SLN Spotlight: Derek Stillie

This week’s SLN Spotlight falls on Derek Stillie, an experienced commercial litigator and disputes lawyer, as well as former professional footballer, who recently joined Brodies LLP.

What has been your best experience as a lawyer?

As a litigator you invest a great deal in your clients’ cases, so when you’re successful for them there is a sense of achievement and sometimes a little relief – especially when there might have been severe consequences for them or their business had you lost. The best experiences I have had as a lawyer replicate the feeling of winning a match where my teammates are my clients – without, of course, having to share a bath with them at the final whistle!

What has been your worst experience as a lawyer?

As a very junior lawyer, being sent along to the High Court for the Lehman Brothers trial was terrifying. Being in a court room with the best legal minds in the country as they picked over the ruins of the worldwide banking collapse was nerve-wracking for the first couple of hours, as I got to grips with the legal arguments.

Why did you choose the law?

I always had twin passions for sport and the law. I was fortunate enough to have been a professional sportsman and it was always my ambition to follow a career in law when that ended.

Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life?

I’ve taken inspiration from the influence of my parents and family, but professionally I was fortunate as a young footballer to fall under the wing of Aberdeen’s Dutch goalkeeper Theo Snelders.Theo’s influence and the influences of the coaching staff at Aberdeen at that time, Alex Smith, Jocky Scott and Drew Jarvie, were a large part of the reason I was able to have any career in football at all. As a lawyer I was trained by, and worked under, two exceptional litigators in London, Peter Sharp, now managing partner at U.S. firm Morgan Lewis, and David Wilkinson at Kennedys.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in the law?

I’ve benefited hugely from having had an unusual route into the law. I would advise anyone thinking of pursuing a legal career to consider doing something else first, even if only for a short period of time, in order to gain skills that they mightn’t necessarily acquire in a law firm, but that will stand them in good stead for the legal life ahead.

What would you want to be if you were not a lawyer?

This is a very difficult question to answer, I’ve already had one very fulfilling career in football and now I’m in my second career, so it’s difficult to think what a third might be. I think, perhaps rather predictably, that I would have tried to stay in professional football in a coaching capacity of some sort.

How do you relax after work?

Although much of my time is spent in books, I do enjoy reading for pleasure.I also try to maintaina modicum of fitness by going to the gym but I find that I often cancel out all of my good gym work with a few glasses of wine with friends and family.

What is your favourite holiday destination and why?

I’ve been fortunate to have visited the Caribbean a few times and always enjoy returning there.The more relaxed pace of life on islands like Jamaica and Barbados are the perfect antidote to a lawyer’s often hectic schedule.