We couldn’t celebrate our 10 years in business without shining a light on some of the people who make up our global team. In the second of a two-part series, we speak to Sashini, Josie and Georgeanna, each of them from a different global region and with varying tenures, about how the Peerpoint business and their role in it has changed over the years and their thoughts about the future of our business.
Sashini Sumanasekara, Global Compliance & Operations Senior Manager, UK
When did you join Peerpoint and in what role?
I joined Peerpoint in 2015. What attracted me most to the opportunity was the start-up nature of Peerpoint and being able to get ‘stuck in’. We were a team of eight in a small space within the Allen & Overy (A&O) London office. Ten years on, to see what Peerpoint has achieved, how it has grown and having been able to contribute to that success, has been truly satisfying. My role had a UK focus, as the only market in operation at the time, but with the growth of Peerpoint my remit evolved to become global. For me, the unique nature of Peerpoint’s offering set it apart from other providers.
How has Peerpoint and your role changed since you joined?
We are now far from a start-up with a much bigger team of approximately 45 people operating across six jurisdictions. I don’t think I knew what I expected the business to look like when I joined but the team’s energy, the willingness for this offering to be successful, collaboration and hard work was something that stood out. I knew we would get to a place where we are now as a global business with an excellent reputation and it is all down to the team; every single one of my colleagues, from the very beginning, to those that have joined more recently.
Where do you see Peerpoint heading in the future?
The past ten years are an excellent indicator for what’s to come. The A&O Shearman merger announcement only means bigger things for Peerpoint, and it is an exciting time for all of our stakeholders – our team, our consultants and our clients. I would say, watch this space!
Josie Beissel, Client Development Executive, Australia
When did you join Peerpoint and in what role?
I joined Peerpoint as a new law graduate in the middle of my Practice Legal Training in 2020. I never enrolled in a law degree with the intention of being a lawyer but at the end of university I started going down that path because I wasn’t sure what other options I had. Thankfully, I was introduced to the Peerpoint proposition by a mentor who knew the Australian team were looking for a junior resourcing assistant to support the growth of the panel across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. I was instantly captivated by the notion of a flexible resourcing platform that effectively helps lawyers ‘have their cake and eat it too’.
For me, joining Peerpoint was precisely what I was looking for at the time; a way to remain in the legal profession but in a capacity that was more aligned to what I was interested in, utilising and developing my professional strengths and adding value by injecting colour into what seemed like a very black and white profession at the time.
How has Peerpoint and your role changed since you joined?
Peerpoint had been operating in the APAC region for almost four years when I joined the team in early 2020. In hindsight, I probably didn’t realise at the time that the business was on the precipice of a growth spurt. As a member of the resourcing team my role focused on attracting high-quality legal talent to a legal consulting career with Peerpoint. Supporting three panels (Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia) meant I had to work across three lots of candidates, consultants, market demand, regulatory considerations, and cultural nuances. It was an incredible experience witnessing the maturation of legal consulting as a career path in three unique markets. As we know, the pandemic prompted all of us to reflect on our perception and values in relation to our work and personal lives, and so consulting really started to resonate with an increasing number of lawyers looking to take control of their careers and wellbeing.
As the panels grew, my role supporting multiple jurisdictions was spread slightly too thinly and it was time to align to one market only. My role pivoted into a broader resourcing and talent role aligned to the Australian business and was focused on helping prospective consultants through our recruitment process as well as supporting current consultants.
Earlier this year, an opportunity arose to move into the client development team which has been a welcome change and refreshing challenge. I talk with clients about their resourcing challenges and seek ways to provide interim resourcing solutions in what is both a talent-tight and budget‑conscious market in Australia. I feel truly elated to have participated in the growth and progress of both the Peerpoint business and the consulting career path more broadly.
When I joined Peerpoint fresh out of university, I never imagined that I would get the opportunity to gain experience in the resourcing, talent management and client development parts of the business, or that talking everyday with Peerpoint’s impressive, high-quality and fast-growing network of individuals – whether colleagues, legal consultants, clients, or A&O employees – would be a highlight of my career to date.
Where do you see Peerpoint heading in the future?
Our clients are increasingly looking for alternative legal services including cost effective, flexible, and top-quality resourcing solutions. At the same time, lawyers are increasingly looking to future-proof their careers, balance their professional goals with personal ones, and to have access to a variety of excellent quality work. Peerpoint elicits an offering that meets both of these demands.
With an expanding global presence, the backing of a top-tier law firm, and an exceptional reputation, the Peerpoint proposition is undoubtedly going to continue on its growth trajectory in true Peerpoint style – with agility, innovation, and a holistic approach that prioritises good quality relationships above all else.
As new chapters of Peerpoint’s journey emerge, I look forward to being a part of the supportive, passionate, and resilient team that will take the business into its next decade.
Georgeanna Mok, Resourcing & Talent Manager, U.S. (secondment)
When did you join Peerpoint and in what role?
I joined Peerpoint in 2019 as Resourcing and Business Management Executive, working with the management team in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. It was an exciting period for Peerpoint in APAC, with all the growth around paving opportunities for lawyers to shape their careers differently to what might have been considered ‘normal’ previously. While my role had a focus on talent management, I also relished working with other functions of our business, such as our client development and consultant management teams.
How has Peerpoint and your role changed since you joined?
The Peerpoint business has evolved and grown noticeably since I joined. Not long after I joined, our APAC management team was divided into Australia and Asia to keep up with the growing panel of consultants and size of the businesses. We have also expanded into new markets such as the Middle East and the U.S.. I now have a slightly different role and coverage as manager, focusing on supporting our current panel of lawyers and resourcing. I’m also currently based in New York supporting the growth of our panel in across the U.S. Since joining, I have appreciated the opportunities that have come my way, including but not limited to, training and supporting new joiners in my team, collaborating with other Advanced Delivery & Solutions (AD&S) teams, and most recently the chance to go on a seven-month secondment to work with our U.S. business.
Where do you see Peerpoint heading in the future?
For the U.S., I’m positive the proposed upcoming merger with Shearman and Sterling will enable us to grow our client base and business exponentially.