New beginningsx
Salewudin (Sal) Ibrahim is the epitome of a White & Case success story. He’s also living proof of what can be achieved through ability and a determination to succeed despite the circumstances of birth. Here’s Sal’s story.
Sal Ibrahim is flourishing in his early White & Case career. He joined the Firm in 2018 and recently started the final seat of our vocational scheme in Capital Markets and Private Equity in our Dubai office.
He says: “During my Masters in International Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation at the University of Warwick, I found out about the scheme at White & Case and it seemed like a perfect match.
“I was attracted by the fact that the Firm has such a strong international reputation and that it plays an active role in development work in Africa, where you can really see the impact the work has on local communities.”
“I found out about the scheme at White & Case and it seemed like a perfect match.”
While growing up in the Ivory Coast, Sal saw first-hand how good legal advice has the power to transform lives.
He says: “My dad was a cocoa farmer in the Ivory Coast and we struggled to get a fair price for our crop until a lawyer came to our town and advised the farmers to form a cooperative.
“Thanks to him, the farmers were able to fight their corner against big business and literally doubled their incomes overnight, achieving a much fairer rate for their produce.
“That left a lasting impression on me and a career in law appealed to me from a young age.”
Sal moved to the UK in 2007 as a refugee. At just 15, he lost his parents to Ivory Coast’s civil war and, while his sister moved to Mali, Sal was fostered by a family in rural Cambridgeshire.
Sal says: “Obviously, it was a very hard time in my life and I could hardly have moved to a more different place. Just getting used to the culture and the language was so difficult, particularly as I arrived in October and needed to sit my GCSEs the following summer.”
“I channelled what had happened in my past into a determination to succeed.”
He was determined to do well though, and his hard work paid off. He achieved excellent results, continuing to do A Levels in Norfolk before completing a degree in Law at the University of Lincoln.
Sal says: “I channelled what had happened in my past into a determination to succeed.
“Working hard was an escape that gave me purpose and drove me on. I always wanted to do my best and get the top grades.”
This determination helped Sal achieve a first-class honours degree. He followed that up with his Masters, before joining the vocational scheme at White & Case.
Sal began his time with the Firm in the Private Equity team, before experiencing the Bank Finance and Project Finance teams. Highlights so far have included working on a complex non-recourse financing for a Norwegian satellite project and assisting his team with the P2P acquisition of AIM-listed Cityfibre Infrastructure Holding plc by Goldman Sachs and Antin Infrastructure Partners. He says: “Hopefully my story will show people that, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in, you should never give up.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I joined the Firm, but I’ve loved it and have learnt so much – the opportunities are limitless. I’m really happy here and am focused on qualifying, staying at the Firm and hopefully one day becoming a partner.”
