Restructuring and Insolvency partner Alex MacDuff shares how he's navigating the balance between partnership and parenthood as a new dad.
What kind of law work are you involved in?
Dispute resolution, with a focus on restructuring and insolvency (R&I). I am typically acting for borrowers, credit funds, banks or insolvency practitioners in work outs, structured credit solutions or insolvencies. It's fast-paced and no two days or assignments are the same.
What were the reasons you were appointed partner?
Russell McVeagh had identified R&I as an area for potential short-term growth given the stage of the market cycle and I was lucky enough to be there to take the opportunity.
What are the main benefits and challenges of being a partner?
The main benefit for me currently is the flexibility from having a higher degree of control over my time. We've just welcomed our first child and that flexibility is fantastic. Whether that's dashing off home early to lend a hand during witching hour or to get splashed all over during bath time, or to spend an extra 30 minutes with Henry in the morning when he's fresh and full of smiles.
Client needs do not always make that possible, but my clients have so far been very supportive - and the work always gets done, even if my sleep suffers from time to time. My team has been very accommodating and my fellow R&I partner, Matt Kersey, has stepped in to cover to make it possible, for example when I took parental leave when Henry was born.