Rose Salijevska, Majlinda Qamili and Caprice Paza
On the 19th of September, we had the incredible opportunity to attend ALSA’s
"Commercial Law: Decoded" event, hosted at A&O Shearman. As students with little prior experience in therealm of commercial law, we were eager to absorb all the insights and wisdom shared by the panel of distinguished speakers.
The lineup included many honourablespeakers including, Andri Boda, Anisa Morina, Fortesa Kastrati and Chimi Shakohoxha, each of whom broughta unique perspective to the table, making the event truly educational and inspiring.
Key Takeaways from the Event
Benisa Krasniqi began the panel discussion by giving an excellent overview of fundamental legal conceptsrelated to commercial law. She did this by explaining key principles in an accessible way, making sure even those with minimal legal background could grasp theessential aspects of contracts, corporate transactions, and regulatory frameworks.
The panel touched on various aspects of commercial law, providing invaluable insights into different specialties. Here are the key highlights from each speaker:
1. Andri Boda: From History to Law
Andri shared his personal journey, which began with an undergraduate degree in History before transitioning intolaw. Andri has completed several seats at A&O, such as in litigation and competition, which meant that he wasable to offer a wide-ranging perspective on different aspects of commercial law. His talk was particularly insightful for students fromdifferent academic backgrounds, emphasising that a career in law isn’t restricted to those who decide to studythe typical LLB degree. His ability to adapt and excel in such a competitive field after a non-law degree wasboth motivating and insightful.
2. Anisa Morina: Navigating Law at Herbert Smith Freehills
Similarly, Anisa, who has completed several seats at Herbert Smith Freehills, including in corporate M&A, spokeabout the variety of experiences available at a large international law firm. She highlighted the challenges ofbalancing work and personal life, especially at central London firms, where the pace can be demanding. Her versatility and breadth of experience highlighted the importance of exploring different practice areas whilst alsoacknowledging the sacrifices often needed to be made when working in high-pressure environments. This was particularly eye-opening for those considering a career in large corporate firms.
3. Fortesa Kastrati: Specialising in Real Estate Law
Fortesa’s expertise lies in real estate law, where she specialised after transitioning from the field of criminal law.She provided an in-depth overview of this complex and specialised area, that is commonly overlooked by incoming students keen to pursue a career in law. Shediscussed the legal aspects of real estate transactions, development projects, and the challenges faced in realestate litigation. Fortesa also touched on the nuances of work-life balance, noting that while real estate law canbe intense, it can offer more predictable hours compared to other areas of commercial law, depending on the firm and clientdemands, which was particularly useful in addressing the common misconception that a career in law will mean an unhealthy and stressful work-life balance.
4. Chimi Shakohoxha: Managing Cases as a Partner
Chimi, a partner at a property law firm, shared his experience in overseeing different cases and ensuring theyrun smoothly and efficiently. His role involves managing teams, timelines, and client expectations, in which hedescribed the different projects that he had previously worked on and the change in his role andresponsibilities as the firm grew and took on more clients. His insights on the demands of leadership at such ahigh level highlighted the trade-offs between professional growth and personal time. His passion andcommitment to his various projects highlighted the rewarding nature of developing a career in law, as he spoke engagingly about his favourite and most memorable projects.
The Networking Experience
The networking session that followed was just as enriching as the panel itself. It was an incredible opportunity toconnect with and learn from a range of different people in all different stages of their careers from the speakerswho ranged from trainees to partners in law firms to fellow attendees who had just started to pursue a career inlaw and were interested in finding out more about the industry. Conversations flowed naturally, and it was inspiring to meet so many distinct people, each with their own unique perspectives and experiences to share.
We also had the chance to speak with several members of the ALSA team, who were incredibly passionateabout the work they do. We discussed the various volunteering opportunities available within ALSA, whichhighlighted just how much the organisation has to offer. From assisting with event planning to communityoutreach and legal aid initiatives, there are numerous ways to get involved and make a tangible impact. It was exciting to hear about how ALSA is actively engaging with both students and professionals to create a strongsupport network for Albanians in the UK.
Special Thanks
A special thanks to Alban Brahimi, a barrister, for expertly hosting the panel and keeping the discussion engagingand informative. A big thank you also goes to Lorisa Ibrahimi for her efforts in organising the event so seamlessly.The support from the ALSA and the British-Albanian Lawyers Association made this event truly special.
Attending this event has given us newfound enthusiasm to explore commercial law further and has made clear the many opportunities within the field. We are looking forward to attending more ALSA events in the future!
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