Ken Astridge, Partner, Financial Services, Sydney

I started with Mallesons as a summer clerk in 1992 and I've been with the firm in various capacities ever since. That is to say, post graduation I have had only one employer.

As you would expect, during that time I have had the opportunity to work with some of the world's leading lawyers and business people on some of the best transactions in the history of the world (at least, in my small world). Having said that, I have also had the opportunity to work on the smallest transactions where I have had to work even harder to meet the clients' expectations.

During my time at Mallesons I have also had the opportunity to get my LLM, to be involved in writing a book, to be involved with recruitment, to be involved with lecturing on various aspects of finance law, to work outside the firm for the organisation that ran Australia's airports, to stand on a stage with my colleagues and sing a song to our Christmas party (including our CEP) about being underpaid at Mallesons (which, I might add, he listened to), to play in a band with some of my partners at the Hordern Pavilion in front of 1,500 people and to head up our London financial services section.

Most importantly for me, during my time at Mallesons I have been lucky enough to have a wonderful marriage and two fantastic children and I have received just as much support on this endeavour as any other.

It's a personal thing, but I think it is fair to say I owe Mallesons significantly more than it owes me.