Beijing secondment story

Having spent three memorable weeks in Beijing during my university days, I leapt at the chance to be seconded to Jun He’s Beijing office for three months.

Jun He was a fantastic host. My colleagues invited me to numerous restaurants to sample the delicious local cuisine, organised sightseeing tours, and even took me to see an acrobatic show and a Beijing opera. Back at the office, I was involved in a variety of interesting transactions. My work ranged from day-to-day contact with clients on PRC corporate deals to working with a team of lawyers on cross-border transactions.

A city full of character, history and culture, Beijing exceeded my high expectations. There were always new places to explore, bars or cafes tucked away in hidden alleys to wander into and historical architecture to marvel at. Experiencing the culture and diversity of Beijing was a memorable part of my secondment. While I was there, I took Chinese calligraphy and Chinese painting classes and visited a vineyard in Hebei. I also made friends with many locals as well as the expatriates who, like me, were drawn to the opportunities which Beijing had to offer.

• Samantha Liu
• Associate secondment