Our Star Alumnus for September 2020 is Nick Marshall
Nick, what year did you graduate?
I graduated in 2014 and 2017.
What course did you undertake?
I studied both the Jersey Law Course and the Masters in Jersey Laws.
What did you enjoy most about your course and what features did you find most beneficial?
That there were no more exams! The route to the LL.M. was a 15,000 word dissertation on a particular Jersey law topic which had a comparative element. I have always been interested in intellectual property. So the LL.M. allowed me to pursue my interest in IP from a Jersey perspective. I was also able to compare the position of Jersey with Guernsey and the Cayman Islands.
Could you give us a brief description of your current job?
Part of my time is spent with the local law firm Preston Legal as an Advocate. My specialty is advising on the establishment of ongoing work involved in trusts and foundations used for managing private wealth. I also advise extensively on:
- pensions,
- employee incentive arrangements,
- wills and succession matters,
- charities law
- various commercial matters.
I spend the other part of my time as a consultant English Solicitor to the music and entertainment law firm Statham Gill Davies in London where I specialise in:
- English corporate and commercial work,
- trust matters
- sport related work.
I am also a consultant to the virtual law firm 360 Law Group with whom I also provide English corporate and commercial law advice to UK and international clients
What route did you take to get your current job position?
For various reasons I had gone part-time with my previous Jersey firm and I had started consulting with Statham Gill Davies at the beginning of 2020. When the corona virus struck, I was made redundant from the Jersey firm and my retainer with Statham Gill Davies ended (although I still do ad hoc work for them which is increasing). 360 Law Group approached me to become one of their remote working lawyers which I welcomed. Mike Preston, the principal of Preston Legal, whom I have known for a few years, learned of my position and got in touch with me. His firm is primarily a litigation firm. We had a chat about whether I would be interested in being able to provide a non-contentious trust and company services for some of my time. And here I am!
What do you enjoy more about your current role?
It is immensely varied as you can imagine. In any week I can be undertaking work for a local business or trust company, corporate work for a film production company and IT contracts for one of the many IT companies in the UK which are now so busy following the Covid-19 pandemic. Since lock-down in Jersey eased, my time at Preston Legal is usually spent in the office which has been very welcome change after so much time confined within the walls of my apartment!
What have been the highlights of your career so far?
I wanted to be lawyer from the age of 12, therefore, the highlights have inevitably been:
- achieving my LLB,
- qualifying as an English Solicitor,
- becoming a partner in several UK law firms,
- qualifying as a Jersey Advocate,
- being the first person t be awarded the LL.M. in Jersey Law.
How did studying with us help your professional career?
Undertaking the Jersey Law Course enabled me to qualify as an Advocate which has helped me advance my legal career in Jersey.
What advice would you give to prospective law students?
Although I always wanted to be a lawyer, studying law at whatever level can be highly rewarding. Law permeates society and is found in so many circumstances that knowledge of law can help in a great many different careers.