A partner with Clifford Chance since 1998, Jason Glover leads the magic circle firm’s much-touted private equity funds practice
Why did you become a lawyer?
I started out with an idealistic view of wanting to defend clients charged with murder. This was fuelled by a 1970s fictional TV series called Petrocelli. It was while at university that I succumbed to materialism and so changed tack to commercial law.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
My grandfather, Joe, whose own circumstances (he was sent down the mines at 14 to support his family despite having gained a place at grammar school) made me very conscious that I should make the most of any opportunities granted to me.
What is your proudest professional moment?
Being appointed to act for the UK Government back in 2000 on the establishment of its UK regional venture capital funds programme. It was at that moment I felt that Clifford Chance had finally laid to rest the idea that SJ Berwin had a monopoly over private equity funds work.
… and worst day on the job?
I worked as a trainee on the financing of a management buy-out for Stuart Popham. There was a particularly difficult member of a 24-bank syndicate who kept leaving and rejoining the syndicate on a twice-daily basis. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep pace with their indecision and so I had omitted their name in the execution drafts. The mistake was only discovered at the signing ceremony when the bank representative asked where he should sign. Stuart came to see me and asked why I shouldn’t be fired. He then smiled and said that the remaining 23 banks had found the whole thing amusing.
Aside from those at your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why? Clive Stafford Smith, who has devoted his working life to fighting the death penalty in the US. Tom Bell of Simpson Thacher, who has been one of the world’s leading funds lawyers for almost two decades. He has served as a mentor to me and has helped me enormously throughout my career. There are very few examples in the legal profession where a lawyer has provided such support to someone at a rival firm. Jonathan Blake at SJ Berwin also deserves huge credit for his efforts in making London the legal centre for European private equity fundraising.
What advice would you give to young deal lawyers starting out?
My former boss at Asian Infrastructure Fund, Will Liley, once told me: “Be nice to people on the way up, because you are sure to meet them on the way back down again.” It is so true – very few people quit at the top.
How do you think your assistants view you?
Hard to please!
How often do you wonder if you are in the wrong line of work?
Whenever I am on holiday with my wife and children. Such times always serve to remind me that being a lawyer is, at the end of the day, just a job. I wish I could hold that thought while at work!
What most annoys you about the legal profession?
Lawyers who say to clients that something cannot be done. There is almost nothing that cannot be done, it is just that the consequences of doing something might make the action unpalatable. It is the job of the lawyer to properly articulate the risks and consequences of taking an action rather than determining that an action should not be taken.
What is the best part of your job?
The freedom to take my practice in the direction that I want and to be answerable solely to my clients. I will always be grateful to David Childs, Peter Charlton and latterly David Pearson for giving me a huge amount of autonomy and for backing my vision for the practice.
What is your biggest extravagance?
My wine cellar, which holds 1,350 bottles. My only problem is that I am not at home long enough to drink enough of it! I calculate that the wine cellar will provide me with over 15 years’ of drinking!
What would you do if you were not a lawyer?
Easy – a sports commentator, although I doubt that I would be good enough.
What is your favourite lawyer joke?
Client to lawyer: “How much will it cost for you to answer two questions?” Lawyer to client: “£500. What’s your second question?”
What is your favourite cheese?
In Clifford Chance’s private equity department, I am surrounded by a number of ‘ grandes fromages’, but I would be hard pushed to choose a favourite.
