FIT Legal was founded by Edyta Kniżewska, a derivatives lawyer with extensive experience in the buy-side, sell-side, and private practice. After establishing her career in commercial litigation, Edyta discovered a specialized niche in trading agreements and derivative negotiations. She became a legal counsel and negotiator for Credit Suisse in the field of derivatives before moving to Man Group plc. Edyta’s expertise in banking and finance further advanced her career in the derivatives market.
With the aim of positively disrupting the collaboration between sell-side and buy-side participants, FIT Legal assists market players in navigating the complexities of trading relationships and derivatives documentation. They achieve this by providing structured and tailored solutions to negotiations, resulting in quicker time-to-market for their clients.
Breaking Barriers and Pursuing International Career
Edyta Kniżewska’s early life in Poland was shaped by hardworking and inspiring women in her family. Unwilling to conform to societal gender norms, she aimed for independence and a successful international career. After winning an international scholarship, she studied law in the UK and gained experience in Commercial Litigation. However, it was her discovery of a niche in trading agreements and derivatives that inspired her to focus on banking and finance, leading to a significant career growth.
A Boutique Legal Consultancy
FIT Legal, founded by Edyta and her business partner Neal Lodhia, is a boutique legal consultancy providing customized derivatives documentation and business consulting solutions globally. Edyta’s extensive experience in strategic launches, regulatory projects, and business transformations prepared her for this entrepreneurial venture. FIT Legal’s success prompted the launch of “Derivatives Lab” (DLAB), a pioneering online educational platform offering valuable knowledge about the legal aspects of the banking and finance industry. DLAB provides real-world strategies and insights to excel in the derivatives sector and the ISDA Lab course was successfully launched in October 2023, focusing on ISDA Master Agreement negotiations.
Continuous Growth as a Legal Consultant
Edyta’s journey of growth began during her childhood in Poland when she witnessed the fall of communism, inspiring her to see the world as full of possibilities and potential. As a legal consultant, she continues to challenge herself and her team to stay at the top of their game in the derivatives market, especially in their niche of trading agreements. They actively track regulatory and legal developments in the asset management sector and collaborate with industry experts to deepen their knowledge and expertise. Embracing new technologies like machine learning and AI helps FIT Legal deliver efficient and cost-effective solutions to their clients. Additionally, Edyta values the growth opportunity that comes from sharing knowledge through Derivatives Lab.
Balancing Roles Inside and Outside the Workplace
Edyta acknowledges the multiple roles she plays daily, both in her professional and personal life. She upholds the same values and principles in all areas. Caring and empathetic, she strives for progress rather than perfection. Treating others as she would like to be treated is an essential aspect of her character. She balances pragmatism and business acumen with passion and creativity. Constantly seeking personal development, Edyta is a professional member of Mindvalley and enrolled in a Negotiation Mastery course at Harvard Business School Online, aiming to enhance her negotiation skills for the benefit of her clients. Both FIT Legal and Derivatives Lab serve as platforms for her growth as a leader and legal counsel.
Role as the Founder
As the founder of FIT Legal, Edyta’s vision was born from her extensive experience in the legal, banking, and finance industry, coupled with her passion for providing tailored derivatives documentation and business consulting solutions globally. Being the founder comes with a great sense of responsibility, and Edyta takes pride in the consultancy’s growth into a globally recognized firm.
FIT Legal’s culture and values are deeply rooted in the people-oriented approach. The company, being family-run, prioritizes clients’ best interests and focuses on building long-lasting relationships.
“We have created a collaborative and innovative environment at FIT Legal, one that encourages autonomy and independence among our team of experienced consultants. This culture is central to our commitment to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge business and legal advice in a cost-efficient and remote-friendly manner,” says Edyta.
Overcoming Self-Limitations
While facing various challenges in her career, Edyta identifies her own limitations and discomforts as the most significant barrier to overcome.
Edyta says: “I believe that life starts at the edge of your comfort zone. Conquering my self-limiting beliefs and fears is a continuous learning process for me.”
Edyta seeks growth through the guidance of an exceptional business coach and strives to improve her mindset daily. By doing so, she ensures that she can provide her clients, students, business partners, and family with the best advice and approach.
The Joy of Being an Entrepreneur
As an entrepreneur, Edyta enjoys the freedom of structuring her daily routine. She emphasizes discipline, self-awareness, and multitasking skills but acknowledges the occasional distractions. To maintain a varied and challenging day, she includes diverse tasks for different clients and projects.
Reflecting on the happiest part of her daily routine, Edyta said:
“It has to be spending time with my son in the morning when we share joyful moments making pancakes, laughing, and playing together. This is such a precious time, and it allows me to start the day with a positive mind set, setting the tone for the rest of the day. I prioritizes physical well-being by going to the gym and taking morning walks for mental clarity.”
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is made easier because FIT Legal is a family-run business. Edyta works closely with her husband, sharing well-defined roles and responsibilities. They collaborate on projects, driving the company’s strategy together. This dynamic allows them to smoothly transition from business to personal life each day, fostering trust, respect, and care among their team and clients.
Attributes of a Successful Leader
Successful leadership is rooted in having the right mindset and understanding one’s purpose according to Edyta, who said:
“I am inspired by best-selling author, entrepreneur and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek’s belief that a genuine leader’s value is found not only in their own work, but also in the work they inspire others to accomplish. Teaching and assisting the next generation of lawyers and industry experts is an important component of leadership. People are the driving factor behind the success of any venture.”
Edyta’s dedication to leading the way for others in the field is apparent in her Derivatives Lab venture, where she provides coaching and mentoring to aspiring derivatives lawyers and graduates. She aims to share her unique insights and knowledge gained from years of experience in the financial services industry, giving back the support she received throughout her career.
Advice for the Next Generation of Solicitors
Given the variety of legal positions available, up and coming lawyers should be aware that finding the most suitable career path within the legal field may take time. Edyta underlines the necessity of being excited about one’s job path because life is a journey and satisfaction in one’s work is essential.
“The legal field is a dynamic and highly rewarding industry, but it is easy to get overwhelmed or fall into the trap of conventional rules that our society expects us to live by. Make sure you check in with yourself regularly to ensure that what you’re working hard on still corresponds with your core interests, passions and strengths,” says Edyta.
Her advice to budding lawyers is to not be afraid to try out new roles and get a diverse range of experiences and connections. Even if a role does not appear to be a perfect fit, it might nevertheless provide excellent learning opportunities and relationships.
Strong communication and client relations are vital in the legal sector. Networking and connecting with people in the industry are essential steps to gain insights and opportunities.
Edyta’s parting advice for the next generation of lawyers is to: “Stay true to yourself and follow your intuition. It may sound like a cliché, but remaining authentic and courageous in pursuing your goals is key to achieving success and fulfillment in your legal career.”
For those interested in the derivatives specialty, Edyta’s Derivatives Lab can provide valuable information about the industry and tips on negotiating trading documentation. Additionally, it offers a community of like-minded individuals on a similar path to success.
Addressing Gender Imbalance and Bias
Edyta highlights that while women lawyers constitute approximately 51% of the profession, they hold less than 32% of senior roles, indicating a gender imbalance in the legal sector. However, she sees this as an exciting time for women, especially in the asset management niche, where gender diversity is increasingly recognized as vital for success. Despite progress, the lack of women in top legal positions, particularly in corporate, banking, and finance sectors, remains a concern. Social bias, both conscious and unconscious, plays a significant role in hindering women’s advancement. Myths and stereotypes persist, affecting women’s opportunities and aspirations. Edyta acknowledges that biases cannot be entirely eradicated but emphasizes the importance of collective efforts to counteract them and promote equality.
Quote- “I believe that life starts at the edge of your comfort zone. Conquering my self-limiting beliefs and fears is a continuous learning process for me.”
