Diana Kull, Estonia

LLM in Banking and Finance 2010-2011

I graduated from Tartu University in Estonia and Humboldt University of Berlin in Germany. I did my postgraduate judicial service in Berlin, and I am a German qualified lawyer.

After having gained my first practical experience in taxation and finance in Berlin, London and Brussels, the LLM within the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) at Queen Mary was an evident choice for me. I was attracted by the outstanding reputation of the Law School and the CCLS in the area of banking and financial law, the variety of specialised courses, and the highly professional academic staff.

Within the wide spectrum of teaching modules, I could particularly benefit from the latest developments in financial law at the European level along with gaining a profound knowledge in the legal aspects of international finance. Hereby, the contribution of partners from the leading law firms was a useful supplement to the lectures from the practical point of view. The administrative staff of Queen Mary were kindly supportive to me during the whole academic year.

I am grateful to the Centre for Commercial Law Studies of Queen Mary for awarding me a scholarship for the completion of my LLM degree. The knowledge and skills acquired in this specialised programme will definitely enhance my career perspectives.

Michael Burket, Germany

LLM in Banking and Finance Law 2009-2010

“I studied law and Business Administration at the universities of Bayreuth, Tomsk (Siberia) and Leipzig and did my legal clerkship in Frankfurt am Main.

I obtained professional experience as an intern or trainee with leading American, English and German law firms in Moscow, Frankfurt, London and Brussels. Whilst working as an intern in London, one of the Partners who specialised in Banking and Finance suggested Queen Mary.

The LLM programme so far could not be better. The lectures are first class and supplemented by leading expert practitioners from city-law firms and international institutions such as the EBRD and the ECB. Queen Mary staff, both academic and non-academic, are most cooperative and friendly.

When it comes to my goals afterwards, it is clear that my LLM will open up additional career opportunities for me. I hope to spend my first years after qualifying in London gaining as much experience in debt capital markets as possible. I am convinced that my LLM degree in Banking and Finance will be an important element in succeeding in such an environment.”

Natthaphong Sirijirasuk, Thailand

LLM Banking and Finance 2006-2007

"Before studying LLM at Queen Mary, University of London I was an in-house lawyer practicing corporate and financial law area in a public company in Thailand. I have decided to expand my knowledge in banking and finance law. After researching a lot of information about LLM in banking and finance from several universities, I found that QMUL is an outstanding university that provides a wide range of courses in this field. Including the world class reputation, I had no hesitation to go for the LLM at QMUL.

While I studied the LLM, I did enjoy the Legal Aspects of International Finance. This subject is very useful and practical to your career as a lawyer in financial law area. Lecturers come from various top leading legal firms in London, including remarkable professors in this field. Content and method of teaching are excellent. We have tutorial and revision classes for catching up the points that you don't understand.

I can definitely say that studying LLM at QMUL was the most memorable and fantastic time of my life!

Since returning to Thailand, I have been working in the Financial Service Practice Group as a lawyer with Baker and McKenzie."

Vladimir Jelacic, Serbia

School of Law Alumni

LLM in Banking and Finance Law

"It was not long after I first applied for the LLM in Banking and Finance Law at the QMUL that I realized I made the right choice. All the replies I got from the staff and all the answers to my anxious inquiries were timely and, what at first struck me as odd, friendly and almost informal, but still professional and appropriate. Right after I came to London and first got introduced to the program and the people behind it, my expectations were confirmed – I found a top-quality LLM program without a stiff upper lip, a place where you work hard, but also play hard, a perfect combination. Throughout the year, beginning with the amazing Cumberland Lodge induction seminar, I kept noticing that the importance has been placed on both curricular and extra-curricular needs of the students. The time spent on lectures as well as the studying time needed to keep up with the course was well balanced, which in my opinion, kept the course intense, but pressure-free. For me this was very important, because the course recognized the significance of leisure and extra-curricular activities while studying in London.

Direct contact with the professors, frequent tutorials, feed-back sessions with the students, individual research support, the best tailored distance learning facility, ample free literature, but also out-of-London inductions, parties, career services, well located lecture venue and friendly staff that gives a completely new meaning to the word administration. When you put that all together, you get a postgraduate law course that managed to escape the stiffness and inflexibility of the corporate approach to education, but maintained the capability to prepare you more than adequately for the encounter with the corporate world awaiting."

Gabriel Gómez Giglio, Argentina

LLM in Banking and Finance Law

Gabriel Gómez Giglio, Lawyer, Baker & McKenzie Sociedad Civil, Argentina

"The main reason that made me chose to pursue postgraduate studies at Queen Mary, University of London was the specialised LLM programme in the area of Banking and Finance. Some of the best things about Queen Mary are the variety of subjects offered, its educational benefits which include libraries and all the resources of the University of London, and specialised LLM programmes in several subjects. Needless to say, living one year in the most exciting city in the world has also provided me with a unique experience.

On the personal level, London and its cosmopolitan environment have given me the opportunity to meet people not only form the UK but literally from all over the world, that was as valuable as the education itself. That opened my mind to many cultures and beliefs and gave me the opportunity to make personal and professional contacts with colleagues from all over the world.

The university offers an excellent programme and variety of different lectures as well as extremely reputable and well known academics. My studies with QMUL proved to be a great asset during my job applications and interviews. I am now a partner with Baker & McKenzie, Buenos Aires, and may say that a degree granted by QMUL has provided me with an unique competitive advantage".

Alexander Dolgov, Russia

LLM in Banking and Finance Law

Alexander Dolgov, Senior Associate, Allen & Overy Legal Services

"Unlike many other prospective students, I have not applied to several law schools in the UK. QMUL has been an obvious choice for me as its Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) is widely recognized in a variety of disciplines and has a number of prominent graduates in the Russian business community. In particular, I have been attracted by its renowned brilliance in international financial and banking law. After having received a prestigious Chevening scholarship from the British Council and having studied at an LLM programme focused on legal aspects of international finance in 2004-05, I can say that the course at QMUL has not only met my most ambitious academic expectations, but it has also contained a great deal of practical perspective. Many outstanding practitioners contribute to the programme and deliver talks on a variety of industry-specific subjects, which provide students with an exclusive insight into the fine-tuned legal mechanism standing behind the City of London financial machine.

During the course of studies I have immensely enjoyed communicating privately and debating professional topics with colleagues from all over the world. Excellent presentations and tutorials, highly skilled and internationally regarded professors, superb research facilities, convenient location and friendly administrative stuff, all this has made my experience truly remarkable and exceptionally positive.

The LLM course has been a necessary complementary element to my law degree received from the top Russian university Moscow State Institute of International Relations. It has allowed to improve my understanding of key legal concepts I have come across while working in the private practice on major cross-border deals. Upon graduation, I have joined Allen & Overy and currently I am a senior associate with that magic circle law firm."