My job: Building firm foundations

Mia Sudzum wants to develop her knowledge in the emerging area of technology law. Photo / Ted Baghurst

Name: Mia Sudzum
Age: 26
Role/Occupation: Solicitor
Employer: Hudson Gavin Martin
Qualifications: LLB / BSc

Describe what you do.

I work in a team of nine legal staff, including three partners. I am not allocated to just one partner, as is the case in most large law firms. This exposes me to a variety of work as the partners have different clients and specialise in different areas of law.

Most of my work involves providing advice to businesses and companies on technology-related matters and drafting technology agreements. I am also involved with corporate transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, and I'm responsible for drafting corporate documents and providing general corporate advice. Some of my work involves the commercialisation and exploitation of intellectual property, such as sponsorships, licensing of IP and trade mark clearance and registration.

Why have you chosen to work in corporate law?

At the law firm where I was a summer clerk and graduate in the intellectual property team, I was exposed to various types of law, including trade mark law, copyright law, privacy law and consumer law.

This variety of work, with the diversity of clients, ignited my interest in intellectual property. My interest in corporate law is due to the fact that I enjoy working on corporate transactions. I enjoy being part of a project, from beginning to end.

Moving to Hudson Gavin Martin allowed me to combine both interests. I am able to work on corporate/commercial matters with an intellectual property focus. The move also allowed me to expand into a new area of law - technology law. It is a co-operative area of law that requires a number of people to work as a team in order to provide a solution.

Your work history?

I was a summer clerk at a large Auckland law firm in both the corporate advisory team and the intellectual property team. In 2006, I started as a graduate and worked in the corporate advisory team for three years. I was lucky to work directly with one of the partners as in most cases in large law firms, solicitors work primarily with senior solicitors. I moved to Hudson Gavin Martin in June to broaden my legal knowledge in corporate and intellectual property law, and to be challenged with technology law.

Does specialising in intellectual property and technology law mean you deal more with large companies?

Our clients range from small start-up businesses to large corporates. The challenge lies in the work you are doing, rather than the size of the client you are dealing with.

What skills do you need for this work?

Other than the formal requirements, necessary skills/qualities for my role are excellent communication and interpersonal/social skills (as there is a lot of client contact), drafting skills, good business acumen (to provide the client with useful and practical advice, you need to understand their business and business needs/values).

You also need to be of strong character to deal with difficult issues and different clients.

What are the job's main challenges?

Dealing with clients who, while they are business-minded, do not comprehend the legal implications of their business decisions. I adopt a more careful approach to such clients and explain things in such a manner that they would understand how the law would affect them.

Why is your job important?

Clients are often focused solely on "getting the deal done" and may not be aware of or have not had time to consider the legal issues. My role is to highlight legal issues and help solve these. I see my role as being part of my client's team ensuring that its deals/projects are brought to completion.

Most rewarding part of the job?

When you have provided useful, practical advice for a client that has not just involved providing legal advice but also made a difference to their decision-making. Often, because of the project's duration, you become an extension of the client's business and act as a business adviser.

Worst part of the job?

When you have invested time and effort into a transaction which does not go ahead.

What is on this year's agenda?

I would like to develop my knowledge and skills in the area of technology law as it is still a relatively new area for me. I would also like to continue being involved in the business development of Hudson Gavin Martin, and bring new clients to the firm.

Advice to someone wanting to do same thing?

I would recommend working in a boutique firm. Being at Hudson Gavin Martin has exposed me to a wide variety of work and clients, which has allowed me to broaden my knowledge and skills. Rather than specialising in one particular area of law, I am able to work on corporate, technology and intellectual property-related matters, all in one day.

What do you hope to be doing in five years?

I hope to be in a senior position within Hudson Martin Gavin with my own portfolio of clients.