ALUMNI STORIES & MORE: GET TO KNOW.....

My name is Yonathan, just turned 26 and from Belgium. I joined the ILF after obtaining a first master’s degree in law at Ghent University and had the pleasure of being part of the amazing class of 2021-22. Currently, I work as an associate at Clifford Chance in Brussels, engaged in corporate, finance and energy matters, both regulatory and transactional.

The program at the ILF immersed me in the world of law and finance and allowed me to dive deeply into the economical environment of law and its interaction with the financial sector, a domain that always profoundly interest me. We were educated by outstanding lecturers that merged theory and practical consequences into intellectually stimulating and enriching classes. The curriculum comes with a deep understanding of both the legal and market environment in finance and the dynamics of its institutions, infrastructure and participants.

But the year would not have been the same without my fellow classmates. From our first drink in café Kos, through the engaging class discussions to our last group dance at graduation, I will always remember the class of 2021-22 as a group full of brightness, laughter and togetherness. I made friends for a (hopefully) very long time and will continue to foster the experience of having spent the year closely with people sharing a common interest in law and finance from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds, which was undoubtedly also enriching from a personal point of view. Whenever the opportunity knocks, you'll catch me hitching a ride on the ICE straight back to Frankfurt!

The ILF's esteemed programme, coupled with its prime location in Frankfurt, significantly influenced my decision to study there. The curriculum's integration with Frankfurt's role as a leading financial center meant that the theoretical knowledge gained through the ILF could be observed and applied in a practical context, just outside the classroom. The city's reputation as the financial nucleus of Europe, hosting an array of international banks, financial services firms, regulators, and legal practices, provided a real-time case study environment and a front-row seat to the latest developments in finance and law. This symbiotic relationship between the ILF's academic excellence and Frankfurt's economic vitality offered a unique educational experience, where academic pursuits were complemented by practical insights and professional exposure. The chance to engage directly with top-tier professionals and to apply classroom learning to solve real-world challenges was a compelling reason to choose the ILF for my studies.