Aaron Bains
A version of this interview originally appeared on the alumni UBC website, July 2018.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I began my legal career with my current firm, Aird & Berlis LLP. During law school I was accepted into a summer program with the firm after which I articled and eventually became an associate. However, this was not as straightforward as it seems. Initially, I was not hired as an associate. However, after a significant degree of work, creativity and luck, I was able to obtain this position.
Currently, I practice in the areas of corporate finance and financial services with a focus on venture capital and private equity investments. I advise both domestic and international institutional lenders as well as private debt lenders, venture capital and private equity firms. I also act for borrowers, including start-ups, early stage technology corporations and traditional brick and mortar business.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
When I was in law school, I thought that I would be an international trade litigator (I even have litigation robes). However, as I met more people that I enjoyed working with and work that I enjoyed doing, I found myself practicing corporate finance law. What helped shape by career most thus far has been the people I have worked with – good people and good mentorship will take you to the right job.
What are the strategies you use to remain resilient during challenging situations?
I always ensure that I remember that I am not my job. We all have lives outside of work and we all have goals that go beyond raises and bonuses. In order to stay focused during challenging times, I remember my holistic goals and set out a list of to-dos to help put my work challenges into perspective and keep myself organized.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Learning from the great professors and enjoying the natural beauty of the campus.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
Going abroad! This opened my mind to a world of opportunities, friendships and a new way of thinking.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
A broad but wholesome vantage point on issues that allows you to see multiple angles and find novel solutions. My degree also helps me see the fundamentals of issues without being bogged down in the weeds.
Are there any other achievements or activities you would like to highlight?
I have been nominated to many boards and charities in Ontario and currently have been nominated as the President of the South Asian Bar Association – Toronto Branch, the largest diverse bar association in Canada.
How do you define success?
I define success as happiness. Happiness should apply to our work as well as our life. We should be happy with what we learn, happy to identify what we do not know and how to learn it, and happy with those around us. An unhappy life is one without success. Our greatest metric in life is how we feel each and every day, not how we are perceived or how well our CV looks.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Stay dedicated, work hard on your grades and don’t be afraid to reach out to alumni in places you would like to work. We often think that a job offer turn down or a lack of replies to our e-mails are the end, however it is resilience and confidence to explore new ways of success that will ultimately get you to where you want to be.
Aaron Bains
A version of this interview originally appeared on the alumni UBC website, July 2018.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I began my legal career with my current firm, Aird & Berlis LLP. During law school I was accepted into a summer program with the firm after which I articled and eventually became an associate. However, this was not as straightforward as it seems. Initially, I was not hired as an associate. However, after a significant degree of work, creativity and luck, I was able to obtain this position.
Currently, I practice in the areas of corporate finance and financial services with a focus on venture capital and private equity investments. I advise both domestic and international institutional lenders as well as private debt lenders, venture capital and private equity firms. I also act for borrowers, including start-ups, early stage technology corporations and traditional brick and mortar business.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
When I was in law school, I thought that I would be an international trade litigator (I even have litigation robes). However, as I met more people that I enjoyed working with and work that I enjoyed doing, I found myself practicing corporate finance law. What helped shape by career most thus far has been the people I have worked with – good people and good mentorship will take you to the right job.
What are the strategies you use to remain resilient during challenging situations?
I always ensure that I remember that I am not my job. We all have lives outside of work and we all have goals that go beyond raises and bonuses. In order to stay focused during challenging times, I remember my holistic goals and set out a list of to-dos to help put my work challenges into perspective and keep myself organized.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Learning from the great professors and enjoying the natural beauty of the campus.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
Going abroad! This opened my mind to a world of opportunities, friendships and a new way of thinking.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
A broad but wholesome vantage point on issues that allows you to see multiple angles and find novel solutions. My degree also helps me see the fundamentals of issues without being bogged down in the weeds.
Are there any other achievements or activities you would like to highlight?
I have been nominated to many boards and charities in Ontario and currently have been nominated as the President of the South Asian Bar Association – Toronto Branch, the largest diverse bar association in Canada.
How do you define success?
I define success as happiness. Happiness should apply to our work as well as our life. We should be happy with what we learn, happy to identify what we do not know and how to learn it, and happy with those around us. An unhappy life is one without success. Our greatest metric in life is how we feel each and every day, not how we are perceived or how well our CV looks.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Stay dedicated, work hard on your grades and don’t be afraid to reach out to alumni in places you would like to work. We often think that a job offer turn down or a lack of replies to our e-mails are the end, however it is resilience and confidence to explore new ways of success that will ultimately get you to where you want to be.
