Y-ADR Spotlight Series - Interview Questions with Rutger Metsch

Rutger Metsch

Senior Associate, Herbert Smith Freehills

1. What has been a beneficial aspect of engaging with the CPR Institute for you personally or professionally?
I usually leave CPR meetings and events feeling energized and full of ideas. It is stimulating to be around a group of smart and motivated people who have similar interests but different perspectives.  

2. What inspired you to steer your career toward ADR, and what steps did you take to make it to where you are today?
I started university hoping to become a diplomat, but soon realized that I am not very diplomatic. Fortunately, I stumbled into a guest lecture about international arbitration during my semester abroad and was immediately hooked.  I liked the complexity, variety, and apparent glamour of it all (something I have often reflected on while doing document review at midnight).  Over time, an interest in arbitration turned into an interest in broader dispute resolution.   

3. What is one piece of advice you would give to somebody who wanted to pursue a career in ADR?
The same advice one of my favorite teachers in law school gave me about ten years ago: learn how to use Excel.  To make this advice 2025-proof, I would add: 'and AI'.  

Also, especially for students, allow yourself the freedom to have experiences that may not immediately seem relevant to your goal of becoming a lawyer. ADR requires a broader skillset than just knowing the law: your module in psychology/coding/international relations/etc or customer service job may end up being more useful than adding another legal module/internship to your CV.  

4. What is an issue that you see within the field of ADR and how can that issue be combated?
I think many lawyers are excellent at preparing sophisticated legal analysis and argument, but I feel that this analysis often does not necessarily translate into sophisticated advice on decision-making under uncertainty (which I consider a core skill in ADR).  I believe the quality of decision-making in the field would benefit from lawyers' increased familiarity with forecasting, decision analysis, and risk visualization techniques.   

5. At what point did you realize that this career choice was best for you?
I hope to, at some point. 

6. How can people with an interest in ADR get hands-on experience to further their career?
It is key to get hands-on experience in ADR before committing to a career in the field, because the day-to-day job may be different from what one might expect (courtesy of the tv courtroom drama).  

I started my career with an internship at my firm's Hong Kong office, which was a great way to experience ADR in practice.  I did not participate in any moots, but I wish I had. Offering research/teaching assistance to a professor can sometimes be a good way to get a foot in the door (just make sure you do not end up doing endless footnoting for free).  Asking a practitioner if you can shadow them for a day or two is a good way to get an idea of what their work looks like, but keep in mind that it might be difficult to accommodate your request.  To see advocacy in practice, the real die-hards can watch recordings of hearings online.  

7. (Fun one!) Describe your perfect Friday night in 6 words or less.
Empty inbox, half-empty glass, full plate.