The senior associate had always had a business-focused mindset
Tayla McEntee has always had a business-focused mindset. Law was recommended to her as a career path, and after a certain conversation changed the way she looked at the law, she combined that mindset with her changed perspective to become a successful corporate M&A specialist.
In the first part of this interview with NZ Lawyer, the recently promoted DLA Piper senior associate talks about the rush she gets from finalising a deal milestone and the interesting approach she was told she took to wedding planning.
What made you choose a career in law?
I was encouraged to look into law as a career path by teachers at high school, but it was a discussion with my friend's mum who worked as an in-house commercial lawyer that opened my eyes to law being more than just arguing in court like we see on TV. I think I have always had quite a commercial/business-focused mindset so that led me into studying law alongside a BCom at uni.
I really enjoyed studying that pathway which has led me to being a corporate M&A lawyer today.
What's your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of my job is taking a breath with the team after we send the emails to the clients confirming that completion has occurred at the end of the deal. Our deals can run for up to six months (or more) and often consume all elements of my waking brain, so finally closing the deal is very satisfying.
If I'm being honest, I also get a kick out of the rush that comes with finalising a deal milestone like negotiating the final stages of a SPA (sale and purchase agreement) or the time crunch to get all the completion issues resolved, but getting to tell the clients that we've got the deal over the line is pretty cool as well.
If you could relive one day in your life, which day would it be and why?
There are a few – but my wedding day was pretty amazing. I'm happy the planning is done (some say I ran it like an M&A transaction), but I would love to put myself back there and relive the fun over and over again with all the people most important to me.
