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FEATURE<br />
Fenwick was given an opportunity to be a part <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
While Japan was already <strong>the</strong> second-largest<br />
economy in <strong>the</strong> world, many <strong>of</strong> its companies<br />
were only starting to establish a physical presence<br />
abroad and relatively few were familiar with<br />
<strong>the</strong> expectations and standards <strong>of</strong> international<br />
securities <strong>of</strong>ferings. “For two years, I travelled<br />
throughout <strong>the</strong> country and o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> Asia<br />
explaining <strong>the</strong> intricacies and potential liabilities<br />
associated with cross-border <strong>of</strong>ferings,” says Fenwick.<br />
Demand was increasing within Linklaters for<br />
capital markets lawyers experienced in new or<br />
undeveloped markets. For <strong>the</strong> first time since Latin<br />
America’s debt restructuring in <strong>the</strong> mid eighties,<br />
Brazilian sovereign and corporate borrowers were<br />
looking abroad for capital.<br />
“At that time, no firms had <strong>of</strong>fices<br />
in Latin America so <strong>the</strong> work was<br />
serviced mainly from London and<br />
New York. Between 1993 and 1998, I<br />
traveled back and forth between New<br />
York and Latin America on what was at<br />
times a weekly basis,” says Fenwick.<br />
In March 1997, Fenwick became a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
partnership at Linklaters, joining a group that was<br />
<strong>the</strong>n composed almost exclusively <strong>of</strong> Oxbridge<br />
graduates. “When <strong>the</strong> firm opened an <strong>of</strong>fice in<br />
Brazil, I was asked to head up <strong>the</strong> operation. It<br />
became one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first international law firms to<br />
open in South America, with São Paulo as its base.”<br />
Within a few years, Linklaters associated with<br />
a Brazilian law firm, reaching a size <strong>of</strong> over 75<br />
attorneys. “My pr<strong>of</strong>essional life quickly changed<br />
from spending all my time practicing law to<br />
dividing my time between my roles as co-head <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice and head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> international practice.”<br />
In <strong>the</strong> mid to late 1990s, what had been a small<br />
club <strong>of</strong> international firms in São Paulo began to<br />
expand rapidly. “Although I had not really anticipated<br />
practicing at ano<strong>the</strong>r firm, that expansion brought<br />
about new opportunities. I was particularly<br />
interested in spending less time on management<br />
issues.” In 2009, Fenwick decided to join Proskauer<br />
Rose, a traditional New York-based firm that was<br />
undergoing a major transformation.<br />
Proskauer, long known for its leading labour,<br />
sports, and entertainment practices, was in <strong>the</strong><br />
process <strong>of</strong> developing its corporate and finance<br />
capabilities and internationalizing its platform.<br />
While best known for representing pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
sporting organizations like <strong>the</strong> National Basketball<br />
Association, Proskauer also represents major<br />
financial institutions like JP Morgan and Deutsche<br />
Bank, a broad range <strong>of</strong> companies such as Exxon,<br />
Metlife, and UPS, as well as entertainment-industry<br />
clients such as Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Bono.<br />
In São Paulo for 14 years, Fenwick and his partner<br />
André Ferreira have established a richly textured life.<br />
“We own Teatro Augusta, an independent <strong>the</strong>atre in<br />
São Paulo, and we also have a farm nearby where<br />
we spend every weekend. Coming from nor<strong>the</strong>rn<br />
Manitoba and its two- to three-month growing<br />
season, I love that <strong>the</strong> state <strong>of</strong> São Paulo is sub-tropical<br />
and extremely fertile.”<br />
Fenwick reflects that, despite <strong>the</strong> fact that he has<br />
come a long way since <strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> his career, most <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> basics remain <strong>the</strong> same. “I still listen more than I<br />
speak, and read more than I write. The practice <strong>of</strong> law<br />
remains mostly about bringing people toge<strong>the</strong>r, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> critical element in that is carefully building trust<br />
and confidence, which takes time.”<br />
43 ROBSON HALL ALUMNI REPORT