Lex 100 - Cobbetts LLP

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Cobbetts LLP

58 Mosley Street Manchester M2 3HZ

Favoured by 4 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? 'Its reputation for good-quality training'; 'the friendliness of everyone in the firm'; 'the feel of the firm at interview'; 'the five-seat rotation programme'; ' impressive clients'; 'reputation for being a top commercial firm'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'More responsibility'; 'training contract is well balanced'; 'the quality of work seems to be higher'; 'we have a very fair work/life balance'; 'we are seen as valuable fee-earners within a team'; ' there a numerous opportunities to be on committees'; 'fewer international opportunities'; 'a lot more exposure to high-end work'

Best thing about the firm? 'Work/life balance'; 'genuine sense of fraternity amongst all staff within the firm'; 'the drinks trolley on a Friday afternoon!'; 'big emphasis on trainee development'; 'extra-curricular activities within the community are encouraged'; 'good exposure to high-profile work and clients'

Worst thing about the firm? 'Communication around the firm can be a bit slow'; 'people who focus too much on their own trajectory within the firm'; 'our biscuits leave a lot to be desired'; 'it could be a lot busier at times'

Best moment? 'Exposure and involvement in a public markets transaction'; 'being recognised for my contribution and hard work'; 'running files of my own'; 'spending a seat undertaking the work of an NQ'; 'being told by my old team that I'd successfully processed the first freedom of information complaint with the ICO'

Worst moment? 'Post duty after a night out!'; 'quiet periods'; 'photocopying completion bundles until late evening'; 'losing work when the computer crashed'; 'a couple of late nights and early mornings'

The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Cobbetts has offices in Birmingham, Leeds, London and Manchester. The firm has a solid grounding in corporate and real estate, and is particularly notable for its strong public sector practice, advising on large-scale regeneration projects and increasingly winning work from NHS trusts and PCTs nationwide. Clients continue to enjoy a 'first-class service'.

The star performers

Banking litigation; Charities; Commercial litigation; Commercial property; Corporate and commercial; Debt recovery; Employment; Health; IP/IT; Insolvency and corporate recovery; Intellectual property; Licensing; Local government; Planning; Property litigation; Social housing.

The deals

Acted for the vendor in a substantial share sale breach of warranty claim; advised the board of directors of Powerfuel in connection with Europe's largest coal gasification non-carbon power station project, valued at £1bn; advised the Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust in relation to the future redevelopment of the Everyman and refurbishment of the Playhouse theatres; Premier Inn Stratford in respect of a new hotel in the Olympic zone.

The clients

Airplus International; Bank of Ireland; Countrywide Estate Agents; Cumberland Building Society; Dr Oetker (UK); EMIS Group; Investec Excel Industries; Mattioli Woods; Numis Investec Bank; the London University Purchasing Consortium.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2009: £43.6m (-10% from 2008) Profits per equity partner: £334,000 (+21%)

The Verdict

Cobbetts makes a good impression from the start with the 'atmosphere on assessment day' making it a popular choice. The Manchester-based firm is well regarded for its impressive client list and proficiency in areas including banking litigation, commercial litigation, intellectual property and charities. The training programme gives trainees a 'broad level of experience' and although recognised as a 'top commercial firm' the work/life balance is still very good, which is reflected in the score that it received. It also gets good scores also for job satisfaction ('I'm not stuck doing low-level work but get a reasonable amount of exposure to many different people in the firm and the areas of work they specialise in'), expectations of being kept on and client contact. It is also a Lex 100 Winner for friendliness ('the friendliness of the firm, which permeates all levels, is unique') and social life ('being sociable is encouraged as are extra-curricular activities within the community'). Quibbles centre around the lack of work to do at certain points throughout the recession and 'not knowing about the NQ process until later than other firms', as well as the requisite photocopying. However, one current trainee sums up the key points saying that the firm has a 'great reputation nationally, offers good exposure to high-profile work and clients, and continued emphasis on learning and development' - what more could you want?!