Home > What our people say
	Name: Celine Schwarzenbach Role: Lawyer Relocation: From Switzerland in March ‘07 What attracted you to the firm and from where? II am an IP lawyer from Switzerland and originally came to Sydney to do a Master Degree in International Business and Law. During my studies I decided to stay a bit longer here in Australia and that I would really like to work in Sydney. I approached Middletons through a Sydney based agent. Thanks to my previous experience in the field of IP and especially in the field of trade marks, Middletons first engaged me on a part time basis during my second semester (march to June 2007) to help out in the IP Team. Well before my three months contact expired, I knew that I would like to work here full time after I have finished my studies. Since my student visa expired after I finished my studies, Middletons was happy to sponsor me. In September 2007 I became fulltime member of Middletons' IP/IT team. What is it like to work at Middletons from your experience? I really enjoy working for Middletons. The people are very nice, the work is really interesting and, although I am not qualified as a lawyer in Australia or any other common law country, I can work fairly independently here. Before I started at Middletons I was working in several Law firms in Switzerland. However, none of these law firms took as much care of their employees as Middletons does. That's one point I really appreciate here. What was your experience relocating to Australia? When I first came to Australia on my student visa, I shared a beautiful apartment with a lovely Aussie couple. I found the place through the internet (how else...). Sharing was very easy for me because when I first came here I did not know how long I would stay in Australia for and if I would find a job after my studies etc. etc. I did not have to buy any furniture (except my bed) and all the kitchen stuff was provided as well. However, as soon as I decided to stay longer in Australia than just for my studies, I decided to look for a place on my own. Looking for a place is easier if you already know in which area you would like to live. Since I got to know the city quite well during my first year here, I sorted that out already. Despite the tight renting market it luckily did not take me that long to find a suitable apartment. That's why I recommend you to explore the city first and then decide where you want to stay. I have not regretted coming to Sydney and working at Middletons. If you have the chance of doing it as well, don't miss it. Name: Louise McAuliffe Role: Lawyer Relocation: From Ireland in October ‘07 What attracted you to the firm and from where? I am from Ireland and qualified as a lawyer specialising in corporate/commercial law in 2005. I was attracted to Middletons primarily because the firm came highly recommended to me by my colleagues at home and those in the law circles in Sydney. The feedback I received in relation to Middletons was exactly that which I was looking for, which was that Middletons is a very reputable, respected and well known firm, that it has a very good client base in tandem with challenging work, that the people in Middletons are very approachable and friendly resulting in a very relaxed environment and that Middletons does pride itself in achieving a work/life balance for its employees. What is it like to work at Middletons from your experience? Now, currently working in Middletons in the corporate department, I have found the recommendations to be more than true. My team and department are truly great. I tackle interesting work every day with great support from my team. The deadlines set are very realistic. My work environment is ergonomically perfect, with natural light and big glass windows looking out onto Sydney harbour. There are constant firm events organised which are fantastically creative. There is never a shortage of events or activities to attend which boosts moral incredibly and creates a wonderful work environment in which to work. As a new person, I found it very easy to fit in. What are your tips to others considering the move? With regards to relocating tips, apart from deciding on the visa which you would like to enter Australia on (see details on www.immi.gov.au), it is important to have all your legal qualification documentation in place such as transcripts of university and law school results, copy of practising certificate (if relevant), and references. You will also need to set up a Tax File Number which can be done online and is very easy (see www.ato.gov.au). It's obviously important to set up a bank account which can be done from overseas or when you arrive upon display of a passport. Finding a place to live is also made easy with numerous websites to choose from such as www.realestate.com.au or www.domain.com.au. We honestly did not find relocating difficult. My experience of Australia to date has been very enjoyable so much so that my friends are right now making plans to move here Name: Dudley Kneller Role: Senior Associate Relocation: From London in January ‘06 What attracted you to the firm and from where? I was recruited to the firm from London where I was working inhouse for Shell International. I was attracted by the strength of the firm's IT practice and the opportunity to grow the team. I was also attracted by the friendly and down to earth approach of the lead partner, Cameron Abbott. What is it like to work at Middletons from your experience? The firm is currently in a very exciting growth phase and has grown substantially since I arrived. I very much enjoy working at Middletons and the move back into private practice has been very smooth. What was your experience relocating to Australia? There is always lots to do when moving house. It pays to be organised and to secure accommodation before you leave. Make sure you give yourself enough time to settle in before commencing work. This way all the day to day admin like buying a car, getting medical insurance, renting a property, registering with Medicare, obtaining a drivers licence etc can be dealt with before you start a new job. What are your tips to others considering the move? Talk to as many people as you can who have made the transition. It pays to be well informed as you have a better understanding of what to expect. It also confirmed I was serious about relocating. Less than a month after returning from the trip I had a job lined up starting in the new year. Name: Debra Filippin Role: Senior Business Development Executive Relocation: From Tokyo in January ‘07 What attracted you to the firm and from where? I heard about Middletons while I was living in Tokyo through colleagues working at Linklaters who knew of the firm. The opportunity to join presented itself and I was immediately attracted to the culture of the firm. What is it like to work at Middletons from your experience? Having previously worked in only very intense top tier law firm environments, the experience at Middletons has been a refreshing one. People talk about work/life balance all the time, but I can honestly attest to their being a healthy work/life balance at Middletons. People work very hard but know when to shut down at the end of the day. What was your experience relocating to Australia? Middletons made the moving process a very smooth one by providing some assistance with relocation expenses. This was a relief and removed a huge burden that had been weighing on my mind since I made the mental decision to move back to Australia. When I got to Melbourne and started at Middletons people were very friendly and welcoming, and made an effort to ask me constantly about how I was settling in, even a year later when I am beginning to feel (almost!) settled. This is really encouraging and highlights again that people are not just all about work. What are your tips to others considering the move? Don't worry! Moving countries is always a daunting process, and you really don't know if it's going to work out. If you're thinking about doing it anyway my thought is you may as well try it. I managed to slip into a life in Australia quite easily and can say that I think Middletons played a huge part in facilitating that. Name: Amos Meltzer Role: Senior Associate, Corporate Commercial department Relocation: From Israel in January ‘07 What attracted you to the firm and from where? I was presented with an opportunity to join the firm's corporate and commercial department, and particularly, a fairly unique practice which combines intellectual property expertise with capital markets. Often, intellectual property expertise is provided as part of a commercial service offering and often commercial service offerings link into capital markets work. However, it is uncommon and even unique, in Australia, to combine intellectual property with capital markets work. Working in such a practice enables the firm to offer a unique service, which is particularly suited for technology companies that seek to crystallise the value of their intellectual property assets and leverage that value in the capital markets. The Australian capital markets is particularly 'friendly' to small to mid ranged technology companies that seek capital from the public. The unique practice structure is reflective of the firm's innovative approach and flexibility. It has also proven very appealing to clients whom are able to tap into a team that has a unique combination of skill sets. What is it like to work at Middletons from your experience? Middletons presents a range of quality clients with interesting work opportunities and, at the same time a corporate culture that advocates a work/life balance. There is a friendly atmosphere. The firm is also very focused on providing high quality service and its 'straight talking' logo is in fact implemented. As a result, when the need arises, work is turned around and delivered to the client regardless of the hours spent. At the same time, when the work pressure eases off, there is no pressure to demonstrate a 'presence' in the office until the late hours of the evening as is the case with other firms. What was your experience relocating to Australia? Australia, and particularly Melbourne, is a great place to live. Physically, it is a very easy city to live in, it has a wealth of restaurants and cultural events as well as sporting events. It is also very child friendly and offer a lot of child focused activities and holidays. What are your tips to others considering the move? If your work/life balance is important to you, you should consider Middletons as a place to be able to practice that balance in a great city and country. Name: Mark Easton Role: Senior Associate Relocation: From the UK in August ‘06. I joined Middletons from the UK in 2006. Middletons provides an excellent quality of work without a "long hours" culture, which has allowed me the time to enjoy and experience all the benefits of living in Sydney. The firm has a genuinely informal, friendly and sociable environment which has helped to make the transition from the UK easy. For those looking for an opportunity continue to develop their career while still having the freedom to experience living in Australia, then Middletons would be an excellent choice.