Lex 100 - Charles Russell LLP

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Charles Russell LLP

5 Fleet Place, London EC4M 7RD

Favoured by 10 users (Register to add this entry to your favourites)

The trainee verdict

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'The people seemed very friendly and down to earth'; 'work/life balance'; ' wide variety of practice areas'; ' I could experience family and private client law whilst being at a City firm'; 'good reputation'; 'wanted to work in a regional firm with London links'; 'offers the full spread of legal work and prides itself on creating a friendly, well-balanced working environment'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'Invaluable full induction during the first two weeks'; 'more varied and interesting in terms of the work done'; 'responsibility for 'real files' straight away'; 'extremely well'; 'range of secondments is good'; 'a supportive and relaxed training environment is offered'; more client contact'

Best thing about the firm? 'The quality of the work'; 'the people'; 'everyone is very approachable'; 'there are no egos, and doors are always open'; 'the environment'; 'broad range of work'; 'excellent work/life balance'; 'approachability of supervisors and associates'

Worst thing about the firm? 'It is difficult to plan regular events with the trainees in the other offices'; 'corporate is a required seat'; 'seat moves tend to be notified on very short notice compared to other firms'; 'the hours in corporate'; 'would be nice if there were more cross-department and cross-office social events'; 'great deal of competition for seats in the smaller departments'

Best moment? 'Attending a final hearing for a Leave to Remove case and watching the witnesses being cross-examined'; 'my first solo meeting with a client'; 'attending an appeal at the Privy Council'; 'gearing up to and attending a highly-charged and very lengthy mediation'; 'seat abroad in our Bahrain office'; 'the Christmas Party'

Worst moment? 'Settling in to my first seat and getting to grips with life as a trainee'; 'working really long hours'; 'three days in court writing a verbatim note of the proceedings'; 'weekend of trial bundling'; 'day after the Christmas Party!'

The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Charles Russell has one of the most highly-regarded private client practices in the country, with an increasingly international client base. By no means limited to this area, the firm is also recommended for media and entertainment and, in the corporate arena, has a strong AIM practice. Outside London the firm has offices in the South West, South East and East Anglia, plus the Middle East and Geneva.

The star performers

Agriculture and estates; Charities and not-for-profit; Clinical negligence; Commercial litigation; Commercial property; Construction; Education; Employment; Family; Heritage property; Flotations: small and mid-cap; IP; IT and telecoms; Insurance; Media and entertainment; M&A (smaller deals up to £50m); Personal tax, trusts and probate; Property litigation; Social housing; Sport.

The deals

Advising Origo Partners on a $30m placing and a $60m placing and listing on AIM; acting for Mwana Africa on two cash placings totalling £16.8m; represented MMI Research in a High Court patent claim; advised BSkyB on a format claim relating to Sky One's music show Must Be The Music.

The clients

Actis; the Government of the Bahamas; the British Computer Society; Centamin Egypt; Channel Four; Exillion Energy; the FA; Manchester United FC; Miniclip; the London Philharmonic Orchestra; RFU; Wagamama; Zeus Private Equity

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £63.2m (-9% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £265,000 (+12%)

The Verdict

If you are looking to work for a firm which 'offers a spread of legal work' and 'prides itself on creating a friendly, well-balanced working environment' then Charles Russell should be a serious contender. With a good score for friendliness, trainees are drawn to the fact that it is a 'City firm with an excellent reputation, but you can be based outside London', (it has UK offices in London, Guildford, Cheltenham, Cambridge and Oxford). Another plus is that 'there are no egos' , and doors are 'always open'. The training programme offers a 'broad range of seats', including a chance to work in the firm's Bahrain office, and gives trainees the option to 'sample non-corporate work' such as family and private client, for which the firm has an excellent reputation. Current trainees feel they are given 'a better level of responsibility and exposure to clients' than peers at other firms and 'the range of secondments is good'. A caring employer, trainees appreciate that 'additional time spent in the office is noted and appreciated' always with thanks and occasionally with a bottle of champagne! Be aware that 'corporate is a required seat' and that 'there is a great deal of competition for seats in the smaller departments like family and employment' (and also for jobs). Also there are some grumbles about pay. However, for a long-established, quality firm with an enticing array of both practice areas and locations, Charles Russell has much to commend it.