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Freeth Cartwright LLP 
Cumberland Court 80 Mount Street Nottingham NG1 6HH
Lex 100 winner
Favoured by 2 users (Register to add this entry to your favourites)

The trainee verdict

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The lowdown (in their own words...)


Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'I was already working at the firm when I applied - as I was already happy here I wanted to stay on to do the training contract'; 'reputation. Large regional firm. Range of work available'; 'quality of work and friendliness of staff'; 'work/life balance'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'The firm seems to offer a wide variety of good quality work, with trainees expected to take on as much responsibility as possible but always with close supervision'; 'more client contact. More deeply involved in work'; 'I get great responsibility and the work is top quality. I think our social life is pretty good compared to other firms too'

Best thing about the firm? 'The firm is large enough to be able to give good quality work with major clients, but small enough to know the majority of people, especially if you have the chance to work in more than one office'; 'work ethos. Friendly nature of colleagues'; 'the quality of work, training and the staff who work here (lawyers and support staff)' 

Worst thing about the firm? 'Lack of communication sometimes between different departments/teams, particularly across different offices, while you should be working together as a firm'; 'sometimes you can feel a bit forgotten because it's so large'; 'I do think that people (my superiors) could say thank you a bit more'

Best moment? 'Being asked to take client meetings on my own during one particular seat - I felt as though I was a really valued and a trusted member of the team'; 'seeing a corporate deal through to completion'; 'completing a £4m deal for a key client'; 'being involved with a very high-profile motor sport dispute'

Worst moment? 'Being asked to move offices at the start of a seat, which I was happy with, only to be moved again three weeks later due to a re-organisation within the office I'd been moved to'; 'three deadlines on the same Friday, meaning a week of long nights'; 'right at the beginning I felt so out of my depth I could have cried'



The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Freeth Cartwright now operates from five cities (Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Manchester and Birmingham), extending well beyond its East Midlands roots in terms of offices and recognition for practices such as the construction group. The corporate team has a strong track record in care sector acquisitions and financings, and the firm also has extensive experience in motorsport matters where clients include the Formula One Grand Prix Drivers' Association.


The star performers

Banking and finance; Commercial litigation; Commercial property; Construction; Corporate and commercial; Employment; Environment; Family; Insolvency and corporate recovery; IT; IP; Licensing; Personal injury and clinical negligence; Personal tax, trusts and probate; Planning; Private finance initiative; Professional negligence; Social housing; Sport.

The deals

Acted on £17m MBO of Cranswick Pet & Aquatics; advised Belle Group in its merger with French construction plant manufacturer Altrad; acted on £18.4m sale of Birchwood Group Holding Ltd; advising Balfour Beatty on the construction of the Olympic Aquatic Centre; advised on the promoter's contract for World Championship fight between Ricky Hatton and Juan Lazcano.

The clients

Aldi; Barratt Homes; Co-operative Bank; Derby City Council; Experian; Lafarge; Lloyds TSB Acquisition Finance; Mansell; Nottingham County Council; Network Rail; Norwest Holst.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2008: £33.5m (+8% from 2007) Profits per equity partner: £231,000 (+1%)


The Lex 100 verdict

'Large enough to be able to give good quality work with major clients, but small enough to know the majority of people' says one Freeth Cartwright trainee. This sounds like a good combination, especially if you like the sound of chunky deals with a good spread of private equity, sales and MBOs. Be prepared for a challenge - trainees speak of taking client meetings on their own and high levels of responsibility. You'll need to be confident to thrive and cope with the steep learning curve ('right at the beginning I felt so out of my depth I could have cried'). The upside is exciting work ('very high profile motor sport dispute') and the satisfaction of seeing deals through to completion. The firm operates out of five cities and as a trainee you'll get the chance to work in more than one office which many say is great for getting to know everyone. In common with other firms spread across the different regions, there are some complaints about a 'lack of communication sometimes between different departments/teams, particularly across different offices, while you should be working together as a firm'. However, others applaud the firm's expansionist strategy that's seen it grow from East Midlands roots into Manchester and Birmingham in the last couple of years. There are also positive reports of the social life and the friendly working atmosphere, making Freeths a good choice for ambitious individuals keen to make their mark in a firm where it 'never feels as though you are simply a number on the list'.

A day in the life of.....

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About the firm

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