Madrid secondment story

Having studied Spanish at university, I was thrilled at the opportunity to spend six months in Madrid at Uría Menéndez, a highly regarded Spanish law firm.

As in much of the rest of Europe, it is a challenging time for the Spanish economy and business. Among other deals, I have helped to draft the English transaction documents for a bond issue and listing, which raised some interesting issues due to the unusual structure of the company. I have also worked on a range of translation tasks and in drafting client or other external publications in English. Although I had kept up my Spanish since graduating, working at Uría has enabled me to significantly improve my legal and business language skills.

Madrid is a wonderful city in which to live - two months of brilliant autumn sunshine were the perfect introduction. The capital has plenty to offer in winter too - beautiful parks (one really near my flat), leafy avenues and a wealth of galleries and museums, plus countless great restaurants, cafés and bars. Despite their longer working days, madrileños  (as the people of Madrid are known) certainly know how to enjoy life outside the office.

I have been lucky enough to go to a couple of football matches, including the recent Madrid derby between Real and Atlético at the impressive Bernabéu stadium. The city’s numerous and varied delights mean I still have plenty to explore, but I have also managed to visit Barcelona, Galicia and nearby Segovia - just a few of the places on my long wish list! Spain’s endless attractions - as well as the many new friends and colleagues I shall be sad to leave - will give me plenty of reasons to come back and visit.

• Kate Logan
• Trainee secondment