Career and sportiness in harmony
Dear Frederic, first of all, thank you very much for your time. When did you join Rödl & Partner and why did you decide to take this step?
Hello Philipp, it is nice to be able to talk to you. I have been with Rödl & Partner since my legal traineeship – since August 2019 to be precise. After I completed my second exam in June 2021, the decision to join Rödl & Partner and the team was extremely easy. Even during my traineeship, I was impressed by the projects, the collaboration, and the atmosphere.
What has your path been like since then? Were there any moments or projects during your time at Rödl & Partner that you particularly remember?
I have been working in the Commercial Law team in the Corporate/M&A department since I started – I am now a Senior Associate and am still incredibly happy and motivated. It is of course difficult to pick out individual moments or projects from many. In this respect, I would rather say in general: the highlights are the daily encounters with colleagues and the projects that you work on together with teams from all over the world and across service lines. But the initiatives that Rödl & Partner offers outside of daily business also have a lasting impact. Events such as the annual joint ski holiday, various company runs and celebrations are worth mentioning. Rödl & Partner also has a lot to offer outside of work!
What do you particularly like about your job?
It is already clear from my previous answer. Rödl & Partner’s great strength is its ability to offer interdisciplinary and cross-border services. This is exactly what adds a certain flavour to our work. Your own horizons are broadened on a daily basis when you work on projects with other professional groups and colleagues across borders. You get to know new perspectives every day and the range of joint projects feels inexhaustible.
The technical side sounds overly exciting so far, but now we want to get to know you personally: how do you organise your everyday life alongside work, do you have any special hobbies or tips for switching off?
I passionately believe that it is important to find something to do in addition to your daily work which does not only provides a balance, but also allows you to socialise with different personalities. In my opinion, it is essential for our profession in particular to move outside the legal bubble.
For me personally, this balance is provided by team sports. I also play hockey “on the side”. In team sports, social and performance aspects go hand in hand. People of different ages and from distinct phases of life share a common passion. I was practically born into the sport, so I did not really have a choice. But to say it is just a balance is probably a bit short-sighted. At my club, the Nürnberger HTC, we played in the first and now the second Bundesliga for years. This means that we must play hockey up to six days a week relatively quickly to be competitive. Unfortunately, the limited amount of time is also taking its toll on me, so I have cut back a bit since this summer and am dragging my disabled body around the pitch less often.
Right from the start, Rödl & Partner gave me the flexibility in my working hours to be able to pursue my sport. The team leads, right up to the highest level, not only give you the feeling that sporting activities are tolerated alongside your everyday work, but are even actively encouraged. Rödl & Partner is also a major supporter of our hockey club and promotes the sport both financially and structurally.
Lawyer
Wow! That sounds remarkably interesting, but also exhausting. To what extent does Rödl & Partner support you in your time-consuming sport?
Right from the start, Rödl & Partner gave me the flexibility in my working hours to be able to pursue my sport. The team leads, right up to the highest level, not only give you the feeling that sporting activities are tolerated alongside your everyday work, but are even actively encouraged. Skills that you acquire in sport – such as stamina, the will to win and social skills – are abilities that also help you in your job. This is actively practised at Rödl & Partner and, in my opinion, is not a matter of course in our industry. This is emphasised by the fact that Rödl & Partner is a major supporter of our hockey club and supports the club and its athletes both financially and structurally in the youth and adult sectors. In my opinion, the relationship is fruitful for both sides. (Amateur) sport thrives on the support of its local partners. Similarly, young, motivated athletes can be invigorating elements for companies like Rödl & Partner and the professional talents of tomorrow.
How would you describe Rödl & Partner to these talented professionals of tomorrow in three sentences?
Rödl & Partner is an exciting and versatile company that not only supports its clients in all areas, but also lives these values internally. In this way, Rödl & Partner creates an environment that gives its employees the opportunity to deliver top performance both in and outside of work. Rödl & Partner’s commitment to sport also shows that the company is aware of its local and social responsibility.
What advice would you give to young talents who want to follow a similar path to yours?
Sport and a career are not mutually exclusive! On the contrary, in most cases they are mutually beneficial. You very often hear that athletes of all levels quit their sport because they want to start a career. That is a shame. I am convinced that it is particularly important for a professional career to engage in social and competitive activities outside of work. All the better if your own employer supports sporting activity, as Rödl & Partner does. In this sense, of course, “keep your eyes open when choosing a workplace”.
Thank you for the interview and all the best for the future!