Firms

Bristows

Web:  www.bristows.com 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Web:  www.bristows.com 

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Survey results

Survey results

 

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 

 ''Excellent reputation in IP'; 'offers a broad range of practice areas'; 'reputation for being friendly'; 'exposure to great work'; 'good work/life balance'; 'great clients'; 'the possibility of experiencing a really broad training contract'; 'long-standing reputation in life sciences'' 

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 

 ''Your work as a trainee is valued'; 'hours here are so much more sociable'; 'you always feel encouraged and supported'; 'we get a greater amount of responsibility'; 'you are viewed as a vital part of the firm even on your first day'; 'more interesting and varied work'; 'a lot of responsibility and variety'' 

Best thing about the firm? 

 ''The friendly atmosphere and the support you get'; 'culture of friendliness'; 'gorgeous office'; 'it is sensible. If you have work to do, work hard and do it properly. If not, go home'; 'the people'; 'the atmosphere'; 'the open-door policy'; 'partner accessibility'' 

Worst thing about the firm? 

 ''It's a bit of a maze, quite easy to get lost!'; 'clerking duty can be disruptive'; 'still no microwave'; 'no support staff after six'; 'it can sometimes feel a little too small'' 

Best moment? 

 ''Placement with a client for three months'; 'receiving great feedback about a department-wide presentation I gave'; 'attending a one-month trial in Northern Ireland'; 'being given a lot of responsibility in a funding round of a technology company'; 'going on a client secondment'' 

Worst moment?

 ''Spilling orange juice over a pile of documents on my desk'; 'some medium-sized mistakes have not been pleasant'; 'the first day: terrifying'; 'preparing bundles'; 'very occasionally being required to work late''

The Lex 100 verdict

 The Verdict

The firm

A heavyweight IP firm, Bristows is best known for its world-class patent litigation and life sciences expertise, in addition to the usual range of TMT specialisms. Corporate work, often for pharmaceutical clients, is strong too, while the commercial property practice is developing all the time, with an emphasis on investment and funds work, and occupier representation. 

The star performers

Fraud: commercial/regulatory; IT and telecoms; Intellectual property; Media and entertainment; Pharmaceuticals/biotechnology.

The deals

Advised new client Google on high-profile data-collection matters; representing SAS Institute in a breach of licence and copyright infringement case that has been referred to the ECJ; representing Siemens against Seagate Technology in Northern Ireland's first significant patent infringement case; advising L'Oreal against eBay on issues that have been referred to the CJEU.

The clients

AstraZeneca; BBC; Cadbury; CapGemini; Diageo; Everything Everywhere; Faber Music; McDonald's; Music Sales Group; MTV; Oxford University Press; Smith & Nephew; Wincanton.

The Verdict

In addition to its top drawer IP and life sciences expertise, trainees are drawn to Bristows for its size, reputation for friendliness, sensible hours and the promise of good work. You'll be pleased to hear it delivers on its promises, with the firm being a Lex 100 Winner for living up to expectations, manageable stress levels, and work/life balance. As for the work, it's 'interesting and varied', with the opportunity to do both three- and six-month seats across a broad range of practice areas. The clerking duties may be unpopular ('can be disruptive to your work'), but balance this against the fact that you won't be chained to the photocopier. In fact trainees say their work is 'much more exciting' than their peers' at other firms: 'I have had some experiences that make my friends really jealous', said one. Particular praise goes to the opportunities for client secondments, which 'add value' to the training, the lack of targets for billable hours, and the amount of responsibility given from the get-go. The firm, say trainees, is encouraging and supportive of them too, 'even when you get the answer wrong!' and trainees appreciate the 'culture of openness'. Here, you'll have access to partners 'who are real stars in their respective fields', but you too will be 'viewed as a vital part of the firm even on your first day'. A great choice for confident individuals with a passion for the firm's specialist areas.

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Scott Allardyce, first-year trainee, Bristows 
Departments to date:  Corporate, commercial disputes, secondment (at Google UK)
University: Bristol 
Degree: English Literature, 2(1) 

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9.00am: I am currently on secondment at Google UK. My first tasks of the day are to get breakfast and review my emails. I spend time reading a response I've received from a sales representative in Mountain View (Google's US headquarters) in advance of a telephone call with him this afternoon. I make a note of the key points I want to discuss regarding the statement of work that he has asked me to draft.

9.30am: My manager forwards me an interesting YouTube case which discusses one of the safe harbour exemptions in the E-Commerce Directive. In my commercial disputes seat at Bristows I had considered the hosting exemption for ISPs in relation to defamatory posts published on blog sites, so this is not the first time I have come across this legislation. I reread the Directive and supplement my understanding by reading a short academic article on Westlaw before writing up a case summary.

11.45am: I grab a muffin from one of the micro kitchens and return to my desk. I have been asked to review a non-disclosure agreement which has been sent by one of Google's commercial partners. I am unfamiliar with this type of agreement so I set about doing general research. I get a copy of Google's standard NDA and begin a compare and contrast exercise between the two documents to present to my commercial manager.

1.00pm: All the food is free at Google, so the legal team usually eat together in the canteen or the sushi bar.

2.00pm: My manager has forwarded me a report provided by outside counsel relating to the Irish government's review of copyright law. The report debates the freedom of the Irish government to adopt exemptions and limitations on copyright owners' rights under Irish and EU law. I read this in conjunction with similar reports prepared for Google previously. I recall that research which I carried out at Bristows relating to the harmonisation of copyright across the EU would complement this task, so I make a mental note to access and reread that research note when I get home. I compare how regional counsel have approached the issue of reform and prepare a summary of my thoughts for my manager and I to discuss at a later date.

3.45pm: I grab a coffee and have a quick break with some of the legal team on the beanbags in the kitchenette. We discuss interesting new products in development at Google and the probable legal issues that will emerge.

4.00pm: I have a telephone call with the sales representative in Mountain View. I recall some of the questions corporate partners at Bristows would ask clients during conference calls which I had attended. I also think back to a seminar I attended at Bristows regarding drafting techniques and helpful guidance which was offered to me by various partners prior to my secondment. Accordingly, I feel well prepared for the call. I ask the sales representative questions about the agreement I have been asked to draft, including payment provisions, term, general questions about the nature of the services to be provided, and termination provisions.

6.30pm: I check that there is nothing else that needs to be addressed this evening. I grab a wrap and head to a networking event at the Law Society as a representative of Bristows.

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 100 Victoria, Enbankment, London EC4Y ODH,  

Telephone: 020 7400 8000

Fax: 020 7400 8000

Website: www.bristows.com

Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Senior partner: Philip Westmacott

Managing partners: Iain Redford, Mark Watts

Who we are:  Bristows is a medium-sized firm that handles the kind of work normally associated with only the largest firms. Established more than 170 years ago, we have built up a client list that includes leading businesses from a variety of sectors.

What we do:  Our core practice areas are intellectual property; information technology; corporate; commercial disputes; real estate; regulatory; EU & Competition; media & marketing; employment and tax.

What we are looking for: We're extremely selective because we're looking for people who will be our future partners. As part of such a select and high-calibre intake, we'll give you real responsibility earlier than you might expect.

What you'll do:  During the two years' training, you'll spend time in each of our main departments developing your skills and knowledge. You'll also work closely with our partners and associates. Part of your training may involve a secondment to one of a number of leading clients.

Perks: Life assurance; pension scheme; private medical insurance; permanent health insurance; eye care; health assessment; employee assistance programme; cycle-to-work scheme; childcare voucher scheme, season ticket loan, onsite cafe/deli.

Sponsorship: Sponsorship: GDL and LPC fees paid in full, plus a maintenance grant of £7,000 for each.

 

Facts & figures

 Facts and figures

Trainee places available for 2014: 8-10

Applications received pa: 1,750 

Percentage interviewed: 5% 

Salary

First year: £ 34,000

Second year: £ 37,000

Newly qualified: £53,500

 The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £24m (+9% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £267,000 (+20%)

Total partners: 34

Other fee-earners: 70

Total trainees: 18

APPLY NOW

Application process

Apply to: Robert Girvan, graduate recruitment and alumni relations officer.

How: Online application form only. 

When to Apply: By 29 January 2012 for February/March interviews; by 29 July 2012 for August interviews. 

What is involved: Two panel interviews consisting of an associate and partner at first interview and then two partners from the trainee committee at second interview. 

 

 Vacation schemes

 For opportunities to spend time with the firm during winter, spring and summer please see website for details.