Six questions in 60 seconds… Alistair Wickham

In this month’s ‘six questions in 60 seconds’ interview we find out more about Alistair Wickham.

Alistair joined Brachers as a trainee in 2016 and qualified into the firm’s Corporate team in 2018.

What is the best piece of advice anyone has given you in your career?

Take your time and ask for help when you need it. The inevitability is we all get things wrong from time to time or we simply cannot find the answer. There’s no shame in spending a bit longer and if needed, asking for help.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently involved in multiple demergers and management buyouts (MBOs), which are document heavy and involve some tricky drafting, but I have relished the opportunity to get stuck in to the more complex work.

Can you remember the first thing you bought with your own money?

The first item of substantial value I bought was my first car. I worked in Pizza Hut as a kitchen chef (loose interpretation of the word chef!) whilst also doing my A Levels. I saved up to buy my neighbour’s 10-year-old Ford Fiesta and clearly remember the sense of accomplishment I got when I could finally buy my own car with money I had earned.

What is the one thing you could not live without?

There is always a temptation to go cheesy with this type of question but it has probably got to be football. This coming from someone that hates the idea of ‘going for a run’, but put me on a pitch and it is a different story.

I have been in charge of the Brachers Football Networking for the last few years which involves players from Brachers, other local banks, accountancy practices and law firms in the area. It has been a great source of enjoyment for me and helped to grow some strong business relationships, some of which have turned into lasting friendships.

Which three traits define you?

Confident (always happy to give things a go), empathetic and hardworking.

I am a great believer in if the job needs to get done by a deadline I will put the time in to get it done on time.

Can you tell us your favourite thing about working at Brachers?

I would have to say being given the opportunities to run both the Brachers Football Networking and Maidstone Advance, a social business networking group.

It is really great fun being able to get out there and represent the firm and make relationships with people via mediums that I enjoy.

Both have been really good stepping stones to getting others from the firm involved, particularly junior staff, and also a really great way to support local businesses (which is why I became a corporate lawyer).

Maidstone Advance in particular has been a great achievement of mine with attendees currently averaging 20-30 at each social networking event.

Find out more

If you are a Kent-based business professional interested in finding out more about Maidstone Advance, please get in touch with Alistair for more information.

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