The firm
Shoosmiths offers a wide range of expertise from offices throughout the Midlands and the South East. Described by one client as 'one of the most responsive firms I have ever encountered, with tremendous depth of experience and a no-nonsense approach', Shoosmiths has particular strength in commercial property and corporate work, and in the Midlands has moved these flagship departments from Northampton to the Milton Keynes office. Other areas of expertise range from personal injury to intellectual property.
The star performers
Top-ranking departments according to The Legal 500*Commercial litigation; Information technology; Personal tax;Commercial property; Intellectual property; Planning;Corporate and commercial; Licensing; Property litigation;Debt recovery; Pensions; Public sector.Employment; Personal injury (claimant);
The deals
Advised Amco Corporation plc on a £9.4m sale to management; advised US-based Copart in an acquisition of a salvage sales concern; acted for HSBC Bank plc and HSBC Blakemore on funding for the purchase of Dairy Crest's Stilton business and a £13m convenience store operator; acquisition of over £500m of investment property for the Highcross Group of Companies.
The clients
Alliance Boots; BP; Games Workshop; HMV/Waterstones; IKEA; SBC; Thomas Cook; Thorntons; Vivergo Fuels; Volkswagen; WH Smith.
The money
(from Legal Business magazine)
Turnover in 2008: £103.4m (+9% from 2007) Profits per equity partner: £318,000 (-22%)
The Lex 100 verdict
Trainees at Shoosmiths seem a pretty contented bunch and often comment that their firm really does seem to be 'different and better' - not necessarily in what it does, 'but in the way it does it'. This follows on from last year's comments that the atmosphere in most of the offices 'does not really feel like your average law firm'. This quality is hard to pin down, but there is 'a uniqueness I sensed even from the law fair presentation and then the vac scheme' remarks one contented respondent. Trainees also praise the inclusiveness - it has a 'healthy attitude to mature applicants' - and are happy that the people running the firm have 'drive but a sense of fun and friendliness' too. There is a healthy work/life balance, with all staff believing a life outside work is important - and to reflect this, the firm gives you an extra day's holiday on your birthday so you can spend it somewhere more exciting. Dress-down Fridays are popular too and add to the feeling that work here should be as enjoyable as possible. Not too many complaints from these largely contented trainees - although they'd like a bit more money 'to bring us into line with competitors' and they don't like all the office locations, so it's worth checking where you might end up. There seems to be plenty of hands-on work available here, 'although quality of work and training can vary between departments' and there are also good opportunities for client secondments. All in all, Shoosmiths sounds like a pretty refreshing place to work - with a good range of people and disciplines and an ambitious, driven outlook that does not detract from its overall sense of friendliness.