DLA Piper senior associate credits his superiors for building his confidence by showing trust in him
Growing up in Singapore, law became the profession with which Sundaresh Thangavelu was most familiar because of his father’s work. And while Thangavelu did follow his father’s footsteps into a legal career, he’s forging his own path in New Zealand as a commercial lawyer with a focus on property law.
In the first part of this interview, the DLA Piper senior associate tells NZ Lawyer what he loves most about the work he does, and how a show of trust from his superiors early in his career made a huge difference.
What made you choose a career in law, and what's your favourite part of the job?
Law was the profession I knew best growing up. My father is a criminal defence lawyer in Singapore, where I am from, although my work as a commercial lawyer is very different from his.
The part of the job I enjoy most is solving complex problems. Property law can be technical, and the stakes can be high for people and businesses (though probably not as life changing as criminal law). I find it rewarding to work through difficult or nuanced questions and explain the answer in a clear, practical way.
What in your opinion has been the most memorable event of your career to date?
The most memorable and significant moment in my career was being trusted early on to provide pivotal advice on a complex area of law. The position I reached was supported by senior partners and an external KC, and I understand it helped the firm win that client’s work.
I am not sure my career would have progressed as quickly without that early chance to prove myself and show what I could do. I remain grateful to the senior partners and others who supported and championed me at the time (and who continue to do so now).
What in your opinion was the most important thing you got involved in over the past year?
Over the past year, I have been more involved in mentoring, both within my team and across the wider firm, as well as with University of Auckland groups. Supporting junior lawyers and the next generation of the profession is deeply rewarding, and it has been one of the most meaningful parts of my year.
If you could relive one day in your life, which day would it be and why?
My wife and I got married in December 2024 and we had all our closest friends, family and colleagues attend, including some that flew into Auckland from all around the world. It was a beautiful summer's day surrounded by our favourite people, but it was super hectic and went by too quickly. If I had the chance, I would relive that day again.
