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Financials 2022/23: Taylor Wessing sustains global growth for fifth year in a row

With the financial reporting season in full swing, Taylor Wessing has unveiled its latest results, becoming a €500m firm for the first time.

The firm experienced slower growth compared to the previous season, as it did not achieve double-digit growth as it did in 2021/2022. The firm saw a 4% increase in global revenue to £439m in this year’s financial results, up from £420.6m last year, which its highest recorded international revenue to date.

It witnessed a similar increase in UK revenue, which went up 4% to reach £227.1m, surpassing the figure of £219.3m reported for the 2021/2022 period.

UK profit, however, dropped by 12% from £93m to £87.1m, but it is still the second highest on record for the firm. The firm did not disclose some figures, but PEP is estimated to be £809,000 and RPL in excess of £500,000.

UK managing partner Shane Gleghorn (pictured) told Legal Business: ‘We’re delighted to see growth in both the UK business and international business. We’re very pleased we managed to maintain growth in those circumstances where the markets, certainly in the UK, were more muted in relation to fundraising and corporate work.’

Talking about the latest developments, he continued: ‘We’ve got big investment in our new premises in London, and we’ve moved into new premises in Cambridge and Dublin. There’s been quite a lot of lateral hiring and promotions taking place, particularly across London, Dubai and Dublin. We’ve been growing out our IP offering and broadly speaking, the plan is to create a holistic IP offering across Europe. We’ve started to implement that, and it has been a very significant point of investment for us.’

This year marked the launch of Taylor Wessing’s latest three-year strategy, following the introduction of its previous strategy in 2020, which Gleghorn said resulted in significant revenue growth in the UK, increasing from approximately £157m to over £227m, a growth rate of 44%. Additionally, global revenue also increased from around £365m to approximately £438m, a growth rate of over 20%.

Commenting on the fall in UK profit this year, Gleghorn said: ‘We do anticipate that the profit will improve next year, but it wasn’t an unexpected turn of events for the profit to be flat at this year. We anticipated that the market would be slower in some of our core areas. We are very confident about our profit position because, when you view it in the context of the preceding two years of growth, it is still the second-highest profit that we have ever earned.’

Discussing which practice areas had made the greater contribution, he continued: ‘It’s fair to say it was across the board contributions. In London, patents, private equity, private client, disputes work, and employment have all had strong years. Tech and life sciences have also had a strong year, but there’s no doubt that the second half of the financial year was more challenging for most firms who focus on that area.’

elisha.juttla@legalease.co.uk

This article first appeared on Legal Business.

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Financials 2022/23: HFW posts best-ever results

HFW has posted its best-ever financial results for the financial year 2022/23. After a slight dip of 1% to £198.7m in 2022, revenue climbed by more than 13% to £225.3m. Profit per equity partner and revenue per lawyer were up too: PEP rose by more than 17% to £786,000, while RPL hit £455,000.

In London revenue increased by 16%, accounting for about 40% of the firm’s total revenue. The most impressive increases around the world, meanwhile, were in the Middle East (32%) and Australia (24%).

Last year aside, these figures continue a strong upward trajectory for HFW, which has seen the firm grow its RPL almost 25% in four years, and its revenue more than 60% since 2015.

In conversation with Legal Business, the firm explained its success as the result of a strategy focused on broadening its international coverage and extending its offering in its core sectors of aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance, and shipping.

‘We’ve built up a good network’, said managing partner Jeremy Shebson (pictured). ‘We were building foundations, and now we’re looking to build on top of them.’

Senior partner Giles Kavanagh concurred. ‘We have a network of 20 offices around the world. The focus now is to build on the network, not to extend it further.’

That said, Kavanagh noted that the firm was not opposed to expanding into new areas ‘where there are good opportunities’. On this front, HFW recently received permission from China’s ministry of justice to open a representative office in Shenzhen. ‘It’s a very big commercial area’, explained Shebson. ‘The numbers are eye-watering, and the opportunities are considerable.’

In addition to the firm’s sector-focused international strategy, Shebson noted the importance of HFW’s strength in contentious work as a factor behind its continued growth in what he called a ‘difficult economic environment’. Results for 2023 showed the proportion of revenue generated by contentious matters held steady at around 70%.

Moving forwards, HFW intends to double down on its existing strengths. In Kavanagh’s words: ‘We are looking to attract laterals, teams, smaller law firms, and even something more ambitious than that.’

This approach has paid dividends over the last year: the firm reports ten lateral partner hires in 2022, and a further six in the first two months of this year.

As for that something more ambitious, Kavanagh was candid. ‘We’re open to discussions, not just with bolt-ons, but with larger-scale firms.’

Alexander.Ryan@legalbusiness.co.uk

This article first appeared on Legal Business

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‘A powerful position’: Youle succeeds Trivedi as Skadden London head

Rich Youle, Skadden’s much-admired co-head of private equity, has taken over from Pranav Trivedi as the head of Skadden’s London office.

Youle (pictured) took the helm on 1 July and will continue as global co-head of the firm’s private equity group alongside Ken Wolff in New York.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential dealmakers in the Square Mile, Youle joined Skadden from White & Case in 2017 amid much fanfare.

For his part, Trivedi has been at Skadden for 30 years and is widely held to have been a strategic and effective London leader throughout his ten years in the role.

Commenting on his appointment, Youle said: ‘I’m honoured to take over from Pranav, who has served the office so brilliantly during his tenure. As Skadden celebrates its 75th year anniversary and 35 years in London, with a new home in the City, it is an exciting time to reflect upon our growth. I’m looking forward to working with our talented team to build on that success.’

Trivedi added: ‘It has been such a pleasure to lead the London office for ten years. I’m proud to say that the office has grown exponentially, becoming one of the cornerstones of the firm’s global network. Rich’s impressive leadership capabilities, business acumen and deep understanding of the market, will undoubtedly continue to drive forward our success.’

Executive partner Eric Friedman concluded: ‘Pranav has served the London office with unwavering dedication and leaves it in a powerful position. Rich embodies our core values and has a proven track record of delivering outstanding results for clients and for his exemplary leadership skills. I know we are in good hands as he leads the London office into its next chapter.’

For more on Youle, read Legal Business’ 2018 Life during Law interview. 

nathalie.tidman@legalease.co.uk

This story first appeared on Legal Business

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Ince unable to pay creditors in full as administration draws to a close

Following their appointment as joint administrators for Ince on 28 April 2023, Andrew Hosking and Sean Bucknall of Quantuma Advisory have filed a statement of administrator’s proposal (the Quantuma proposal) at Companies House.

A pre-pack sale of Ince’s business and assets to Axiom Ince has now been completed. The Quantuma proposal states: ‘Of the total sale consideration of £2,200,000, £1,000,000 has been received to date and the remaining £1,200,000 will be collected as and when it falls due for payment.’

Ince owes secured creditors a total of £16,854,792 in banking debt at the date of the appointment of the joint administrators. This includes an estimated £15,000,000 debt owed to Investec Bank.

The firm does not have any preferential creditors. All its employers were TUPE transferred to Axiom Ince and there are therefore no preferential claims.

However, HMRC is a secondary preferential creditor and is expected to make a claim of around £15m. This includes liabilities for VAT, PAYE income tax, employees’ NIC, CIS deductions and student loan deductions. A Compass Evaluator report filed with the Quantuma proposal and commissioned by Tony Mead, a director at Axiom Ince, detailed the challenges faced by the beleaguered firm. It notes that while Ince had been hoping to find a solvent trade on solution, its considerable arrears with HMRC have proved challenging.

The directors of Ince had sought a time to pay agreement for the arrears to avoid administration but this was rejected by HRMC. ‘Enforcement action is imminent,’ according to the report. Additionally, the report highlights that the audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 are outstanding and ‘the shares have been suspended since 3 January 2023.’.

The total owed to creditors amounts to £41,188,082.40. The firm has accumulated a wide range of creditors during its troubles, including individuals, universities, law firms, and The Law Society.

The Quantuma proposal states ‘it is anticipated that there will be insufficient funds to pay a distribution to secondary preferential creditors in full or the unsecured creditors.’

To conclude the administration the remaining deferred consideration from the purchaser, amounting to £1,200,000, needs to be collected. The joint administrators will also need to discharge their statutory duty to investigate the affairs of Ince. The Quantuma Proposal states: ‘the administration is expected to conclude in c.30 months by exiting to dissolution.’

Holly.mckechnie@legalease.co.uk

This article first appeared on Legal Business

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The Implications of Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession (Winner of the Legal Article Writing Competition)

The article below was written by Julita Gajewska, winner of the Legal Article Writing Competition, run in conjunction with The University of Westminster Corporate Law Society.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a catalyst for transformative change across industries, with the legal sector undergoing its own revolutionary transformation. The integration of AI into legal practices is reshaping the legal landscape, introducing  a myriad of opportunities, challenges, and potential benefits in the sector. In this article, the narrative focuses on the implications of AI in the legal system, unravelling the current state of AI implementation and uncovering its potential for transformation.

The term ‘AI’ was coined by John McCarthy, although there is no universally accepted definition, as highlighted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The report ‘a pro-innovation approach to AI regulation’ has divided the term into two key characteristics: adaptivity and autonomy.

The integration of AI in the legal system provides numerous advantages that enhance efficiency, access to justice, and the general practice of law. By leveraging AI-powered tools, time-consuming processes can be streamlined, allowing legal professionals to work more efficiently and focus on more complex strategic matters. The positive impact of these technological developments is highlighted in ‘AI-assisted lawtech: its impact on law firms’, which showcases a model that promotes workplace efficiency and collaboration. Eurojust and eu-Lisa also reported similar benefits of AI, emphasising its ability to improve effectiveness and reduce costs, ultimately leading to increased access to justice. Particularly, administrative tasks, such as document review or due diligence, which currently consume a significant amount of energy for legal professionals, can be greatly aided by AI. Lawtech estimates that this boost in productivity could be worth up to $2.1 billion.

Conversely, there are potential challenges that occur with this technological transformation. In particular, there is a limited understanding of current AI methods, particularly in the legal sector. A recent case involving Steven Schwartz highlights the current lack of accuracy, as citing non-existent cases in court demonstrates the potential defects of AI. Nonetheless, PwC suggests that AI has the potential to improve accuracy by up to 80% in the near future.

The integration of AI in the legal system is poised to revolutionise the future of legal practice and redefine the delivery of legal services. While it is acknowledged in ‘AI-assisted lawtech: its impact on law firms’ that the traditional model may not change immediately, it is notable that an increasing number of companies are launching products to assist the legal profession and driving remarkable technological developments in the field. The investment in Lawtech is projected to reach $2.7 billion by 2026, highlighting the growing momentum and enthusiasm surrounding the integration of AI in the legal sector.

The integration of AI into the legal system represents a transformative shift in the practice of law. As AI technologies continue to advance, they offer numerous opportunities to enhance efficiency and improve access to justice. By acknowledging and addressing its potential challenges, the integration of AI in the legal system can be guided by a responsible and balanced approach.

Julita Gajewska

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‘An excellent foundation from which to build’: Clifford Chance appoints new office managing partner in New York

Less than two weeks after Clifford Chance revealed the opening of a new office in Houston, the firm has announced the appointment of long-time CC real estate lawyer Ness Cohen as managing partner for its New York office, while also continuing to serve as real estate practice leader of the Americas.

Speaking to Legal Business, Cohen said: ‘The firm decided that it would make sense to have a New York office manager generally, especially with New York being one of our largest offices and also with our growth ambitions in the US.’

Cohen said that regional managing partner for the Americas, Sharis Pozen, approached him and said many of his fellow partners put his name forward for the new role. Pozen is based in CC’s Washington office, although she will be in New York for one week a month.

‘We just had an offsite meeting in Philadelphia for the US partners, as well as our colleagues in São Paulo, mainly to talk about our overarching global strategy. The alignment between the two is very clear. The global strategy identifies, among other things, that the US is a focus area,’ Cohen explained.

Cohen started at New-York based Roger & Wells back in 1998. The following year, the firm merged with Clifford Chance and Pünder Volhard Weber & Axster in Germany in a three-way merger. ‘[It] was really ambitious. To do one merger is feat, imagine pulling off a three-way merger that brought together three best-in-class firms,’ he added.

He was promoted to CC partner in 2007 and his practice focuses on real estate private equity, joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions and financings involving real estate.

Earlier this month, the firm announced the opening of a new office in Houston, bolstering its global energy and infrastructure practice in the US.

‘Our entry into the Houston market is underway by an extremely appealing range of lateral candidates, which exemplifies the essence of our US strategy. The New York strategy is very similar, and we’ve brought in a fair number of laterals recently, integrating them into our office and the region,’ Cohen said.

‘There are some other ambitions that are underway with respect to potentially other locations. It’s safe to say that the firm as a whole sees the US as a region it can really achieve outsize growth.’

Cohen explained that the firm’s key focus areas are energy and infrastructure, technology, life sciences and healthcare, while it also seeks to build on other sectors.

‘We see our existing team as an excellent foundation from which to build further and grow out further. In other areas where the firm outside the US is extremely strong, we can use that and leverage it to build further. Houston is a good example of that.’

Cohen has also headed up the firm’s Personal Committee since 2011. He said ‘I really enjoy that role. It deals with everything, including our lawyers’ work-life balance. But that’s something that probably we’ll be looking to transition, since it wouldn’t make sense for me to keep that role with this.’

elisha.juttla@legalease.co.uk

This article first appeared on our sister publication Legal Business

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‘I want the firm to be more ambitious and more confident’: Stephenson Harwood rebounds with double-digit revenue growth

Stephenson Harwood has reported an 11% rise in turnover to £228m from £206m for 2022/23, the firm’s highest-ever revenue. It comes after the firm reported largely flat financials for the year 2021/22.

This time around, profit per equity partner (PEP) is up 6% to £725,000 from £685,000 in 2021/22. The firm has added 22 equity partners, with 11 lateral hires and 11 internal promotions over the last year, while four partners have retired from the partnership.

Speaking to Legal Business about the revenue increase and the firm’s ambitions Eifion Morris (pictured), the firm’s chief executive, highlighted its five-year strategy, which launched in May 2022 with the aim of doubling the firm’s turnover by 2027. Morris said: ‘We want growth, we want ambitious partners, and we want to grow in all sectors. If you want to double revenue in a short space of time, you need an active program of lateral hires. We have had a lot of radical change in a short period, and we are starting to see that pay off. This is not the endpoint but the start.’

The strategy will focus the business on five key sectors to increase profitable growth: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital and funds, technology, and transportation and trade. These were identified by the firm as sectors which will see strong growth and development over the next few years.

Stephenson Harwood also intends to maintain its 50-50 litigation-transactional balance. 50% of the firm’s revenue currently comes from disputes, which has always been a notable strength of the firm and several of its contentious practices are ranked in The Legal 500. This includes commodities disputes and pensions dispute resolution, which receive a top-tier ranking; commercial litigation: premium, and contentious trusts and probate, which are ranked tier two; and banking litigation: investment and retail, property litigation, and intellectual property patents (contentious) which are ranked in tier three.

The current revenue breakdown across the firm’s practice areas is finance 24%, commercial litigation 28%, corporate 21%, marine and international trade 12%, employment, pensions and private wealth 10% and real estate and projects 6%.

‘At the heart of our strategy is maintaining and leveraging the 50-50 litigation-transactional balance of the firm. This has been very important for maintaining growth, and we are a very well-hedged business,’ Morris said.

The firm has also been bedding in a new global leadership team as part of its ambitions moving forward. The team is 50% male and 50% female. Morris highlighted the importance of this: ‘With the new global leadership team, I wanted to encourage diversity of background so that the team would bring different ideas and life experience to the table. The team formed during Covid, and we have had to deal with a lot of difficult decisions, but this meant we formed a very strong team.’

Stephenson Harwood highlighted several key mandates for the year across its life sciences, dispute resolution, rail and road, and corporate practices, including advising Bicycle Therapeutics on its radiopharmaceuticals deal with Novartis to develop several oncology radioligand therapies. It also represented Trafigura in the Trafigura v Gupta case and advised on Abellio UK and Nederlandse Spoorwegen management buyout.

Other highlights include advising WindAcre Partnership on its part of the acquisition of Nielsen Holdings, valued at over $16bn and LXi REIT on its £773m debt refinancing.

Looking forward, Morris is committed to raising the firm’s profile. ‘I want the firm to be more ambitious, and more confident. One of our best clients told us that we were “the best law firm you’ve never heard of”. That is something I want to change,’ he said.

holly.mckechnie@legalease.co.uk

This article first appeared on our sister publication Legal Business.

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‘Our clients led us to Houston’: Clifford Chance launches energy-focused Texan office as part of US expansion plans

Clifford Chance has opened a new office in Houston, bolstering its global energy and infrastructure practice in the US.

The firm has hired seven Houston-based partners to join the office, including Jonathan Castelan and Trevor Lavelle, who both join from Latham & Watkins. However, at this stage, Clifford Chance was unable to confirm the names of the remaining five partners or the firms they are moving from.

The lateral hires will be joined by existing Clifford Chance partners Devika Kornbacher, Alexander Leff, and Anthony Giustini. Kornbacher is co-head of the firm’s technology group, while Leff is a renewable energy and infrastructure partner and Giustini is the senior partner for the firm’s worldwide projects group, co-leader of the energy transition initiative, and leader of its clean hydrogen task force.

Speaking to Legal Business about the Houston launch, regional managing partner for the Americas, Sharis Pozen said: ‘This play in Houston is all about extending our energy and infrastructure practice. We have a market-leading practice globally and the one piece of it that was missing was Houston and having a hub in the US for energy and infrastructure. So that’s what drove us to Houston.’

She added: ‘We have about 700 folks in total in the United States. We have almost 500 fee earners and 95 partners. So, we’ve been fortunate to be able to build a fantastic team in the US that’s very connected to the rest of our firm.’

The new office will primarily focus on energy and infrastructure, with the Texan location dictated by the needs of existing clients.

‘Our clients led us to Houston. Many of them are global clients headquartered in Houston and they are primarily energy and infrastructure clients. Houston right now is an incredibly dynamic marketplace. It is the fourth-largest city in the United States, one of the most diverse, and it’s really the hub of the energy transition,’ Pozen explained.  She added that she was hopeful that the Houston base would prove to be an attractive offering for new clients as well.

The launch has been several years in the making. Commenting on the process, Pozen said: ‘We’re discerning, and we play our own game. That’s who we are. So, we’ve watched other firms with some global reach go into Houston and watched the successes and those that haven’t been as successful, and we’ve learnt. In our world, there isn’t always that first-mover advantage. Often history shows that the person who sits back and watches goes in even stronger and better.’

Pozen also credited the reach and foresight of global managing partner Charles Adams as a driving force behind the office opening. The firm plans to expand the Houston office with more growth expected over the coming year, with the strategy for the next three to four years to remain on the lookout for new talent and continue to grow the team when it makes sense.

‘We will look to build out the team further for sure. That is the plan. It’s part of our plan to expand in the US generally, and we have been expanding in the US. We plan on continuing to strategically grow. We are not just a growth-for-growth’s-sake firm. We are a strategic grower and meticulous about our execution,’ Pozen added.

Currently, Clifford Chance’s Americas revenue makes up 13% of its global turnover. However, with the move into the Texan market, the firm is placing its bets on the energy transition sector as the route to breaking the US. As the magic circle firms consider their US expansion plans, the proposed Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merger will see another magic circle firm make headway in Texas, giving them access to offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston if the partner vote is passed.

Holly.mckechnie@legalease.co.uk

This article first appeared on Legal Business

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Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling announce merger

In what the firms describe as ‘the first fully integrated global elite law firm’ Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling have announced a planned merger to create a ‘unique global law firm’ named Allen Overy Shearman Sterling – A&O Shearman for short.

In a statement, the firms said: ‘This merger will combine two of the world’s most prestigious law firms, leaders in their respective markets, to create an integrated global elite firm.

‘Together A&O Shearman will have  3,900 lawyers and 800 Partners across 49 offices. Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling have 250 years of combined experience and some of the greatest legal talent in the world. A&O Shearman will be the only global firm with US law, English law, and local law capabilities in equal measure. This merger is driven by clients’ needs for a seamless global offering of the highest quality and depth to support them in navigating an increasingly complex legal, regulatory, and geopolitical environment.

‘Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling are complementary with distinct market leadership, and between them they have huge strength in the US, UK, and markets all across the globe. This merger will transform their offering to clients: Shearman & Sterling will gain access to a dramatically expanded ‘rest of the world’ offering across practice areas, and Allen & Overy will benefit from increased board-level recognition and expanded access to a corporate client base in the US. The combined firm will be perfectly positioned to capitalise on global macro trends including energy transition, technology, and private capital.’

Wim Dejonghe, senior partner at Allen & Overy, said: ‘This combination of two great firms is such an exciting step for us. Both firms have a history of excellence, and together we think A&O Shearman will be a firm unlike any other in the world. We have listened to our clients and their requests for the highest quality advice to help navigate the demands they face, and to do so in an integrated and globally consistent way. We, A&O Shearman, will do this by accelerating our ability to bring the best of both firms, regardless of geography.

‘Shearman & Sterling is an incredible group of legal minds; a firm built on integrity and excellence, founded like us in a premier global financial capital and with an extraordinary group of longstanding clients. What excites me about this merger is the complementary cultures of our two firms. We have striking similarities across the board, and I believe we are going to be wonderful partners to one another on this journey.’

Adam Hakki, senior partner at Shearman & Sterling, said: ‘Client need for global elite firms has never been greater. They are calling for integrated global legal solutions and advice: merging with Allen & Overy will dramatically accelerate our ability to meet their needs in an increasingly complex environment. Allen & Overy is an outstanding firm whose work we have long admired and thought of as a kindred spirit. We have both always placed great emphasis on attracting and retaining top talent, were early to globalise, and are relentlessly focused on quality, excellence, and collaboration.

‘This is truly a game-changing moment for both firms that will create an unparalleled offering for our clients. It is also a fantastic opportunity for our people to be part of a transformative transaction and an institution of such significance, and we look forward to recruiting even more stellar talent in the coming years.’

Lazard is serving as financial adviser and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is serving as legal counsel to A&O,  while Davis Polk & Wardwell is advising Shearman.

The proposed merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including a vote of the partners of each of the respective firms.

More detail can be found on www.announcingaoss.com, a site set up by the firms.

mark.mcateer@legalbusiness.co.uk

This article first appeared on Legal Business

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Pro Bono

In the legal industry, pro bono is the act of giving free legal advice to clients who may not otherwise be able to afford it.  

In the US, it’s long been common practice for law firms to practice pro bono alongside their paid legal work. In recent years pro bono has started to enjoy more prominence in UK law firms too. 

When researching firms, it’s definitely worth looking at a firm’s pro bono offering. Some firms will require all trainees to get involved in pro bono and others will even allow lawyers to include a certain amount of pro bono work within their billable hours. A commitment to pro bono can say a lot about a law firm’s ethos. 

But it’s important to remember that pro bono work will almost always come second to your billable work for fee-paying clients. So, while there’s nothing wrong with mentioning your interest in the firm’s pro bono work on your application form or at an interview, it shouldn’t be your main motivation for applying. Law firms are businesses after all! 

Each year we ask trainee solicitors to share their opinions on their firms’ pro bono offering. Below are some of the top responses this year. Click on a firm name to find out more.

 

‘The only target hours relate to pro bono work and there are regular emails offering opportunities: the whole firm is geared towards taking on pro bono work when things are quiet / you have capacity, without it being a distraction from other work if you are busy on client matters’ – Weil

‘Pro bono is heavily encouraged by the firm and there are so many projects to get involved with, so you can be sure you’ll find something that you’re passionate about. Even if there isn’t anything (unlikely!), the firm encourages all lawyers (as well as trainees) to form their own partnerships with organisations’ – Akin 

‘The firm is absolutely outstanding in terms of the availability of pro bono and CSR opportunities. There is an entire Responsible Business team which assists you to take part in any opportunity you wish to volunteer for. Sarah Farrelly, the Pro Bono Associate, is absolutely brilliant and she does exclusively pro bono work. If you are passionate about being involved in pro bono work during your TC I would strongly encourage CRS to be at the forefront of your mind’ Charles Russell Speechlys  

The pro bono work is amazing and, because we have no chargeable hour targets, its not seen as extra work but is treated as important as client work, which I gather is not the case in other firms. As a junior, you also get a lot of responsibility in running with pro-bono work which is great experience – Travers Smith 

‘Very good, we get involved with the Suffolk Law Centre for pro bono, and always fundraising for such charities as Access to Justice, Norfolk & Waveney Mind, Walking with the Wounded, Benjamin Foundation, etc’ – Birketts 

‘Amazing – the pro bono team in the firm and the advertising and accessibility to these projects is huge (with a dedicated pro bono trainee to assist in these matters)’ – Clifford Chance 

‘Excellent. Trainees are automatically enrolled to do two sessions per year at the Battersea Legal Advice Clinic. Then there are additional opportunities to get involved with pro bono/CSR, and fee earners get trainees involved with any department specific pro bono work’ – K&L Gates 

‘10/10 – I have been involved in some really incredible and interesting pro bono initiatives, often working in small teams directly with partners or senior associates. Pro bono is often some of the most challenging and rewarding work. A big shout-out to the firm’s dedicated pro bono counsel who are incredible’ – Morrison & Foerster 

‘Incredible. This is a subject that BCLP really care about and there is plenty to get involved with if you want’ – Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner