Decision Day

I've decided.

Today was the last round of talks with my boss. It all ended very amicably.

I'm going to Shell with his blessing.

I resigned with immediate effect but have a 3-month notice period. Unfortunately, I won't be asked to go on gardening leave. I wish I was. I could do with a 3-month paid holiday.

There are a few more administrative details to clear with Shell but these shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I told some of my colleagues today but my boss won't make an official announcement to my division until Friday but I've already told my assistant. She deserves to know in advance of the official announcement. My going won't put her job at risk so I don't feel bad about going.

Judging by the reaction of those who'd been told today, it will come as something of a surprise once word gets around completely.

I was planning to relocate to London in September but now that will have to be put on hold. I don't know how long for. A big part of my life is still in London and it's still very much the a home away from home, in addition to Sydney. This also means that I'll also need to "unwind" a lot of the plans which I was making in connection with the relocation, including flight bookings. Friends have been expecting me back will also have to be told, ideally before my next trip to London in July.

I was speaking to a friend who works in Bangkok after I officially resigned today and told her that I'd mixed feelings about it. I wasn't sad to leave but was rather apprehensive about the new job. I don't really know what I'm in for. I've been told in general terms that I'll be looking after the trading and chartering business which I can do but I don't know how much support, in terms of resources, I'll have to do the job.

As far as I can tell, Shell employs a team of 650 in-house lawyers in 65 countries worldwide, of which I am 1 out of 11 in Singapore. In terms of global legal expertise, that makes Shell as big, if not bigger than many of the global private legal practices. What that translates into when I start working for Shell remains to be seen.