Lex 100 - Geldards LLP

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Geldards LLP

Dumfries House Dumfries Place Cardiff CF10 3ZF

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The trainee verdict

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'I wanted to stay in Cardiff'; 'Geldards LLP offers the best training contract in the area'; 'enjoyed the vacation scheme'; 'Welsh high-profile work'; 'everyone is extremely friendly and trainees' opinions are valued'; 'reputation in the local area'; 'size of firm'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'You don't get as much say in what seats you do'; 'we have a better work/life balance'; 'trainees here are treated as part of the team'; 'great variety of work and responsibility'

Best thing about the firm? 'Openness about the finances of the firm and whether targets are being hit'; 'everyone is absolutely lovely'; 'good-quality work with quality lawyers'

Worst thing about the firm? 'Too top heavy with fewer junior lawyers at the firm'; 'the social life'; 'doesn't publicise itself enough'

Best moment? 'Completing a matter which our client had said had to happen before Christmas minutes before the solicitors on the other side closed their offices for the Christmas period'; 'client exposure'

Worst moment? 'Making an obvious administrative error'; 'page turning a document whilst listening to the music from a client event which was being held in the offices that evening'

The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Geldards is an impressive heavyweight firm in Wales and beyond, with clients saying 'it compares well with larger City-based firms'. The firm is well known for its commercial expertise, particularly in property law, and has strengths in media and public sector work. Other strengths include corporate finance, employment, planning, and private client (including charities).

The star performers

Banking and finance; Charities and not-for-profit; Commercial litigation; Commercial property; Corporate and commercial; Corporate tax; Crime, fraud and licensing; Employment; Information technology; Intellectual property; Media and entertainment; Pensions; Personal tax, trusts and probate; Planning and environment; Property litigation; Public sector.

The deals

Advised on the £127.5m takeover of AIM-listed company Castle Support Services; advises Finance Wales on investments; assisted on a share restructuring and related issues for Allparts Automotive; advised on property-related tax issues in relation to a private client investment; led a successful defence in English proceedings in an ongoing international alleged fraud and bribery case; acted on Lloyds' £20m acquisition funding for Brains Brewery, and Barclays Bank's £50m lending to the WRU; recently saw a £6.5m brain injury settlement claim approved at the High Court.

The clients

Age Cymru; Atlantic Property; Bayer CropScience; Cardiff University; Chevron; Grant Thornton; Mouchel; the Arts Council for Wales; the Assembly Government; Welsh Water; Wrexham Council.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £21m (-7% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £227,000 (0%)

The Verdict

Geldards has a reputation for handling 'high-profile' work and also for offering 'the best training contract in the area'. The 'extremely friendly' firm is a Lex 100 Winner for manageable stress levels and client contact ('we get really good client exposure compared to our peers'). Expect to receive a lot of responsibility and in return you will be treated as 'part of the team'. Current trainees appreciate the supportive and welcoming staff and also say communication is good and they are always kept in the loop ('the firm is open about its finances and whether targets are being hit'). There will be the odd late night but it's certainly more the exception than the rule and the firm scores well in the work/life balance category and for job satisfaction. Trainees would like more social activities to be organised and feel that it is quite 'top heavy' ('few junior lawyers') but perhaps that's good news for ambitious types wanting to make their mark here. Geldards offers excellent training, a good reputation and first-class quality of work; as one current trainee says, it is a 'great firm to work for'.