Martin Bartlam
Managing Partner of the London office of global
law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Martin
Bartlam, worked as a gardener at Bradford College
whilst he was a law student in the 1980s.
Before qualifying as a lawyer in 1987, Martin
started his career as a gardener at Bradford
College, where he spent 2 summer vacations
carefully tending the roses and mowing the large
lawns around the McMillan Halls of Residence.
Martin qualified as a solicitor at Slaughter & May,
and then moved to Wilde Sapte. He spent 2
years as a banker at Crédit Lyonnais, then joined
Jones Day as Head of Finance before moving to
Orrick as a partner in 2004, becoming London
Managing Partner in 2006.
While Martin’s career
has blossomed, the gardens were torn up in 2007
to make way for our stunning new Trinity Green
campus, which opens in September 2008.
Martin is now part of Orrick’s global leadership
team which is responsible for the management,
strategy and direction of the firm. Martin’s
legal practice is as an international finance
lawyer heading transactions on behalf of major
investment banks and funds. He is known in the
finance market for developing innovative multibillion
dollar deals that use complex financial
structuring techniques. Martin appears on CNBC
commenting on the credit default swap market.
He is currently writing a book on the legal aspects
of the structured finance market.
Despite a hectic international schedule, Martin
took time to return to his roots in November 2007
to offer the benefit of his experience to our law
degree students. Martin encouraged them to be
ultra ambitious, explaining how to follow in his
footsteps and reach the top in a big international
firm in his insider’s guide to what top law firms
are looking for and how the students could equip
themselves for success.
“Working as a gardener in Bradford College was
a wonderful way to spend the summer. Whilst
tending to the gardens, I had the opportunity to
consider my future career. I am honoured to be
considered as one of the heroes of this institution.”
Photograph supplied by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe