Nina Catovic enrolled at SIDE as an elite athlete in 2010 in order to combine her tennis training and tournament commitments with her senior school studies.
What did you do after finishing school?
Following my graduation from SIDE in 2012, I enrolled to study my Bachelor of Laws at Murdoch University in 2013.
I graduated with Honours from Murdoch University in November 2017 and then I entered the graduate program with King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), a commercial law firm, in their Perth office in February 2018.
After completing my graduate rotations through each of the Mergers & Acquisitions, Litigation and Banking & Finance teams at KWM, I settled in the Mergers & Acquisitions team in September last year.
In my role with KWM, I have been fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s largest companies, private equity firms and investors across both public and private M&A transactions and in a range of sectors and industries. I have also been involved in a number of high-profile, cross-border transactions.
While I no longer play tennis professionally, I am a member of the women’s State League team at Royal Kings Park Tennis Club and continue to compete in the State League competition during the summer season each year.
How did attending SIDE help me?
Completing my Year 11 and 12 WACE studies through SIDE provided me with an opportunity to learn in an autonomous but supported way. This learning style created an excellent foundation for me to build on during my tertiary studies at Murdoch University.
SIDE helped me develop the ability to study and work in a self-directed way and to take accountability for my work and deadlines from a young age. These skills were critical in assisting me with the transition from high school to university and continue to be essential in the management of my work as a lawyer at KWM today.