From February to April 2026, our students completed their mandatory internships at leading international law firms, major banks, consultancy firms as well as important European institutions. These internships are aimed at deepening our students' understanding of the coursework taught at the ILF and giving them insightful and beneficial working and networking experiences during the semester break.
We would like to express our thanks to all strong supporters of the ILF who have provided these invaluable internship placements to our students this year!
Below are what some of our students say regarding their internships:
Luiz Otávio Freitas Barbosa da Cunha in the Capital Markets practice group at A&O Shearman under the supervision of partner, ILF lecturer and member of the ILF Board of Donors Dr. Stefan Henkelmann
"Working at A&O Shearman in Frankfurt under Dr. Stefan Henkelmann was a unique career experience. There, I experienced the day-to-day operations of a top-tier global law firm and observed and understood the different dynamics and relationships between a European firm and the firms and companies in Brazil where I had previously worked. The internship allowed me to combine the theoretical knowledge acquired from lectures with my previous professional experience and apply it in real-life scenarios. Through this, I grew both professionally and personally while further developing my legal skills."
Iroda Bekmurodova worked in “Acquisition and Leverage Finance” at Baker McKenzie under the supervision of partner Mr. Matthias Töke
“My time in the Banking & Finance at Baker Mckenzie was highly rewarding and gave me invaluable insight into acquisition and leveraged finance transactions. Under the supervision of Mr. Matthias Toke, I worked on multiple transactional matters, which greatly improved my understanding of deal structuring, the growing role and priorities of private equity firms and debt funds in the market, and the way acquisition economics and mechanics are addressed in LMA documentation. I had the opportunity to contribute to live projects as well as to carry out case study reviews. I believe my course on Law of Acquisition Finance taught by Dr. Martin Heuber became an excellent foundation, making it easier for me to navigate the various aspects of the work with greater confidence.”
Gonzalo Delgado Cerecedo at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in Corporate & Investment Banking under the supervision of Mr. Leonid Belgorodski
"During my internship at BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking in Frankfurt, I had the opportunity to support the Lending & Capital Markets team on cross-border bilateral and syndicated loan transactions, review LMA-based credit documentation and assist in securities lending transactions. It was an experience that allowed me to bridge my background in Mexican capital markets with European banking practice in a truly international environment. None of this would have been the same without an outstanding team, which are knowledgeable, collaborative, and always willing to share their expertise with me, including an ILF alumni whose professional trajectory and generosity were a constant source of inspiration."
Buse Mutluer in “Banking, Capital Markets & Insurance” at CMS Hasche Sigle under the supervision of partner Dr. André Frischemeier
"My time at CMS gave me the chance to be part of international transactions and work directly with transaction documentation. It was particularly interesting to see how different parts of a deal come together in practice and how everything fits into the bigger picture. Being involved in different stages of the process also gave me a clearer sense of how transactions are actually managed day to day. What I valued most, however, was the team. From early on, I felt included and trusted with responsibility. The team’s supportive and open approach created a genuinely positive and motivating working environment, which made the whole experience both engaging and genuinely enjoyable."
Zurab Karchava at the European Central Bank in the Directorate General Legal Services’ Financial Law Division.
"I had the opportunity to do an internship at the European Central Bank within the Directorate General Legal Services, Financial Law Division. I carried out my work in the Market Infrastructure Law Section under the supervision of Professor Dr. Phoebus Athanassiou, who was also my lecturer in the course on the Law of Central Banks. During my internship, I was fully engaged in the work of the ECB and contributed to two major projects. This experience enabled me to deepen my expertise in the legal architecture of payment systems, as well as in the legal aspects at the intersection of wholesale central bank money and distributed ledger technology. My professional background in central banking, together with my academic experience at the ILF, proved highly valuable throughout this internship. I am grateful for the opportunity to further develop my knowledge at Europe’s most important financial institution."
Pia Weber in “Financial Markets and Products” at Fieldfisher under the supervision of partner and ILF lecturer Dr. Rüdiger Litten
"During my internship at Fieldfisher, I had the opportunity to work on a wide range of matters and for different clients, which gave me broad insight into the day-to-day work of a large commercial law firm. From early mornings overlooking the Frankfurt skyline to late afternoons diving into real-world cases, my internship at Fieldfisher has been nothing short of energizing. Every day brought new challenges, sharp insights, and brought me closer to the real pulse of business law.”
Georgios Zervakis, at Linklaters under the supervision of partner and ILF board member Financial Regulation Group Partner and Global Co-Head of Banking Sector Mr. Andreas Steck
“I am grateful and honored for the opportunity to complete my internship with the Financial Regulation Group at Linklaters. During this time, I contributed to projects across various areas of financial regulation, including banking regulation, investment funds and anti-money laundering. This experience allowed me to deepen my understanding of complex regulatory frameworks and gain valuable insight into their practical application. I would like to sincerely thank the ILF for providing me with this opportunity and enabling me to gain valuable experience alongside leading practitioners”.
Rachel Roddy at Freshfield’s International Arbitration Group under the supervision of partner Dr. Carsten Wendler
"It was a pleasure and a privilege to intern at Freshfields Frankfurt. I would like to extend a huge thank you to the arbitration group and DR team for not only welcoming me but also taking the time to position me to make meaningful contributions where possible. I look forward to remaining connected with the team in the future.”
Sirojiddin Ramizkhujaev ain the “Corporate and M&A team” at Norton Rose Fulbright under the supervision of partner Nils Rahlf.
“My internship with the Corporate and M&A team at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP was an invaluable part of my LL.M. at ILF, giving me practical insight into complex cross-border transactions and the opportunity to learn from highly skilled professionals in an international legal environment.”
Faith Chepchumba Chemobo at the European Central Bank's Directorate General SSM Governance & Operations’ SSM Enforcement and Sanctions Division.
"I got the opportunity to work under the SSM Enforcement and Sanctions Division at the European Central Bank, where I gained hands-on experience through research, hands on tasks, shadowing supervisors, and engaging with policy and regulatory work of banks. This gave me a deeper understanding of how banking supervision ensures compliance, accountability, and the integrity of financial institutions. With strong support from experts and supervisors, the experience significantly strengthened my practical skills and helped solidify the direction of my thesis. Beyond the technical work, the internship was also enriched by a truly multicultural environment, where internal events and daily interactions allowed for meaningful cultural exchange and connection with colleagues from across Europe, expanding my professional network.
A memorable moment was meeting Ms. Christine Lagarde at the International Women’s Day event on financial literacy, ‘Closing the Gender Gap.’ A woman I deeply admire and trust in the financial sector. Her advice stayed with me: ‘Take risks, it will pay off eventually.’ It was also inspiring to connect with young women like me in the financial sector who are confident in pursuing what they love. In your 20s, you may get the opportunity to intern at the European Central Bank, through the Institute for Law and Finance. Regardless of where you come from, take it, maximise every day, embrace the chance to learn as much as possible, do not be afraid to ask for work, there is so much to do there and connect with remarkable people from across the EU.”
