King & Spalding London employment head Jules Quinn joined the firm last year, having previously headed the labour and employment group in London at Jones Day, before which she had been an employment partner at Nabarro and Allen & Overy. Earlier this year, she was part of a team from the US firm that advised on the £2.4bn sale of a stake in data giant Global Switch to a consortium of Chinese investors.

Why did you become a lawyer? It came down to a choice between an astronaut or a lawyer – realism prevailed.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career? My better half, Damian. We have a very supportive family unit and it allows me the freedom to do what I do safe in the knowledge that our kids are supported.

What's your proudest professional moment? When I was a junior associate – and heavily pregnant – I did the advocacy for a tribunal case, having never seen a full hearing at tribunal beforehand. We won and the victory was very sweet.

…and worst day on the job? Breaking the news to hundreds of Icelandic banking staff that their jobs were redundant and there was no redundancy pay.

Aside from your own firm, which lawyer do you most admire and why? Nikki Paradise, the former managing partner at Nabarro. She was a great manager – tough, empathetic and balanced her family life too.

What's your strongest characteristic…and worst trait? I'm driven and I get the job done. My worst trait is that I can be impatient.

What advice would you give to young deal lawyers starting out? Make sure you continually invest in yourself as your technical ability is your key asset. Build a great professional network around you, including your clients and sponsors. And most importantly, learn the value of sleep and exercise.

What's the best part of your job? The autonomy and independence. I work with really smart people and if we have a great idea, we can run with it.

What most annoys you about the legal profession? There are still too few women in senior management positions. While it is encouraging that many younger women are choosing a career in law – and there are some truly inspirational female managers and partners in the profession – overall progress in moving up the career ladder remains slow.

What's the most unusual/shocking request you've ever had from a client? Is it lawful to extract DNA (for identification purposes) from a bodily fluid left on the back of a fellow worker's jacket which she had left on her chair?

Most memorable deal you ever have worked on and why? The demerger of a US tech company that was spun out into a number of separately listed companies. It was a really well managed deal and so much fun across so many jurisdictions. I got my taste for global deal work on it.

What is the daftest bit of corporate jargon you've heard (and did you smirk)? "We've got to be 'all in' here – balls deep" (and yes, I did).

Do you see yourself having a career outside law? I still harbour a dream of owning a theatre.

What's your favourite item of clothing? My trainers.

It's midnight and you're in the office for the night, where's your takeaway from? Fresh Fitness Food – the perfect balance of calories and macronutrients.

What are your desert island discs? Wonderwall, Oasis; 1999, Prince; Sheila Take a Bow, The Smiths; Tilted, Christine and the Queens; Ego, Rag'n'Bone Man; Chelsea Dagger, The Fratellis; Lovecats, The Cure; I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor, Arctic Monkeys.

Favourite boxset? Fortitude, and also Fleabag for laughs.

What's your favourite cheese? Epoisse.