Milan secondment story

Milan has more than lived up to my very high expectations - welcomed to Bonelli Erede Pappalardo (BEP) with true Italian warmth and friendliness, the experience has been fantastic so far.

My work has been varied, ranging from assisting with M&A activities in some typically Italian business sectors (including pasta, salami and clothes) to advising on English arbitrations and producing materials for "Best Friends" seminars and firm publicity. Arriving as the sole secondee at the firm has proved a very useful introduction to managing my own workload and interacting with the whole office - the latter has also provided an invaluable opportunity to improve my language skills.

While BEP shares Slaughter and May’s desire to produce the highest quality work, it is combined with a strikingly Italian relaxed and friendly attitude. Numerous coffees, lunches and evening drinks make the working week pass with great speed. Outside the office, glorious weather, a superb flat in the city centre and the nearby Lakes (Como, Garda and Maggiore) at your disposal for the weekends mean that I fear the remainder of my secondment will pass rather too quickly!

• Nicholas Warrillow
• Trainee secondment