Zelda Cunningham - 'Litigation 2' Group
Commercial Proceedings / Commercial Court
My traineeship in Arthur Cox commenced with a rotation in Litigation 2, a department which, like most within the firm, has adapted to answer the increasing demand for solutions to the current financial crisis.
Out of the two litigation departments in Arthur Cox, Litigation 2 is more orientated towards commercial proceedings involving intricate complexity and voluminous documentation. The Practice Group largely operates within the remit of the Commercial Court, which although providing a remedy to the longevity of litigation, produces its own challenges to be overcome.
During my rotation, I was mainly involved in a matter involving a default on a loan and the ensuing attempt to enforce personal guarantees of the borrowers. Although the case synopsis can be simplified to a sentence, such brevity could certainly not be extended to the actual management of the case.
Large scale document collation and review, as well as, fulfilling case management commitments and communicating frequently with the client was required. Whilst being a baptism of fire to the legal world, I was quickly immersed in the case, being dispatched to manage the organisation, collation and proofing documents, preparing books for Court and liaising with the client and Commercial Court.
Throughout the course of my rotation, I saw the preparation stages of the case come to fruition and was fortunate enough to attend the summary hearing of the case in the Commercial Court – undoubtedly the highlight of my rotation. My experience in the Commercial Court brought the reality of why such labour-intensive preparation was necessary and how crucially important a trainee’s role is within the Department.
Litigation 2 granted me a large degree of autonomy, allowing me to interact personally with the client and have a strong management role in terms of preparation for hearing. Such experiences were invaluable and I will undoubtedly continue to reap the benefits of my time in Litigation 2 as I progress through my legal career.
