Lex 100 - Payne Hicks Beach

Main Menu

User Login

Payne Hicks Beach

10 New Square Lincoln's Inn London WC2A 3QG

Favoured by 2 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? 'Excellent reputation'; 'quality of work'; 'friendliness'; 'training'; 'compared to the big corporate firms much better work/life balance'; 'nicer people'; 'it prides itself on being a 'nice' firm'; 'no room for aggressive types'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'The reputation of the firm's matrimonial and private client departments'; 'smaller firms give better and more interesting training'; 'the clients here are very interesting'; 'fantastic reputation for family law'; 'the quality of work'; 'it seemed to offer a high quality of work yet at a medium-sized friendly firm'

Best thing about the firm? 'Its unique (if slightly out dated) ambience (and incredibly friendly and helpful employees)'; 'there is much more involvement with clients and cases here than at other firms'; 'great quality work'; 'good location'; 'friendly atmosphere;'; 'always people around to answer queries'

Worst thing about the firm? 'The firm is based in a number of buildings and this can reduce the amount of contact trainees have with other members of the firm'; 'sometimes partners assume that you have no other work to do and try to monopolise your time'

Best moment? 'Liaising with celebrity clients'; 'going to court (by myself) - on my second day'; 'helping with an out-of-hours injunction last thing on a friday night'

Worst moment? 'There are occasions when you can feel a little isolated'; 'I've been the last person in the office a couple of times'

The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Established in 1730, 'first-class outfit' Payne Hicks Beach combines traditional values with a forward-looking approach and an impressive client list. Its commanding position in private client and family law is complemented by a good reputation for dispute resolution, commercial property and employment. The firm offers other niche expertise in areas such as education and the hotels sector.

The star performers

Administrative and public law; Agriculture and estates; Charities; Commercial property; Education; Family; Heritage property; Personal tax, trusts and probate.

The deals

Advising a number of ecclesiastical and private grant-making charitable trusts on charity issues; advising private schools on property matters, admissions and exclusions; handling high-profile divorce cases.

The clients

Ecclesiastical and private grant-making charitable trusts; high-profile and high-net-worth individuals; hotels; landed estates; private schools; public and private companies.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £22m (0% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £406,000 (-3%)

The Verdict

Long-established Payne Hicks Beach continues to have an 'excellent' reputation for 'quality of work, friendliness' and also its 'very interesting' training. The firm is perfect for those with an interest in family and private client law. Thanks to its relatively small size there is plenty of exposure to the firm's 'exciting' celebrity client list and current trainees consider their quality of work to be 'very high'. A Lex 100 Winner for work/life balance ('we have a much better work/life balance than others'), job satisfaction, friendliness and manageable stress levels, you should be prepared for immediate responsibility, which could mean going to court on your second day like one current trainee. Trainees get a great taste of the life as a junior fee-earner being involved in the 'day-to-day running of cases' which helps make the transition to NQ solicitor much easier. The fact that the firm is spread across a number of buildings causes the odd complaint that it can 'reduce the amount of contact trainees have with other members of the firm' and the 'unique' but 'sometimes outdated' ambience here sometimes takes some getting used to. However, there is plenty of excitement to be had in this genuinely nice firm where there is 'no room for aggressive types', plenty of client contact and as one trainee puts it 'I enjoy every day!'