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Lewis Silkin LLP 
5 Chancery Lane Clifford's Inn London EC4A 1BL
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? 'Reputation in key areas such as employment and media'; 'they are (and look for) people with personality, rather than pen-pushers'; 'very few trainees for a firm of its size and we therefore get a lot of good quality work, attention and training'; 'fun and orange'; 'reputation for friendliness and a good work/life balance'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'It's better in some ways, eg client contact, but pressured given low number of trainees relative to size of firm overall'; 'I get to go home at a decent hour. I like everyone I work with'; 'I've always been given challenging and interesting work, sometimes that's ended up in the news'

Best thing about the firm? 'The other trainees - humorous and supportive. We keep each other sane'; 'I don't regard coming in to work as a chore - I can expect to have a good day most days'; 'The people. An eclectic bunch of big personalities with big hearts. Free lunch on Thursdays is also a bonus'; 'it really feels like I'm here to learn how to be a good associate' 

Worst thing about the firm? 'Trainee concerns over retention at the end of the training contract. It's by no means a given that you'll be kept on, even if you are good, which is a big trainee concern, especially given how keen trainees are to stay here'; 'perhaps it's a little too modest about how good it is'; 'queue for the shower in the morning when you cycle in'

Best moment? 'Going before a Master and successfully obtaining leave to serve out of the jurisdiction'; 'completing three deals in corporate in my last two weeks of the seat'; 'being the point of contact for a major client's media work, and receiving a bonus as a result'; 'helping advise a client regarding a complex European Works Council dispute'

Worst moment? 'Being so busy that you have to turn down great work in order to do a good job on all your other tasks'; 'finding out for the second time in a row that I didn't get my first choice of department on seat rotation'; 'not knowing whether I will stay on or not given the economic climate; 'working two weekends in a row'



The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Lewis Silkin is full service but with three areas of main focus - people, property and media. It has a leading advertising and general brand management practice, advising both agencies and advertisers, whilst in employment parades a team of 'real stars' who, clients say, are 'truly exceptional on all counts'. The firm also has a well-known social housing practice.


The star performers

Brand management; Commercial litigation; Commercial property; Construction; Education; Employment; Immigration: business; Intellectual Property; Media and entertainment; M&A: Lower mid-market, £50m-£250m; Partnership; Property litigation; Social housing.

The deals

Acted for Swiss banking group EFG International on acquisition of Marble Bar Asset Management; advised Bacardi Global Brands on a number of global marketing services framework agreements; acted for One Housing Group on its successful bid to provide affordable housing on 67 acres behind King's Cross; advising Ford on HR issues arising from the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover.

The clients

Bath Rugby; Haymarket; Hollister; Hutchinson 3G; MSHK, formerly Ministry of Sound; Pizza Express; Pret a Manger; Rio Tinto; Saatchi & Saatchi; Telegraph Media Group; Viacom Group.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2008: £29.4m (+17% from 2007) Profits per equity partner: £317,000 (+21%)

Highly commended Employment team of the year for being top-choice employment adviser to the legal profession.


The Lex 100 verdict

If you're looking for a City firm with a difference, Lewis Silkin is worth considering. This independently-minded outfit is 'different from the rest', largely because its values are taken seriously by all â - 'they actually live up to them and act on them'. A good choice for those looking for an unstuffy working environment, Lewis Silkin recruits 'people with personality, rather than pen-pushers' resulting in an 'eclectic bunch of big personalities with big hearts'. The firm's excellent reputation in the fields of media and employment are also big draws, as are its 'reputation for friendliness and good work/life balance'. Competition is stiff from the start â - the firm recruits a small number of trainees ('we therefore get a lot of good quality work, attention and training'), certain seats are very popular and 'given low number of trainees relative to size of firm overall' there's nowhere to hide and some feel the pressure. As qualification looms the atmosphere becomes tense, particularly because 'even if you're good it's by no means a given that you'll be kept on, which is a big trainee concern, especially given how keen trainees are to stay'. The same point has been raised by trainees here for the last couple of years and it's difficult to see how the firm can address it, and it certainly doesn't seem to affect the firm's popularity. And you can see why: 'I've never been left with no work or been made to write articles in partners' names; I've always been given challenging and interesting work' says one trainee, 'the firm really listens to us and there's no one-size-fits-all approach'. If you've got personality, think you can prove you've got what it takes and want something a bit different, take a look.

A day in the life of.....

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About the firm

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