A few months ago, I started working with Lawyer K, a Chinese-American associate at a top New York law firm. He handles many China-related deals, and it didn’t take long to realize how demanding he was about translation quality.
We started with their firm’s pitch materials, including deal team introductions, bios, credentials, fee proposals, and SoW documents, along with NDAs, engagement letters, and other relatively straightforward legal documents. But as our collaboration grew, so did the complexity of the work. From legal opinions to more intricate documents like shareholder agreements, M&A contracts, and fund documents, I quickly saw how meticulous K was. He didn’t just care about getting the terms right, he expected everything to be logically coherent and legally precise.
One project that stands out is a sales agreement for iron ore. It involved highly technical terminology, both legal and industry-specific. K went above and beyond to ensure accuracy, reviewing the document carefully and even reaching out to industry experts to verify certain terms. His attention to detail and thoroughness made a lasting impression on me.
Then, during the Dragon Boat Festival, K called with an urgent request: a syndicated loan agreement that needed to be finalized by the first working day after the holiday. He expressed his trust in my abilities and the urgency of the situation. I immediately started working, organizing the glossary of defined terms, and then quickly drafting the initial translation. I sent it to K for confirmation, and his deep understanding of the deal helped him quickly provide detailed feedback, pinpointing areas that needed adjustment. We exchanged messages throughout the holiday, reviewing sections in real time. Despite the tight deadline, I worked non-stop to ensure the translation was accurate and polished. When I submitted the final version, K’s email of appreciation confirmed that the effort had paid off.
A few days ago, K emailed to let me know he’d be flying to Shanghai and wanted to meet in person. We met at his firm’s Shanghai office, where we had a great conversation. K explained how, despite working with many translators and agencies, he had often been dissatisfied with the results—some translations lacked accuracy, while others completely misinterpreted the legal meaning.
During our meeting, K shared more about his background. After being admitted to the U.S., he studied at Columbia Law School and later joined a top-tier law firm. Early in his career, he was tasked with translating a large volume of EN-CN legal documents himself. This hands-on experience gave him a deep understanding of the nuances and precision required in legal translation, shaping his keen eye for quality.
Through our conversation, I understood that K’s expectations went beyond language fluency; he was looking for a translator who could grasp the legal logic and ensure every detail was accurate and consistent with the legal intent and structure of the original document.
P.S. (2015):
Looking back, this meeting marked the start of a deep collaboration with K. From our LPA to various complex transaction documents, we worked closely on multiple high-stake projects. Due to health reasons, K stepped away this year, but his impact on my work remains.