Lex 100 - Trowers & Hamlins

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Trowers & Hamlins

Sceptre Court 40 Tower Hill London EC3N 4DX

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The trainee verdict

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'Opportunities in the Middle East'; 'the unique areas of work undertaken by the firm'; 'the opportunity to do a seat abroad'; 'focus on public sector'; 'quality of the training'; 'great vac scheme'; 'friendly, good size'; 'good reputation for training'; 'social housing practice and local communities and governance';

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'Better hours'; 'less stressful working environment'; 'I am aware that I am being trained as someone that Trowers wants to stay at the firm for my career'; 'quite a lot of responsibility combined with good levels of supervision'; 'high levels of responsibility given to trainees'

Best thing about the firm? 'Great range of public and private sector work'; 'excellent client contact'; 'support/supervision'; 'the work we do actually benefits people'; 'friendliness and approachability of people'; 'the coffee'; 'you aren't expected to stay any later than you need to, and I have been told by partners to go home'; 'food in the canteen is fantastic'

Worst thing about the firm? 'Lack of secretarial/document production support'; 'the restaurant's a little like a dungeon'; 'there can be a projects and construction focus which isn't everyone's cup of tea'; 'old-fashioned offices'; 'the lack of natural light in Treats'; 'lack of firm-wide communication'

Best moment? 'A six-month secondment in the Gulf'; 'getting invited to a posh annual dinner at the Dorchester to network alongside partners'; 'completing the sale of a property'; 'being able to see the sea from my desk whilst working in Muscat'; 'preparing for and then attending a week-long employment tribunal on my own with the client, and winning'

Worst moment? 'A 4.30am finish on my first day in a new seat'; 'proof reading until I fell asleep'; 'doing boring, repetitive work with no responsibility when in the previous seat you have been leading on many files'; 'moving boxes of disclosure bundles around the firm at gone 11pm'

The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Local government is an area of strength for Trowers & Hamlins LLP, and the firm is widely recognised for its unique social housing expertise, for which it secures some of the top mandates. It also draws admiring glances for its extensive network of Middle Eastern offices, from which it advises on major power projects and M&A in particular.

The star performers

Administrative and public law; Agriculture and estates; Charities and not-for-profit; Commercial property; Construction; Employment; Healthcare; Islamic finance; Local government; M&A: lower mid market, £50m-£250m; Personal tax, trusts and probate; Private Finance Initiative (PFI); Project finance; Social housing.

The deals

Advised Gatehouse on commodity murabahas for UK property acquisitions worth over £100m; advised QIB (UK) plc on a tawarruq facility for a site purchase; represented Arabian Sugar Company on a $63m istisna'a and ijara to develop a refinery; represented The Crown Estate Commissioners in the proposed sale of four residential housing estates comprising 1,200 tenancies.

The clients

Arcapita; The Cambian Group; Dar Capital; Dover District Council; Kuwait Finance House; London Borough of Newham; the National Society for Epilepsy; West Ham FC; 220 local authorities.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £89.4m (0% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £515,000 (+8%)

The Verdict

Offering 'more varied' work than many firms of comparable size, Trowers & Hamlin is popular with some candidates due to its presence in the Middle East whilst others are attracted by the range of departments. Unlike other firms where seats abroad are usually very competitive there is a 'high chance' of doing a seat in one of the firm's offices in Bahrain, Oman, Abu Dhabi or Dubai which makes for an 'amazing' experience. The firm is well regarded for its public sector work and the social housing, local communities and governance practices draw many, however one trainee says that there is a 'good balance' between the private and public sector work. The 'welcoming' atmosphere and 'friendly' staff make trainees feel 'at home' very quickly and the firm scores well for its vacation scheme. Measuring up well to the competition, there is a 'good' level of supervision and you can expect to be given 'quite a lot of responsibility'. The offices could do with a bit of sprucing up as they are 'a bit tired' and some trainees feel that there can be a 'lack of firm-wide communication' and others would prefer a bit more drafting and a bit less 'research and bundling' in the litigation seat. On the plus side, you could find yourself 'able to see the sea from your desk whilst working in Muscat' as a few months in the Gulf are almost a given. So if the combination of travelling to the Middle East and 'working with the market leaders in public sector law' appeals then check out Trowers.