Why did you decide to leave Linklaters & Alliance?
The job did not hold the same challenge for me. Life is too short not to seek challenges, the law is always there and like most professions you have a wonderful safety net. But if you are a partner in a law firm there is a tendency to believe that it is for life and that your skills are not transferable. The more senior you are, the more difficult it is to get out.
What happened with Cognition?
When the company offered me a role in the group, it was a fantastic opportunity. I thought if I did not leave for something like that, what would it take? After I handed in my notice, the market changed and the IPO was postponed. I thought it meant that the decision to leave was either a big mistake or a catalyst. In the event it was a catalyst – to get me out of private practice. Atlas approached me and said it had a full operating role – a week later I was in the company.
