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Olswang 
90 High Holborn London WC1V 6XX
Lex 100 winner
Favoured by 8 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? 'Wanted to work in a mid-market firm in the areas Olswang practises in and I was attracted to the branding and image of the firm'; 'in Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for'; 'it was the only firm that jumped out as combining size and power with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere'; 'reputation for top-drawer media commercial work, coupled with outgoing and entrepreneurial approach to the law'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'More relaxed. Treated like normal people. People are happy for you to do what you like as long as you get your work done'; 'more client contact and responsibility from the very first day'; 'compares well. Seems more meritocratic'; 'I would not swap working at Olswang with a single one of my friends'

Best thing about the firm? 'The people. Almost everyone is friendly and informal but still very good at what they do'; 'the office is fantastic. Really well equipped, spacious and with large breakout areas in the centre of each floor'; 'the quality of its clients/the quality of the people at the firm (socially and from a learning perspective)'; 'open, friendly culture' 

Worst thing about the firm? 'High expectations of trainees, and everyone wants to do media!'; 'the quality of the cookies seems to be deteriorating, the lack of seats abroad'; 'despite its sexiness, it's still essentially a law firm (and not a beach in Acapulco)'; 'some departments are quite 'cliquey''; 'trainees rarely get all of their preferred seats'

Best moment? 'Hearing that a senior partner had mentioned about being impressed with my work on a particular deal'; 'winning two unlikely cases and knowing that my work had contributed'; 'being part of a team working on a film transaction'; 'pro bono work - especially Whitechapel mission'

Worst moment? 'Proof reading for three days straight'; 'sending a client's documents to the wrong law firm and spending the night thinking I'd walk in the next morning to my P45'; 'being stuck working ridiculously long hours day after day'



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 (where the London Olympic Committee is a major client). Corporate, finance and real estate are prominent too.


The star performers

Top-ranking departments according to The Legal 500*Commercial property; Media and entertainment;Corporate tax; Mergers and acquisitions;Defamation and privacy; Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology;IT and telecoms; VAT and indirect tax.Intellectual property;

The deals

Advising on the 'Project Kangaroo' joint venture with Channel 4 and ITV, conceived as an industry-defining video-on-demand service; defending Winterthur Holdings against a £50m fraudulent misrepresentation claim brought by RBS; acting for Johnson & Johnson in a complex trademark infringement claim; advised Celador on Slumdog Millionare; advised BBC Worldwide on its video-on-demand (VOD) services.

The clients

Beattie McGuiness Bungay; Red Brick Road; Eurosport; FIFA; Fulham FC; GSK; The Guardian; ICC; LOCOG; M&C Saatchi; Orange; RFU; Setanta; Telstra; Tottenham Hotspur FC; Wake Forest University.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2008: £92.9m (+12% from 2007) Profits per equity partner: £520,000 (-7%)

Winner - TMT team of the year Highly commended - Competition team of the year.


The Lex 100 verdict

Olswang is well known for its appearance in lists of 'best places to work'. The firm's expertise in media and the 'cool' client base, plus the friendly reputation and ambitious and forward-thinking approach, also attract many candidates. The size of the firm and the trainee intake were important to those who wanted a 'powerful' firm, but an opportunity to get stuck into hands-on work and the chance to stand out from the crowd - 'not always possible as one of hundreds of trainees in City firms'. Trainees praise the 'meritocratic, relaxed and open attitude that permeates everyone at the firm'. Olswang is a Lex 100 Winner in the 'friendliness' category and the people are described as 'welcoming, friendly and informal, but still professional and very good at what they do', the training is good with plenty of feedback and 'you feel appreciated as an individual'. Trainees compare their experiences very favourably with peers at other firms - 'I wouldn't swap working at Olswang with a single one of my friends'. On the downside there seems to be hot competition for the most popular seats, some departments can be 'quite cliquey' and there is a 'lack of international opportunities'. These niggles aside, Olswang remains a top choice for ambitious candidates looking for a commercial, entrepreneurial firm with thorough training, great clients and a relaxed atmosphere. And any firm appearing as a Lex 100 Winner in the 'confident of being kept on' category in this climate must be doing something right.

A day in the life of.....

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About the firm

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