Sydney secondment story

I was delighted to find out that I would be spending the English winter in Australia. Sydney is a fantastic place to live and I certainly arrived at the perfect time of year.

I have been working in the Banking and Financial Services group at Allens Arthur Robinson. On arrival, I was drafted into a deal advising a consortium of banks on the financing of an AU$565 million PPP prison project in the Northern Territory. Since then, I have enjoyed a good level of responsibility on various other deals as well as completion lunches and an amazing boat cruise around Sydney harbour.

Although Allens is a large firm, the team is very close knit and I have made some good friends. There are lots of social events, and the firm's circus-themed Christmas party at the Hyde Park Barracks was definitely a highlight! In the office, colleagues are approachable and happy to answer any questions you may have. There is a strong focus on business development and the firm encourages its lawyers to develop their networking skills and take the initiative in making new client contacts.

My apartment is fantastically located near the city centre in an area packed with amazing restaurants - my walk to work across the Pyrmont Bridge certainly beats catching the Tube! I have, of course, made the trip out to Bondi and down the coast to Hyam's Beach (which boasts the world's whitest sand) and have visited the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley. Looking ahead, I am definitely excited about spending New Year's Eve in Sydney and watching the famous fireworks.

• Natalie Cooksey
• Trainee secondment