Global Leadership Scholars: The London Experience: RSG Consulting- Eric Peters

As a part of the GLS curriculum, we are given the opportunity to work an internship while in London. For me, I was placed at small legal research firm RSG Consulting. At first, I was unsure how to feel about my placement considering I had never given serious consideration to research or the legal industry. As I now work at RSG though, I have developed an interest and appreciation for the complexities of the global legal market in ways that I otherwise would not have.

RSG Consulting conducts research to determine the most innovative law firms in different regions around the world. Innovation is defined as anything new and significant being performed or tried by a law firm. This can range from a deal structure to a philanthropy program.

The results of our findings at RSG are published worldwide in Financial Times magazine. Currently, the firm is investigating innovation in Asia and the Pacific region. It is a very prestigious honor to be ranked highly in our rankings so many firms submit applications to our office. So, in a day to day context, I could be reading over a range of subjects, from mergers and acquisitions in Hong Kong to project finance in Burma. Occasionally, when not enough information is provided, we have to make phone calls to the submitting law firms, to ask more questions. This can lead to some very interesting conversations, especially when the person on the other end of the line speaks Mandarin or Japanese as their first language. Lot of awkwardness. Lots of fun. Ultimately though, we all communicate what we need to and it is all good.

It feels good to be a part of firm that does research in order to recognize law firms who are truly making a difference in a corner of the world. Greatness and creativity deserve to be honored, and that is what I get the opportunity to do in my internship. I could not ask for more. Go Vols.

BONUS: Pictures from this past weekend, when I went hiking in Scotland.