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This article continues my trainee blog series reflecting on each seat at Michelmores, focusing on my time in the corporate team. Rather than revisiting overlapping transactional skills, it highlights the typical day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of a corporate trainee and what to expect from the seat.
Corporate work spans a broad range of matters. During my seat, I supported on share and asset purchase transactions, management buy-ins and buy-outs, reorganisations and early-stage investment work.
Typical trainee tasks
Corporate is a hands-on seat from the outset. Although deals tend to be very structured, with a team of lawyers at all levels, trainees are trusted with real responsibility.
Due diligence
Trainees are involved in early-stage due diligence, including reviewing governance documents, managing data rooms, coordinating replies to enquiries or assisting in raising relevant enquiries (depending on whether you are acting on the buy or sell side), and identifying the key issues. This also involves coordinating with specialist teams such as employment and commercial. This develops both legal analysis and commercial awareness, while showing how information is translated into practical client advice.
Transaction management and deal mechanics
Trainees help keep transactions on track by progressing document lists, coordinating signing, preparing transaction packs, and drafting checklists and steps plans for completion. This gives a clear sense of how a deal fits together and highlights the importance of organisation and attention to detail.
Drafting and reviewing documents
Drafting is a core part of the role, including ancillary documents such as board minutes and shareholder resolutions, as well as supporting on disclosure letters and reviewing purchase instruments. Working on live deal documents helps build confidence and understanding of both transaction structure and commercial rationale.
Company secretarial and governance work
Alongside transactional work, trainees are involved in company secretarial and governance matters, often linked to deal completions. This can consist of updating statutory registers, preparing and filing Companies House forms, and handling post completion matters such as stamp duty payments. Whilst more procedural, this work is key to understanding how transactions align with broader corporate compliance requirements.
Day-to-day life in a corporate seat
Corporate is fast paced and highly collaborative, particularly as deals near completion. Trainees work closely with associates and partners across multiple matters at once. The variety you get from experiencing a range of different corporate transactions and working with a range of different people is one of the aspects which makes the seat so engaging; no two days are quite the same.
Skills you develop
A corporate seat develops a broad range of core trainee skills, including attention to detail, prioritisation, task management, communication both internally and externally, and commercial awareness, as well as the ability to stay organised and produce quality work whilst under pressure. It also builds confidence in managing competing deadlines and taking ownership of workstreams within a wider transaction.
Tips for making the most of a corporate seat
Get organised early, ask thoughtful questions, and stay curious about the commercial drivers behind each deal. Being proactive, particularly during busy periods, makes a significant difference. Embracing responsibility where possible is key, as much of the learning will come from taking ownership of workstreams and seeing how they contribute to the wider, overall transaction.
Final thoughts
My corporate seat at Michelmores was challenging and varied but incredibly rewarding. It offered real responsibility, exposure to high-quality work, and strong team support, which provided a solid foundation for a career in transactional law. It has also helped me develop valuable core skills that are transferable across other practice areas.
If you are interested in corporate law and want to know more about my experience, please feel free to reach out via email ([email protected]) or LinkedIn.