Andrew Lawrence Greystoke – A Legal Luminary Reflects on a Storied Career

Andrew Lawrence Greystoke, a seasoned solicitor and member of the New York Bar, boasts an impressive career spanning over four decades.

Initially trained as a barrister, Andrew Lawrence Greystoke transitioned to corporate law, making significant strides at NM Rothschild & Sons Limited before taking on senior roles in various banks and financial institutions.

Among his notable achievements, Andrew managed a London merchant bank and oversaw operations at First National Bank of Chicago, then the world’s 8th largest bank.

His contributions to the legal field extend beyond practice; he served as a Westminster Councillor for eight years and co-authored a standard textbook on takeovers and mergers with Sir Blank and Sir Weinberg. Currently, as a director at Pantheon International Advisors Limited, Andrew Lawrence Greystoke provides strategic development advice, supporting the growth of emerging companies domestically and internationally. His professional journey is marked by a blend of legal acumen and an unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of legal professionals.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in your chosen field?

I originally intended to study medicine at Trinity College, Cambridge, but decided I didn’t like the timetable. So, I discussed it with my tutor, who advised that since I was useless, I had better change to law. I did that, and having been qualified for nearly 60 years as first a barrister and then later a solicitor, I have loved every minute of it. I was fortunate to be a pupil of Lord Slynn, one of England’s finest judges. My wife and I moved to New York in about 1968, and while there, I qualified as a New York attorney, which I have remained in good standing with ever since, although I no longer practice.

Can you share a defining moment that shaped your career?

At the end of my studies at Cambridge, where I obtained a double first-class honors degree in law, I was awarded the Joseph Hodges Choate Fellowship, a personal appointment by the Master of Trinity College Cambridge, Lord Adrian, which gave me the right of entry to Harvard, where I studied for an LL.M. My B.A. from Cambridge became an M.A. I met my wife, an American mathematician from a family of mathematicians, while washing up at an event at Harvard. We were together for 60 happy years, married for 54, and have six children and 13 grandchildren—an important part of the fabric of my life.

What advice would you give your younger self?

As to advice to my younger self, I would cite—as I do frequently to my colleagues and trainees—Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls: “If someone bet me a hundred dollars that an elf would get up and piss in my ear, I would prepare for a wet ear.” I have lived through several international crises, all of which have nearly destroyed my professional life. The first was the oil crisis of 1972, when I was living in New York in a three-bedroom penthouse on Sutton Place, where I was very wealthy on Sunday night and unable to pay the maintenance on Monday.

That was followed by the crashes of 1987, 2008, and COVID. My wife and I survived it all and continued to have and love children through her indomitable spirit and hard work. So, be careful, and also be careful what you want because you may get it. I was also bankrupt by Lloyd’s of London, a financial scandal that led to hundreds of middle-class bankruptcies. My second bankruptcy was due to the FCA destroying my law firm, Atlantic Law, which had operated successfully for nearly 10 years and could not pay the FCA fine, as the FCA well knew. There has never been any criticism of my conduct during the bankruptcy.

What personal or professional achievements are you most proud of?

I am very proud of having trained 27 lawyers over the years. Many of them occupy very senior positions in major international law firms, investment banks, and the business world. Within the last two years, three of my colleagues have qualified. As far as I am aware, there has never been any criticism of any of them professionally, and they all uphold the high professional, ethical, and moral standards that they learned with and from me.

How do you manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance to ensure overall well-being?

I travel extensively to work with our predominantly international clients, and I enjoy it. I have had the same personal trainer for 27 years, who comes to the house (where I have lived for 45 years) twice a week. My family is scattered throughout the world (four in the U.S.), and I need to visit them and ideally share holidays, new places, and new experiences with them, particularly the grandchildren whose ages range from 4 to 16.

How do you define success?

The ability to wake up in the morning looking forward to a full day of professional challenge and personal fulfillment. I choose my colleagues carefully. We have a pleasant office near Baker Street in London in a Georgian building, work hard, and eat a lot of lunch! The team is six, and we work as a team. I also like to live to a certain high standard, drive a Porsche 911 cabriolet, and travel well. As noted, I have lived in the same house for many years. It is in Hampstead, with a garden, a dog, and two cats (but, alas, recently without my late wife). I go to the opera frequently—both the Royal Opera House and Country House operas in the summer—as well as ballet and theater.

Who is the one entrepreneur or business leader that you consider to be your greatest example and inspiration? Why?

I have worked for several important and charismatic individuals. The finest human being I ever worked for was Governor Stassen (I worked for him in the summer after Harvard). He was the former Governor of Minnesota (at that time the youngest ever), and having fought in the war, he tried frequently to become president. He taught me to tip before service—not after!

I also worked for Gerald Ronson, one of our most successful property developers, but not for long. I went to the U.S. in 1968 as SVP for Slater Walker. Jim Slater was a genius who invented successful asset stripping. He had a pile of folders marked “Wait until the chairman dies.” I became a director of an NYSE company at the age of 30, but unfortunately, the oil crisis destroyed the company. He had extraordinary attention to detail while never losing sight of the big picture. His biggest mistake was not to follow my advice. and buy Kapalua Beach on Maui before it is developed. He was loyal to his colleagues, who were loyal to him.

Are there any charitable organizations or community service-oriented activities that you are involved in?

We support several music companies, including country house opera—often small and poor companies—as well as a range of Jewish charities. We are somewhat observant but not religious, although the ritual is important and was very important when my wife recently died unexpectedly. Her absence has dramatically changed my life for the worse. My mantra is that we had 60 happy years together, and she died very peacefully. My second mantra is that Chapter 1 is over and Chapter 2 is beginning, although I do need to recognize that I am 82.

Please tell us an inspirational, uplifting story about a time you helped change someone’s life, or someone helped change your life and made a difference.

As noted, I trained several lawyers. One, Veronika, came to work for me as a receptionist, age 18 or 19, from Slovakia. She told me she wanted to become a lawyer, and I told her not to be so stupid. Eight years later, still working with me, she qualified and is one of the best commercial lawyers I know, practicing as in-house counsel to a major life science company.

Thank you, Andrew Lawrence Greystoke, for taking the time to share your insights and experiences. Your contributions to the legal field and the training of future lawyers have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the profession.