Secondment
Interoffice Secondment
In order to the reap the synergies that a global firm can deliver to its clients and partners, McDermott implemented a Secondment Program for second to fourth year associates. The Secondment Program is designed to enhance the integration of our European and U.S. offices by allowing associates to spend several months in a McDermott office other than their home office. The program has a number of benefits including further developing a skill base for servicing our international clients, insuring that the service our clients receive is consistent regardless of whether they are working with the Firm’s U.S. or European attorneys and fostering relationships and team building.
The program began in 2003 and has run successfully with six to eight participants annually. Currently, secondments are made between our European offices and our Chicago, Washington, DC, New York, Boston and LA.
Several associates describe the benefits of the program below. Most recently Florian Vogel, and Andrea Hamilton concluded their secondment terms. Andrea left her Washington, D.C. home office and traveled to Brussels and London for her secondment. Based in our Munich office, Florian spent his secondment in Los Angeles. They describe the benefits of the program.
Promoting Firm-wide Integration
Washington, D.C.-based Andrea Hamilton spent time in the Firm’s Brussels and London offices. She emphasized the value of international integration. Welcomed in both offices and included in numerous projects, she found that exposure to other offices and the kinds of work McDermott lawyers do opened her eyes to the services the Firm offers and made her appreciate even more the “one-firm” culture at McDermott.
Experiencing McDermott’s Brand
Florian Vogel, a Munich associate, spent his secondment in Los Angeles. Florian began to understand the size of the Firm and its depth and breadth in a way that is not yet fully realized in Germany.
Broadening Cultural Awareness
“As a result of the unique insider's perspective, I more fully understand the difference between simply providing legal advice and partnering with a client to solve problems.” Amanda Metts
Benefiting the Entire Firm
Besides the obvious benefit of developing well-rounded lawyers with international business perspectives, associates who have seconded have a greater understanding of the Firm’s culture, values and people.
Client Secondment
The Firm provides on a selective basis a number of client secondment opportunities which involve working on site for several months with a variety of clients. These clients cover an array of industries in the United States and in Europe.
Associates from several departments have recently seconded to Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch in both New York and London. Other secondments have been with Lehman Brothers, Hitachi and other substantial international companies.
Client secondments give mid-level and senior associates the opportunity to work day to day with in-house staff to gain an in depth understanding of how to collaborate and problem solve with in-house and outside counsel to resolve business issues.