03 June 2010
Key Points:
David Clarke was a senior solicitor in our Sydney Financial Services group from 2000-01 before relocating to London where he worked at Linklaters.
David is currently Managing Director, Organisational Risk and Legal at Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) – one of Australia's largest institutional funds managers. He is based in Brisbane.
Describe your current role. How did it come about?
I head QIC’s in-house Legal, Risk and Compliance teams where I have been for the past three years. Prior to QIC, I worked at Macquarie Bank in Sydney and Linklaters in London.
What does an average day for you entail?
An average day usually involves several meetings with either staff, committees, service providers, boards, clients or counterparties. It also usually includes preparing and reading several papers together with drafting / reviewing documents.
What are some of the more challenging and/or interesting aspects of the work you do?
Perhaps the most challenging (and interesting) aspect of my role is dealing with multiple overseas-based service providers – usually investment managers and/or brokers or counterparties.
How would you describe your time at Clayton Utz? What were some of the highlights?
Excellent. When I commenced in Clayton Utz' Financial Services team it was relatively small. The practice group expanded rapidly in the time I was there and developed into one of the leading financial services teams in Australia.
How do you like to spend your time when you are away from the office?
With my family. We go to the Sunshine Coast most weekends.
What is the best thing about living and working in Australia?
The best things about living and working in Australia are the weather, enviable lifestyle and the outstanding corporate talent which we have in this country.
What is your favourite holiday destination and why?
I like the big cities for a holiday, especially New York, Hong Kong, London and Paris. If I am looking for a more relaxing holiday, then the Whitsunday Islands. In reality, having young children means holidays tend to be closer to home on the Sunshine Coast.
