Max D. Leonardi

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Speyfinance

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

I initially worked for a European law firm as a paralegal before completing the bar course and securing a role in-house in a fintech group, primarily focused on financial services regulation, corporate finance and companies law.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I chose this career because I deal with novel problems every day that are intellectually engaging, and I get well compensated for it. My particular role involves extensive product development in highly regulated areas, which allows me to learn a great deal on the job and to build the systems, legal frameworks, and contracts that other lawyers will later rely on. It’s much more interesting to do something that no one has ever done before than to use well-established systems where most of the questions already have answers.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

Law Society.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

There was a high proportion of lecturers with actual professional experience and a good combination of mooting opportunities.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

The beach was pretty good.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I wanted to do more than just a law degree, and at the time, Exeter was one of only two that offered it, and I had a preference for studying in England.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

The most valuable thing you learn is how to learn law. You will forget a lot, and you will never have enough time to know every case in even your own practice area. What you need to get good at is rapidly taking in facts, knowing where to look for the law, and then applying it creatively at pace with attention to detail.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Businesses often demand outcomes that don’t fit neatly into legislation, and navigating those interactions is a key skill. That requires managing stakeholder expectations, novel application of the law, balancing risk and a thorough belt-and-braces approach.

What are your plans for the future?

Pursue the bar or transfer somewhere more litigation-focused.