\documentclass[preview]{standalone} \providecommand\Vref{V_\ast} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{mathtools} \DeclarePairedDelimiter\paren{\lparen}{\rparen} \begin{document} \begin{equation*} \alpha(t) = \begin{cases*} \log\paren*{e^{\alpha_0-tV/L} + \Vref \frac{1 - e^{-tV/L}}V} &for the ageing law,\\ (e^{-\frac {tV}L} - 1) \log \frac V\Vref + \alpha_0 e^{-\frac {tV}L} &for the slip law. \end{cases*} \end{equation*} \end{document}