The Kain Lawyers director also talks the fulfilling experience of being a full-time dad for a while
What James Tannock loves most about being a lawyer is the interplay of interpersonal interactions in client and colleague interactions with the quietness of focused work on document drafting and reviews.
Nonetheless, a significantly rewarding time of his life involved him taking six months to just be a dad to his girls. In the first part of this interview, the Kain Lawyers director talks being able to lay a foundation for his relationship with his daughter, and the solicitor’s advice that helped him to figure what to do with his law degree.
I fell into my career rather than choosing it. My first uni degree was in politics and international relations (which remains an area of interest) and the natural next step felt like studying law. As I approached the final phases of completing my law degree I was a bit lost really – I had no idea what to do with it. I was doing paralegal work at a community legal centre and one of the solicitors gave me some advice to apply for a clerkship.
I was lucky enough to receive an offer from Gilbert + Tobin to join their clerkship and then graduate program. From there I found my place in the corporate team and then onwards to M&A and private equity teams at US firms in London before returning to Sydney six years later.
The best part of the job is the mix of interpersonal interactions (clients, colleagues, transaction parties and other advisors) balanced with quiet focused work (document drafting and review) as well as the opportunity to work closely with my clients on their transactions and to really be involved with their businesses.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in the last year or so? Or what’s the biggest lesson you learned in your career and what advice can you give fellow lawyers about it?
Immediately prior to joining the Kain team I took six months off work to be primary carer of my baby daughter (and almost six-year-old daughter…) to give my wife the flexibility to return to work at a time that suited her and our family, as well as to share that time with my daughter to build the strong foundations of our relationship.
I was really worried about the impacts this could have on my career and the uncertainty of joining a new law firm after a 6-month break but I have been really grateful to the firm and my clients who have been incredibly supportive. It was a truly rewarding time of my life and I’m proud to have done it.
Enjoying the truly collaborative approach taken by all of the team at Kain Lawyers, using the platform to continue to build my practice, and working with clients who are doing market-leading and exciting things with their businesses.
Gardener or landscaper for sure.
Mental health awareness, equality of opportunity and making the most of available and immerging technology.
