10 questions for … Jiří Votrubec

JUDr. Jiří Votrubec became a partner at ROWAN LEGAL on 1.10.2019. He is particularly involved in legal consultancy in the area of public investment. At present, his team is participating in more than 50 investment projects both in the sphere of public administration and regulated sectors such as transport and energy. At ROWAN LEGAL, he is also responsible for leading the whole team that specializes in the public sector and HR – particularly in the recruitment of new employees, their training and further development.

1. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy the fact that after so many years of practice, advocacy remains a challenge and still motivates me to continue working on myself, to deepen my knowledge, and to look for new approaches. What is also very important for me is that I see the results of my work.

2. How often are you surprised by something in your profession?

Very often, both positively and negatively. But recently, I have mostly been pleasantly surprised. I hope this trend continues for some time.

3. What was the last book you read?

Not counting the books I read to my children before they go to sleep, it was World Order by Henry Kissinger. It’s a great book, and I highly recommend it.

4. An ideal holiday for you?

An ideal holiday for me is one with my wife and children, spent actively enough and removed from work entirely (both physically and mentally). The location itself does not matter that much to me, it can be in the mountains, near the sea or within the Czech Republic.

5. What subject was your favourite during your studies and why? And which did you not like at all?

Before I entered university, geography, mathematics and physical education were my favorites, my least favorite was only introduction to social sciences, but the reason for that was mainly my dislike of the teacher. While I was studying at university, I enjoyed procedural subjects the most. I had the opportunity to “sell” my experience from practice in advocacy, which I started to gain from the second year at university. I was not so excited about the subjects from the “y/ics” category (sociology, economics, politics, etc.), especially when they were combined with the term “an introduction to”.

6. How do students manage to surprize you?

At ROWAN LEGAL, we have a large team of students and we try to actively engage them in our matters. They pretty often come up with quite original approaches to problem solving. Since they are not affected by the history of our clients, or by the various professional stereotypes, they are often able to think entirely outside the box, which can be very helpful.

7. What would you say to young people who are considering the legal profession?

Nowadays, it is important to proactively go after things and not to wait for someone to give you something for free. You have to work hard to achieve success in advocacy, it is not an easy profession. If you have a strong will, diligence and assertiveness – this is the profession for you.

8. Your ideal way of relaxing?

Sport, meeting friends, holidays with my family.

9. If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be?

It’s hard say, but I would most probably have done something involving sport or advertising.

10. What kind of people annoy you the most?

When someone is both arrogant and foolish. Fortunately, I don’t meet these kinds of people too often, but if I do, it’s always an experience.

Successful Alumni Miloš Olík - University of Economics, Prague Vilém Podešva appointed a member of Remonstrance Committee of ÚOHS for the protection of competition