User Login

Bond Pearce LLP 
3 Temple Quay Temple Back Bristol BS1 6DZ
Lex 100 winner
Favoured by 2 users (Register to add this entry to your favourites)

The trainee verdict

image


The lowdown (in their own words...)


Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'It's a big firm in the South West which handles a lot of well-known clients and has a range of modern, diverse practice areas such as energy and retail'; 'based in nice parts of the country, but doing the same work as City firms. Rare in that respect'; 'friendliness of the firm and the relaxed atmosphere'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'I appreciate that the quality of work I'm given is quite high and I've been given a decent amount of responsibility quite early on'; 'friends elsewhere enjoying their training contracts less than me'; 'the friendliness of all staff helps set the firm apart'; 'large investment in quality training'

Best thing about the firm? 'The quality of lawyers and clients'; 'approachability of other staff, level of support and assistance'; 'dealing with large national and international companies whilst based in the West County, not forgetting the sea view'; 'the opening of an Aberdeen office proved a shrewd move, strengthening our energy sector'; 'friendly, sociable atmosphere' 

Worst thing about the firm? 'Need to improve the interaction between the offices'; 'the pay is good for the local market, but not in comparison to the firms we like to compare ourselves to'; 'not being flexible about moving trainees between offices'; 'being stuck out on a limb slightly. I think we could do with a larger presence in the capital'

Best moment? 'Handling a transaction from start to finish'; 'client secondment'; 'being told a defence I'd drafted was an equivalent standard to Counsel'; 'being encouraged to set up the office football team'; 'attending court on a high-profile criminal case'; 'co-ordinating completion on a multi-jurisdictional banking deal'

Worst moment? 'Stuck in traffic jam en route to a hearing'; 'proof reading'; 'property training sessions via video-link are notoriously grim'; 'news of redundancies'; 'refereeing staff football tournament: people got a little competitive!'; 'taking on too much on a particular transaction, which proved very complicated'; 'compiling a monster of a bible'



The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Bond Pearce LLP is a heavyweight in the South West and South East through its offices in Bristol, Plymouth and Southampton. The Aberdeen office (opened in 2007) represented an interesting development for this expanding firm; it counts more than 50 energy companies as clients. Bond Pearce is also recognised nationally for strength in health and safety and professional negligence, with an enviable client base that includes QBE, AIG and Zurich Professional. The strong corporate team has a number of plc clients who find the firm 'both technically very good and commercially aware'.


The star performers

Aviation; Banking and finance; Commercial litigation; Commercial property; Corporate and commercial; Debt recovery; Education; Employment; Energy; Environment; EU and competition; Health and safety; Insolvency and corporate recovery; Intellectual property; Licensing; Oil and gas; Pensions; Personal injury; Planning; Professional negligence; Property litigation.

The deals

Advised Virgin Vie on MBO from Virgin Group; acting for the shareholders £20m sale of Allen & Heath Holdings Limited to D&M Inc; represented Orecon Limited in £12m private equity investment; advised Barclays on the funding of £50m MBO of the IPL Group; acting for the Ministry of Defence on the Newquay Airport transfer; advised Tullow Oil on £210m sale of its Hewett Bacton interests; advising the University of Southampton on the potential relocation of Lloyd's Register.

The clients

Bristol City Council; Environment Agency; Gala Coral Group; Hilton UK Hotels Limited; HSBC; Hutchison 3G; Kingfisher plc; Marks & Spencer; npower Renewables; Post Office and Royal Mail; Sainsburys.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2008: £48m (+10% from 2007) Profits per equity partner: £231,000 (+54%)


The Lex 100 verdict

If you've got your sights set on a regional firm that's very much a player on the national stage, Bond Pearce could be a top choice. This quietly confident firm advises a range of great clients and has some well-known areas of expertise, notably in the retail, energy and property sectors. A Lex 100 Winner for the overall quality of work, the trainees have plenty of positive feedback. 'The quality of work and the responsibility given to us immediately was very impressive' notes one, another gets a kick out of 'dealing with large national and international companies, whilst being based in the West Country, not to forget the sea view'. Work experiences are diverse, ranging from a high-profile criminal case to 'overseeing and co-ordinating completion on a multi-jurisdictional banking deal'. Client secondments are also available. As last year, the main annoyance concerns the spread of offices making socialising with other trainees difficult and hindering general communication. That said, one trainee comments that 'most of the gripes that trainees had on my joining are being addressed in a positive way. In fact, that's another strength: trainees' views are listened to and valued and a regular forum is held for this specific purpose'. Several trainees would like to see the firm raising its profile ('doesn't have the reputation it deserves'; 'doesn't shout about itself nearly enough'), but the softly, softly approach seems to be serving Bond Pearce well. A great choice for those seeking a firm with regional market leadership, an ambitious strategic plan and quality work to boot.

A day in the life of.....

Sorry, this firm has not supplied this information.




About the firm

Sorry, this firm has not supplied this information.