactions, Frankfurt Mario’s story Flexible working at Freshfields The team culture, working together and the points of contact in the office are important to all of us – the office is the “centre of gravity” for our work; a “team” can only form when we come together. At the same time, flexibility in terms of mobile working and working from home is important, and it is equally important to set an example as a partner. What seemed incompatible to many before the pandemic is now common practice. I often only come into the office in the morning after my first team meetings, and if the calendar allows, I return home for dinner with the family and then continue working from home if necessary. Client secondment in London In my third year as an Associate, I had the opportunity to complete a six-month secondment at a bank in London. It was there that I sat on the other side of the table for the first time, getting to know the clients and sharpening my understanding of legal advice from this different perspective. This was hugely important for my professional development, but it was also fantastic personally to live in a new city and to be able to represent Freshfields here, too. Today, secondments are part of everyday life for our employees and promote personal and professional development. International network Collaborating with colleagues from all over the world is an important part of my daily work. Our work has always been international, whether on mandates or training courses, as an associate or in the course of one’s career. Personally, I have been able to build up an international network, both at Freshfields and in the industry. This has resulted in long-standing friendships and, among other things, an international cycling group. We meet up every year for a weekend and ride our bikes together somewhere in Europe. Freshfields Other Stories Empowering tomorrow in a changing world. Supported Annabelle Associate, Dispute Resolution, Berlin THE STORY Growth Max Principal Associate, Global Transactions, Vienna THE STORY Valued Katharina Personal Assistant, Dispute Resolution, Frankfurt THE STORY Connected Mario Partner, Global Transactions, Frankfurt THE STORY Freshfields Benefits Discover the variety of your Freshfields Experience: where career and flexibility come together. This creates space for your individual development. Supported Parent groups Our internal parent groups actively promote dialogue between mothers and fathers. We are convinced that the dialogue with other working parents offers valuable suggestions for successfully balancing work and family life. Supported Paid Parental Leave Reconciling work and family life doesn’t have to be left to chance. This is why we support parents with additional months of paid parental leave beyond their statutory entitlement. Growth Learning & Development Our comprehensive programme offers you personal and professional support in all phases of your career. Growth Handling peak workloads While we are driven by exciting mandates, we take work overload seriously. That’s why we offer individual recreation options after intense work phases. Supported Digital detox As our top priority is to provide our clients with excellent advice, we ensure that there is adequate cover during holidays and that recreation is possible without permanent availability. Supported Flexible working time models We have individual working time models at every career level. Part-time lawyers? No exception for us. Connected Mobile working & working from home We achieve success together, no matter where we are. Flexible working options such as working from home and mobile working have proven successful and are easy to implement. However, that is not to say that we don’t have great social events and team lunches. Valued Shaping the future together We think globally and keep local needs in mind. On each country’s Advisory Board, employees actively participate in shaping decisions and opinions locally. This ensures that we always work in an environment that evolves in line with our colleagues’ needs. Growth A clear career path Transparency is important to us. Our clear criteria for promotions provide tangible prospects for personal career development. Connected Top IT infrastructure Our expertise is first-class, and our way of working, too. Modern technology and IT equipment are a matter of course for us. Supported Sabbaticals for Principal Associates We encourage individual development in your professional life and beyond. Our Principal Associates have the opportunity to take a six-week paid sabbatical after one year. Valued Visible appreciation We succeed as a team and communicate that externally. We acknowledge everyone’s contribution equally in internal and external communication. Connected Pro Bono We offer a growing continental European and German pro bono practice, both for the direct management and handling of mandates and in the promotion of pro bono infrastructure in Germany and Europe. Connected Networks & Communities We promote a diverse and inclusive firm culture through various networks & communities. With more than 17 networks and communities, we promote an inclusive and diverse firm culture. These include: Women’s Network, Halo Network, Black Affinity and Asian Affinity Network, Enabled Network. Connected Secondments Secondments at our offices worldwide or with clients (e.g. Brussels, London, New York, Shanghai) provide our employees with valuable insights into international client work and at the same time strengthen their internal network.
