Lex 100 - Weightmans LLP

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Weightmans LLP

India Buildings Water Street Liverpool L2 0GA

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The trainee verdict

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 'The variety of litigation seats'; 'the work/life balance'; 'flexi-time'; 'specialises in areas in which I have a keen interest'; 'its values'; 'quality of work'; 'good atmosphere'; 'reputation for being an open, friendly firm'; 'strong client base'

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 'Better hours'; 'more responsibility to run files'; 'a lot more client contact'; 'I get less input in reference to my seats'; 'more hands-on experience'; 'great work with lots of support'; 'very similar'; 'better quality of clients'; 'very helpful feedback and guidance'

Best thing about the firm? 'The fact that everyone is treated equally'; 'everyone is friendly, approachable and willing to help'; 'excellent client base'; 'broad client base'

Worst thing about the firm? 'Dirty kitchens'; 'lack of facilities, particularly out of hours'; 'would like more social activities'; 'lack of information and communication'; 'working for someone who expects you to know everything'

Best moment? 'Organising a two-week jury trial with 15 witnesses'; 'drafting a document that only needed minor changes and being told it was a great job!'; 'being part of a corporate transaction'; 'attending trial'; 'receiving good feedback from a partner or colleague'; 'winning a case that I had spent over 100 hours working on'

Worst moment? 'Sending the wrong files to a client on a £10m claim'; 'dealing with awful solicitors on the other side of a property transaction'; 'preparing a trial bundle'; 'stress of dealing with last-minute deadlines'; 'spending weeks paginating bundles by hand'

The Lex 100 verdict

The firm

Liverpool-based Weightmans has been a presence in the North West legal market for well over 150 years. It has spread its wings to become a national firm and now has offices, in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Dartford, Knutsford and Leicester. Its merger with Mace & Jones has bolstered the firm's private client, employment and education client roster. The firm is best known for disputes-related work, handling a mix of insurance, local authority and general commercial litigation. Clients include several legal services consortia, and it acts for more police forces than any other firm.

The star performers

Clinical negligence: defendant; Commercial litigation; Debt recovery; Employment; Health; Local government; Personal injury: defendant; Professional negligence.

The deals

Advised Bibby Distribution on its acquisition of Taygroup UK Holdings; represented a bank in an OFT investigation into its charging order policies; advising a PCT on a TCS Programme involving property issues, asset divestment and monitoring requirements, and policy consideration; successful defence of Essex County Council in a Supreme Court case regarding human rights to education; advised Barratts plc on the purchase of five residential development sites across the North West.

The clients

ANS Group; Baker Tilly; Bangor University; Bank of Ireland; BCW Group; Clarity; Derwent Holdings; Hannover; Montpelier Group; NHSLA; North West Development Agency; PKF; QBE; Royal Holloway; University of London.

The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £56m (+8% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £352,000 (+26%)

The Verdict

Liverpool-based Weightmans garners high praise from its trainees who love the fact that they work in 'an open, friendly firm with a good work/life balance and strong client base'. With 'strong values', the firm surprises candidates with its 'natural and humorous staff' who are all 'approachable and willing to assist.' You should be exposed to some 'good-quality work' from the early stages of training and one trainee likes the fact that there is the opportunity to work in some of the other offices. Expect also to be running your own files but don't worry as the firm is also very keen to make sure that hours are reasonable and it is a Lex 100 Winner for work/life balance as well as friendliness. The 'lack of facilities - particularly out of hours' can cause complaints from trainees and more social activities would be appreciated. There can also at times be a 'lack of information and communication'. However, despite the grumbles there are also plenty of exciting experiences to be had such as 'being part of a corporate transaction' or 'organising a two-week jury trial with 15 witnesses'. The 'congeniality of Weightmans' makes it a really 'excellent and well-structured' place to work with one trainee commenting that they feel 'genuinely lucky' to be there. And with a managing partner who has an 'almost cult-like status' thanks to his 'epitomising the workplace spirit of approachability and passion' it sounds like an excellent place to start a legal career.