James Alao

I am a management consultant at McKinsey, having previously worked as a private equity lawyer at Clifford Chance for almost 6 years. During that time I did a secondment to Barclays for 6 months and Permira private equity house for a year.

My focus is on helping people think about whether their career is in law and how to go about investigating alternatives. I am also interested in passing on my experience of secondments, the pros and cons, and how to prepare for them, make a success of them, and how to reintegrate in the firm after them.

I enjoy mentoring and working with others. I am easy-going and non-judgmental but really believe in clear, unambiguous communication that helps people know where they stand. I understand how challenging the environment we work in is, and having experienced many of the difficulties it gives rise to, I can empathise with others who feel similarly.