Lex 100 - Olswang

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Olswang

90 High Holborn London WC1V 6XX

Favoured by 8 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 attitude, friendliness and calibre and range of clients'; 'excellent array of clients in sectors that interest me (film, TV, music, sports, advertising, etc)'; 'everything that I had heard about the firm suggested that it would be a friendly place to work and that the quality of work was good'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'Quality of the work is better as trainees get more responsibility than those at MC firms'; 'my hours have been reasonable and I have had some good work, although a bit too much bundling'; 'people, especially the more senior ones, seem to be more approachable'; 'Olswang trainees are treated with more respect than is the norm'

Best thing about the firm? 'Perceived as meritocratic, friendly, no airs and graces; everyone on an equal footing'; 'friendly people and impressive clientele'; 'strength in media'; 'the client base and sector focus is excellent'; 'fashionable, in vogue, cool clients, edgy feel, new international outlook'

Worst thing about the firm? 'It's a bit obsessed with all things green'; 'the hours and workload in corporate'; 'I think that the seat move process could be more transparent'; 'competition for popular seats'; 'the hours can be needlessly long'

Best moment? 'Helping to agree a £70m settlement for our client at 1am a few days before the start of trial'; 'spending six weeks working from the offices of a major broadcaster client in a significant litigation matter'; 'going for drinks with a few of the associates, and being made welcome and included as an equal not just a trainee'

Worst moment? 'Getting to a client's office to have the suitcase full of documents I had carried across London signed to be told by the security guard that the lift was out of order'; 'being stuck in the office until 4am waiting to receive documents by email, then having to print everything and check they are all executed correctly in time to go home and be back in the office for 8am for completion of the deal'

The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Olswang is best known as a leading media firm, with strength across the entire TMT sector, excelling particularly in media and entertainment (with a practice spanning film, TV, music and publishing) and IT and telecoms. Corporate, finance and real estate are prominent too. Clients say the firm 'combines excellent technical knowledge with a consistent focus on commercial objectives'.

The star performers

Brand management; Commercial property; Corporate tax; Defamation and privacy; IT and telecoms; Intellectual property; Media and entertainment; Mergers and acquisitions; Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology; Sport; VAT and indirect tax.

The deals

Advised LSE-listed marketing services group Creston on the £28m sale of its advertising business, DLKW; advising Orange on outsourcing its fixed and broadband network to BT; advised Microsoft on the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360; advising on the establishment of Convergence Pharmaceuticals, which involved a $35.4m Series A financing.

The clients

Absolute Radio; BBC Worldwide; CSR; Channel 4; Channel 5; GSK; Guardian News & Media; ITV; Kymab; M&C Saatchi; Microsoft; Paddy Power; Sky; Stella McCartney; Tate & Lyle; The Wellcome Trust; Xerox; Yahoo!.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £91m (+2% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £422,000 (+20%)

The winners

Legal Business Awards 2011

Highly commended TMT team of the year.

The Verdict

'Its attitude, friendliness and calibre and range of clients' were the reasons given by a current trainee when asked the reason for applying to Olswang. For those looking to specialise in media and entertainment law this firm is up there with the very best with a 'strength in media law' and an 'excellent' array of clients in the creative sectors. Olswang is also known for its relaxed atmosphere, employing 'individuals with personalities' and you can expect to work in a 'meritocratic' environment where there are 'no airs and graces'. Training is 'of a more structured nature' than at some other firms and hours tend to be 'reasonable.' You will work closely with lawyers at different levels and there is a a real 'culture of respect'. Trainees feel that they are 'given a good quality of work and are challenged but supported'. The firm can be at times 'a bit obsessed with all things green' ('the green thing is appreciated - not having a desk bin can be a bit of a pain!') and be prepared for some gruelling hours when you do the corporate seat. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is also a lot of competition for the popular seats and some trainees feel that the system could be more transparent. However, with a 'unique' culture ('it has fashionable, in vogue, cool clients with an edgy feel and a new international outlook'), secondment opportunities and plenty of social events to get involved with, Olswang is a very attractive option for those wanting a more contemporary firm.