Clement Cheung, Corporate M&A Lawyer for a leading international firm

After graduating from UCL Laws, Clement Cheung (LLB Bachelor of Laws [UCL] and LLB Bachelor of Laws [HKU], 2020) joined an international law firm as a trainee and now works as a corporate M&A (mergers and acquisitions) lawyer.

What motivated you to study the degree? 

I was excited to join UCL Laws and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) as part of the inaugural dual LLB cohort in 2016. Earning two law degrees in four years fast-tracks eligibility for the Hong Kong PCLL (equivalent to the LPC) without the need for conversion exams, and would allow me to dive into the legal systems of England and Wales, the EU, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.

Beyond academics, both universities’ legal clinics and pro bono initiatives would immerse me in advocacy and community engagement from day one, sharpening my legal thinking and cultural fluency. Splitting my time between London and Hong Kong would also open doors to leadership roles in student societies, editorial positions in law journals, and opportunities to try my luck in negotiation competitions. The comprehensive nature of a dual-degree experience at UCL and HKU offered deeper, longer-term engagement, and a ticket to join the alumni networks of two world-class institutions in a way no short-term exchange experience could match.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your time at UCL Laws that has had a lasting impact on you?

I joined UCL Laws shortly after the Brexit referendum, and was struck by how closely our professors engaged with landmark cases. In a Public Law lecture on the “Brexit case” (the first Miller case), Professor Jeff King – who had been blogging detailed analyses of legal arguments even before the case was adjudicated by the Supreme Court – offered his own reflections as the final judgment was delivered. His insights made the lecture theatre feel like a front-row seat to constitutional history.

I realised UCL academics don’t merely teach cases – they live them alongside us. In our tutorials that term, every question sparked a debate about real-world impact: how would Brexit change rights, courts, everyday life? There were more questions than answers at the time, and the discussions kept each tutorial lively and energetic.

Inspired by this dynamic environment, I later became Professor King’s research assistant, supporting him on his research into emerging constitutional issues. Working side by side with him showed me that at UCL, law isn’t just something we study – it’s also something we all experience and participate in.

How has your career path evolved since finishing the degree, and how did UCL Laws prepare you for this?

After graduating from UCL Laws, I joined an international law firm as a trainee and now work as a corporate M&A lawyer. During an assessment centre at my internship, I was thrown into a mock negotiation. Thanks to the practical skills I’d built in UCL’s negotiation competitions – framing deal terms, reading the room, and staying calm under pressure – I demonstrated soft skills valued by law firms and landed my training contract. Those same negotiation fundamentals guide every contract I draft and every call I take today.

From my first year at UCL, I was plugged into UCL’s Hong Kong alumni network. A UCL graduate who runs his own law firm offered me my first internship back in 2017 and has mentored me ever since – sharing tips on managing relationships at work and with clients, and giving honest feedback on my approach.

I now also join regular UCL alumni events in Hong Kong, where I meet fellow lawyers and other professionals from all disciplines. Chatting over coffee or panels keeps me curious and excited that there is always more to learn and experience.

What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far, or had the biggest impact on you? 

The highlight of my career so far was a six-month secondment to the M&A legal team at one of the world’s largest private equity firms, working alongside investment teams across Asia on major cross-border acquisitions. I was used to focusing on technical excellence and drafting contracts precisely down to the last comma, but my preview into an in-house legal environment shifted my perspective. I saw how legal advice sits within a broader commercial strategy, how to weigh and explain risk from a business point of view, and how to turn legal issues into clear, practical solutions.

Collaborating day-to-day with finance, tax and operations colleagues taught me to use the law as a problem-solving tool rather than just a checklist. Under tight deadlines, I learned to balance legal rigour with deal objectives, and build relationships that outlast any single transaction. That experience taught me to think more broadly, work more closely with other disciplines, and keep the ball moving when stakes are high.

What are some unique challenges in your field at the moment?

Integrating generative AI into workflows presents both a challenge and an opportunity to junior corporate lawyers. While AI tools are now starting to analyse contracts and generate summaries with promising results, it remains essential for lawyers to ensure uncompromising accuracy and remain the final arbiters of work quality. Sophisticated clients are increasingly deploying AI for their own business functions and to benchmark legal advice, so recommendations from law firms must be meticulously crafted and tailored to each client’s needs. 

For junior lawyers, it is more important than ever to sharpen technical expertise to ensure we can evaluate output from AI, while at the same time “levelling up” to engage in broader, strategic and practical thinking to deliver solutions that clients value.
 

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of doing the LLB Bachelor of Laws (UCL) and LLB Bachelor of Laws (HKU)?

The dual LLB programme is a sprint requiring curiosity and adaptability, as students tackle rigorous programmes at two top universities with different teaching styles and tight timelines. Immersion in both UCL and HKU communities will build lifelong friendships and an international professional network. Career services, pro bono clinics, and faculty mentorship provide practical insights into the legal professions in both Hong Kong and the UK. Students aiming for dual solicitor qualifications can also plan to secure a Hong Kong training contract and taking the SQE in parallel, leveraging the exemption available to HK-qualified solicitors. 

If you are curious, a keen traveller, and enjoy the thrill of new experiences and meeting new people, then this dual LLB programme will be highly rewarding.

What advice would you give to current and prospective students?

Be sure to enjoy the ride with your batchmates who will explore both UCL and HKU together with you. Help each other by forming study groups, make plans outside of the lecture theatre, and integrate with peers from other programmes as well. Your classmates will become your lifelong friends – I’m still in touch with the friends I’ve made from both UCL and HKU every day.

I’d also advise students to take advantage of opportunities beyond the usual lectures, tutorials, and moots. UCL’s Law Society runs negotiations and client interviewing competitions which helped me to develop soft skills for work. It’s all too easy to compartmentalise knowledge we learn from reading textbooks, and this is certainly the most comfortable path for students. But it’s through practical activities like client interviewing that we see the big picture, understand what truly matters to clients, and learn the role that non-legal factors play in real-life problem solving – such as emotions and personal relationships. I was lucky that the UCL Law Society offered so many of these opportunities.