The firm
Bircham Dyson Bell's thriving parliamentary practice is known for its 'excellent, informed and timely advice' and strength in depth. The firm's private client practice is 'brilliant at handling clients with complex problems', and particularly strong on cross-border problems involving France and Switzerland. The busy corporate team acted on 22 deals at an average of £13m during 2008.
The star performers
Administrative and public law; Agriculture and estates; Charities and not-for-profit; Commercial property; Contentious Trusts and Probate; Education; Environment; Healthcare; M&A: smaller deals up to £50m; Parliamentary; Personal tax, trusts and probate; Planning; Public affairs.
The deals
Advised Zyzygy and Marinetrack on its reverse into XSN Holdings and subsequent admission to AIM; represented the Association of Chief Police Officers in a judicial review; advising Metro on major transport project in West Yorkshire; advised London Underground on £500m Victoria Station redevelopment; acted for 3D Diagnostic Imaging Plc on £7m admission to the PLUS-quoted market.
The clients
AgeCare; Environment Agency; Esso; National Audit Office; National Farmers Union; National Grid; Thames Water; Transport for London; University College London.
The money
(from Legal Business magazine)
Turnover in 2008: £35.5m (+15% from 2007) Profits per equity partner: £283,000 (22%)
The Lex 100 verdict
Making a good impression, to continue a theme from last year, is something Bircham Dyson Bell takes very seriously as trainees still enthuse about the application process - 'very, very impressed with those who interviewed me; they were exactly the sort of people I wanted to work with'. The firm is also applauded for its diversity, the 'fact that it welcomes trainees from different backgrounds, most have had years out and worked in different fields', as well as its 'attitude towards trainees who had come to law later on in life'. Many are attracted by the outstanding reputation in parliamentary and public affairs work (the firm has a long history of dealing with government and parliament), and there are plenty of opportunities for trainees to attend public inquiries, with one 'working in the House of Lords on a major project issue'. There is much more on offer too with strength in employment, private client and 'niche practice areas meaning that the trainees are experiencing interesting areas of law'. Work/life balance is pretty good ('not as many late nights but equal amount of experience dealing with major clients') and responsibility too ('running my own employment file from scratch'). Expectations can be high ('told that if the work I'm doing goes well we should get lots more of it and if it doesn't we will potentially lose a large client'), but colleagues are friendly and supportive. Some find the firm rather traditional and 'a bit behind the curve at times', but its open-minded recruitment policy makes it sound pretty far-sighted to us: 'many lawyers here have different interests and backgrounds. It adds another dimension when you are working with someone who used to be a teacher or a musician'. Hear, hear.