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Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP |
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40 Bank Street Canary Wharf London E14 5DS 
Favoured by 7 users
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The lowdown (in their own words...)Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'Reputation'; 'I knew that I'd receive excellent training'; 'complex and hands-on work'; 'salary expectations and client exposure' How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'Have been on really complicated trans-border deals'; 'have been told many times that my work is appreciated which can often be forgotten in the fast-paced deal world'; 'the work I'm exposed to is often way beyond my qualification level - I often get strange looks when the partner on the other side of the deal realises he's been dealing with a trainee'; 'I have been sent to client meetings on my own'; 'often told to run with a project entirely on my own'; 'I don't hear these stories from anyone at any other firm' Best thing about the firm? 'One of the most prestigious law firms on the planet'; 'working here is exposing me to some of the most important deals of the 21st century'; 'far greater levels of involvement'; 'opportunities to perform beyond your pay-grade' Worst thing about the firm? 'Under-staffed'; 'hate to say it but the hours'; 'there is a very client-focused approach and in these tough economic times we have to offer better services than the next firm'; 'insane deadlines'; 'the hours'; 'the hours can be long' Best moment? 'Negotiating an agreement by myself'; 'I worked on a deal that signed and closed within a month'; 'the party the clients threw to thank us involved Hollywood stars- I felt like a celebrity' Worst moment? 'Over-worked at times'; 'staying up till 6am three nights in a row to sign a deal, it was exhausting but at the same time I was glad to be part of it'; 'a document corrupting on me and having to try and rescue it'; '100-hour weeks' The firmSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom maintains a formidable reputation for its global M&A capability, with the 'outstanding' London office a core component in the firm's dominance on European deals. The firm has 23 offices around the world (including extensive European offices), with a large office in London housing around 130 lawyers. The star performersAcquisition finance; Arbitration; Capital markets; Corporate restructuring and insolvency; Corporate tax; Energy; Mergers and acquisitions; Private equity; Project finance. The dealsAdvised Nokia Siemens Networks in its agreement with Motorola to acquire Motorola's wireless network infrastructure assets for $1.2bn; advised core client Doughty Hanson on two major acquisitions (the purchase of Vue Cinemas, and the €350m buyout of Equity Trust); advised BSG Resources on the tax aspects of the creation of a joint venture with Vale to develop mining rights in the Republic of Guinea. The clientsCredit Suisse; Deutsche Bank; Evraz Group; Gate Gourmet; Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley; Nokia Siemens Network; O'Key Group; Renaissance Securities; UBS; US Airways; Zolfo Coope. The VerdictIf the sound of 'excellent, high-quality training through complex and hands-on work' appeals to you then look no further than US giant Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. With an 'excellent' reputation, one current trainee feels that they are being consistently exposed to some of the 'most important deals of the 21st century!' The 'very accessible' partners who 'remember that they're your teachers as well as the firm's breadwinners' make sure that trainees are 'fully involved' in the work and you could easily find yourself working on some 'really complicated trans-border deals', which is a 'great learning experience'. The firm is also very 'client focused' and, while this means that it aims to offer 'better services than the next firm' be prepared for some 'insane deadlines'. There are also times when it can feel 'understaffed' and hours can be 'long' although one trainee points out it is 'symptomatic of City law firms generally rather than being a unique point regarding Skadden'. If this doesn't put you off then there could be some exciting times ahead, including attending glamorous client 'thank you' parties and seeing your deals covered in the national press. A Lex 100 Winner for its vacation scheme and confidence of being kept on, Skadden offers great training, great clients and great deals. One current trainee describes is as 'one of the most prestigious law firms on the planet!' See for yourself if the firm can live up to such breathless praise. A day in the life of.....Anna Heimbichner , second-year trainee, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
Departments to date: Corporate, litigation and international arbitration
University: California University (Berkeley); Oxford University (St Edmund Hall)
Degree: BA History, First Class Hons; MPhil International Relations 6.45am: I head out for a run along the Thames. I'm training for a triathlon and run a few mornings each week. On the tube ride into Canary Wharf I read theFT 's headlines, which are emailed to my blackberry every day. It's been really useful in work, starting the day knowing what is going on in the world. 9.00am: I arrive at the office, make a cup of tea and sit down at my desk. I'm currently sitting in the litigation and arbitration department with senior associate Gulnaar Zafar and we're working with counsel Penny Madden on a new international arbitration. My to-do list for the week is long but manageable and Gulnaar has given me quite a lot of responsibility in assisting with drafting a reply to defence. I pick up where I left off yesterday with some research. My secretary comes bouncing through the office with a book that has been couriered to me for this job; she's very friendly and I enjoy working with her. 11.00am: An email comes through from foreign counsel on another arbitration I am assisting with. They are following up on a memorandum I drafted for us, them, and our clients, on causes of action to remedy a situation facing our client. They agree with my assessment and have added in advice applicable to their jurisdiction. The next step will be to discuss my note with Bruce Macaulay, the partner responsible, and decide the next steps to take with the client. As this is less urgent than my current tasks, I file this for the following day. 12.45pm: After spending several hours deep in textbooks it's time for a lunch break. Today we've scheduled a lunch at Jamie's Italian Kitchen with the vacation scheme students. Canary Wharf does not have a shortage of great places to eat! 2.00pm: Back in the office, I'm preparing for a conference call between us and counsel in Turkey and Switzerland. We work with lawyers all over the world and although I've only been here eight months I've worked with counsel in at least 20 countries. I'll be taking detailed notes of the call and will type these up and circulate action points afterwards. 2.30pm: On the call, some of the points of research I've been working on come up and I contribute my findings. We discuss the upcoming deadline for our filing, as well as how best to split the work between us to ensure that the clients can review our product well before the deadline. 4.00pm: Following the call and my email on action points, Gulnaar and I return to her office. She resumes drafting the pleadings with notes I have made from my research, and often asks me for clarification on a point of law or what sort of wording would be most accurate. We have great rapport - on these pleadings we're working collaboratively, and my work product is valued and trusted. Other tasks on my list include compiling a chronology of events, determining whether our appointed arbitrators have previously adjudicated on similar disputes, assembling a file of sources cited in our pleadings and researching the law applicable to the arbitration. I stay on task with these for the rest of the afternoon while answering questions from Gulnaar. 6.15pm: An email goes round among the first and second-year trainees seeing if anyone wants to go for drinks at one of the many waterside bars. I'll stay in the office a bit longer to help the reply along. We began this arbitration from scratch and it's been an amazing learning opportunity seeing how everything fits together from the start. 7.30pm: Finished for the day, I head over to meet the others for drinks. We're a fairly small trainee group but all get along very well together. We enjoy a few drinks and some other associates come and join us before we all head home for the evening. About the firmAddress: 40 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DS Telephone: 020 7519 7000 Fax: 020 7519 7070 Website: www.skadden.com/uktraineesolicitors Email:
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Other offices: Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Moscow, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, Paris, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna, Washington DC, Wilmington Who we are: Highly acclaimed, pre-eminent US law firm offering client service excellence and an award-winning training contract programme. What we do: Lawyers across the European network focus primarily on corporate transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets, leveraged finance and banking, tax, corporate restructuring, and energy and projects. We also advise in international arbitration and litigation, and regulatory matters. What we are looking for: We seek to recruit a small number of talented, high-calibre graduates from any degree discipline. We are looking for candidates who combine intellectual ability with enthusiasm, creativity and a demonstrable ability to rise to a challenge and work with others towards a common goal. What you'll do: You will join a close-knit and diverse team in which you will be given ample opportunity to work on complex matters, almost all with an international aspect, while benefiting from highly personalised training and supervision in an informal and friendly environment. You will experience four six-month seats during your training contract and have the opportunity to complete an overseas secondment in your second year. Perks: Discretionary year-end bonus, 25 days' holiday per year, private medical insurance, travel insurance, life assurance, technology allowance, subsidised café, interest-free season ticket loan, joining fee paid at Canary Wharf gym. Sponsorship: GDL and LPC fees paid in full at BPP law school, maintenance grants of £8,000 per year for each year of study. Application processApply to: Kate Harman, graduate recruitment co-ordinator. How: Online application form. When to Apply: By 31 July 2012 for training contracts in 2014. What is involved: Vacation scheme - interview, group exercise, Q&A panel session, office tour. Training contract - interview, presentation, commercial awareness exercise. Facts and figures Trainee places available for 2014: 8-10 Applications received pa: Approx 500-600 Percentage interviewed: Approx 10% (changes each year) SalaryFirst year: £40,000 Second year: £43,000 Newly qualified: £94,000 Vacation schemesSpring: 26 March - 5 April 2012 (apply by 12 January 2012). Summer: 18-29 June, 2-13 July, 16-27 July 2012 (apply by 12 January 2012).
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