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Alumni Profile: Ken Dai - going global

Press release issued: 28 April 2016

“The Bristol Law course exceeded all my expectations and ended up giving me the benchmark from which I’ve built my career.”

In this interview we talk to alumnus Ken Dai about why he chose Bristol to study law, his quick progression to becoming a partner in a law firm and how, from being the chair of antitrust & competition team for the largest international law firm, Dentons, he has grown the team to be one of best service providers in this practice area in China, advising a number of multinational companies in this rapidly-developing field.

Why did you choose Bristol Law School?

I studied an MA at Bristol 2002-2003. As an international student I spent a lot of time looking at different schools to find the best place for me. I chose Bristol Law School because it was the best. It had the leading professors in the UK and the course offered a level of learning that was unrivalled.

What was life like as a student in the Law school?

The course itself was terrific. Every seminar was detailed and enlightening and taught in an interactive way. As students we were encouraged to be both active and proactive in our learning by always looking deeper and seeking more. 

As a foreign student I benefitted greatly from my professors’ ability to put something very complicated in easy, informative and engaging way.

What most inspired you during your time here?

I came to the UK expecting to learn basic UK law, which I could then use back in China to help further my career. I completely under-estimated the quality of the teaching and the amount there was to learn.

The Bristol Law course exceeded all my expectations and ended up giving me the benchmark from which I’ve built my career.

What have you been doing since leaving Bristol?

Immediately after I graduated I went back to China to start my legal career as a commercial lawyer.  After three years in my first job as a Junior Associate to move into a Senior Associate role and then in 2009 I became Partner in a Law firm, before moving to my present employment in 2011.

Tell us a bit about your current job

I advise leading companies on their investment and and outside of PRC. I also advise multinational companies and state-owned enterprises on their China operations, acquisitions and transactional matters. I deal with investment and M&A, antitrust and competition, commerce and dispute resolutions. 

How has having a UoB degree helped you?

I owe a lot to the law school of Bristol and to the teachers there. Their teaching gave me the belief I needed in myself to reach for what I wanted.

In China the top universities in the UK are Cambridge and Oxford, however I strongly recommend the Law school at Bristol and am proud I went there.

The teachers are top of their fields and Bristol is a very beautiful and peaceful place, which is a better environment for study compared to London. The memorial building is fantastic and a lot of international students come to Bristol, so it’s a great place to meet a lot of different people and share in one another’s culture.

What’s been your biggest achievement since leaving Bristol?

Three years ago I was the sole PRC attorney in my firm and now I lead one of the largest teams. 80% of my clients are multi-national, which means my team has the scope to be the best on a global scale.

Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years’ time?

I want to be one of the most famous and trusted lawyers in China and I want my team to become one of the global leading teams in our area within the next decade.

What hints or tips would you give to prospective students?

Engage with Bristol as much as you can. Attend activities and have as much interaction as possible with your teachers and classmates. Speak up – this can be tough for foreign students however there will be someone in the same situation as you, so connect with them and support each other.

Enjoy the city. Get out there, meet people and have fun together. This is as important as study. You’ll make memories and friends for life.

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