Firms

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP

Web:  www.orrick.com/london/gradrecruitment 

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

 

Web:  www.orrick.com/london/gradrecruitment 

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? 

 ''Liked the atmosphere at the firm when I went for interview'; 'excellent reputation'; 'high-quality international work'; 'relatively small trainee intake'; 'friendliness of the firm'; 'size'; 'ethos'; 'practice areas'; 'good fit'' 

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

 ''Very reasonable hours'; 'quality of training is much better'; 'more responsibility and client contact'; 'higher quality of work'; 'I am treated as a real part of the team'; 'trainee work is challenging and varied'' 

Best thing about the firm? 

 ''The people'; 'working with intelligent and friendly people on interesting and challenging work'; 'its forward thinking and dynamic nature'; 'there is always someone you can talk to'' 

Worst thing about the firm? 

 ''Less opportunity to experience an overseas seat than in the past'; 'extremely long hours in some seats'; the induction training could be more structured'; 'that more people are not aware of the firm in London'' 

Best moment? 

 ''Attending client events and meetings'; 'plenty of opportunities to go to court'; 'meeting a vast range of clients from fund managers to entrepreneurs'; 'completion meetings'' 

Worst moment?

 ''Some dull or repetitive tasks'; 'losing a bit of self-autonomy'; 'realising that I had inadvertently sent an application without the cheque'; 'racing to court on a Boris bike to hand our defence to counsel''

The Lex 100 verdict

 The Verdict

The firm

US firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has a small London office with 'top-rate' M&A capability. The team has dual UK and US law capabilities, and benefits from the firm's Silicon Valley-based tech clients. Expertise spans insolvency, finance and M&A, with an increasing focus on emerging markets work. The London team handled over 50 venture capital transactions in 2010. 

The star performers

Bank lending; Commercial property; Derivatives; EU and competition; Electricity, nuclear and renewables; Flotations (small and mid cap); M&A (lower mid-market £50m-£250m); Property finance; Property litigation; Securitisation; Social housing.

The deals

Assisted Standard Bank in unwinding a securitisation relating to zinc mining projects in Yemen; instructed on the sale of the Sugar House Lane site, a 13-acre site opposite the Olympic Park which was put up for sale following the appointment of CBRE as receivers; represented Carluccio's in relation to the £90.3m offer for the company by a Landmark Group company, C1 Acquisitions.

The clients

Areva T&D; blinkx; GroupSpaces; Telenor; Turbo Hercules SAS; VimpelCom.

The Verdict

Top US firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe gives a great first impression ('I liked the atmosphere at the firm when I went for my interview'). With a host of blue-chip clients and some top-quality work it has a great global reputation and 'friendly' partners to boot. The fact that there is plenty of international work (thanks to its impressive global reach) and a relatively small intake each year means that there are always plenty of candidates so you'll need to offer something special. Current trainees feel that they are a 'good fit' with the 'size and ethos' of the firm and like that they 'work with intelligent and friendly people on interesting and challenging mandates'. There is plenty of client contact (the firm is a Lex 100 Winner in this category) and there is a 'vast' range of clients ('from fund managers to entrepreneurs'). Training at the firm is 'much better' than at other firms according to current trainees (although it could, at times, be a bit more 'structured') and you will find that there are plenty of opportunities to go to court and carry out completions. On the complaints front there are 'fewer opportunities to experience an overseas seat than in the past' and some trainees would like to see the firm raise its profile in London. But if you are looking to focus on City-quality work at a US firm with an 'open-door' culture, where you will always feel 'part of the team', then consider Orrick.

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Hannah Mahon, trainee, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP 
Departments to date:  Competition, litigation
University: Sheffield 
Degree: Law 2(1) 

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9.00am: I arrive at the office and read the to-do list I created the evening before. I am working on a matter where our client is challenging the English court's jurisdiction as there are concurrent proceedings in another EU country. I was involved in this matter from the start, which has greatly helped my understanding of the litigation process. 4.30pm today is our deadline to serve evidence in reply to the other side. As a litigation trainee, I make good use of my Outlook calendar to ensure that no important deadlines are missed! Our evidence includes two witness statements, with accompanying exhibit bundles. While we await final comments and amendments from counsel on the witness statements, I proofread the latest drafts and ensure all previous amendments have been incorporated. I also begin to finalise the exhibit bundles.

11.30am: I receive an email from a partner regarding a new matter which has been referred to him by a partner in Milan. The matter concerns a dispute which is centred on a particular agreement. I am asked to look into whether the agreement should be regarded as a distribution agreement or an agency agreement. The classification of the agreement has important consequences for our client. First, I will need to conduct some research into both distribution agreements and agency agreements. Practical Law Company provides a good starting point, and I print off some relevant articles to review. After completing a LexisNexis search for further information, I head to the library to pick up some books to assist.

12.00pm: Whilst I begin reading through the fruits of my research, I receive an email from counsel detailing final amendments to the witness statements. In all departments, it is important to be able to prioritise different tasks each day, considering internal and external deadlines, how long the task will take and current workload. Due to the 4.30pm deadline, I prioritise finalising the witness statements. I insert final cross-references and complete a final read through before they are ready to be signed.

2.30pm: We receive the signed witness statements, and I head over to the other side's offices to serve them, comfortably within deadline. I email the managing associate working on the matter as soon as the documents are served so that she can inform all the relevant people. The next stage in the application is for the hearing date to be arranged. Once we have the date, I can work out the various deadlines for lodging time estimates, application bundles, skeleton arguments and a list of key authorities. I return to the office just as somebody has left birthday treats in the kitchen. Unable to resist giving into my sweet tooth, I opt for a chocolate chip cookie and get back to my research and reviewing the relevant documentation on the new matter.

5.00pm: I begin to draft an email to the partner detailing my analysis of the agreement. My initial conclusion is that the agreement is a distribution agreement, but my research has raised a few further questions about how the business relationship works in practice. We will need further information from the client to be able to provide a more definite answer.

5.30pm: I will be attending a client meeting on Friday, and have been given the task of drawing up the agenda. One of the items we will be discussing is the client's strategy, and the advantages and disadvantages of trying to reach a settlement rather than continuing with litigation. I draw up a fairly detailed agenda, and send it to my supervisor to review.

6.30pm: I complete my time recording for the day and make a list of tasks for tomorrow. A few of the trainees are having impromptu drinks in a local bar, and I decide to join them. The firm is very sociable, and each month we have drinks in the office which is a great opportunity to catch up.

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 107 Cheapside, London EC2V 6DN

Telephone: 020 7862 4600

Fax: 020 7862 4800

Website: www.orrick.com/london/gradrecruitment

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

Managing partner: Anne O'Neill

 

Other offices: Beijing, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Milan, Moscow, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, Portland, Rome, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Taipei, Tokyo and Washington DC. 

Who we are:  Orrick is a leading international law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 23 offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

What we do: Orrick has earned a global reputation advising both established and emerging companies, banks and international financial institutions. The London office is full service and has lawyers handling a broad range of matters including corporate, competition, employment, finance, IP, litigation, real estate, restructuring and tax.

What we are looking for: Individuals who set their standards high, have a strong work ethic and are a bright, talented graduate of any discipline. Applicants should have at least three A level passes at grades A and B and a 2(1) degree.

What you'll do:  Our two-year training programme comprises four six-month seats, with regular appraisals throughout. We support learning through a steadfast focus on training and a mentoring programme that will provide you with the right foundation for building your career and for working with clients. There are regular training sessions on legal and soft skills to enhance your development as a lawyer. Our extensive training programme is provided by in-house experts, clients and specialist professionals.

Perks: 25 days' holiday, pension, life assurance, private health insurance, dental plan, subsidised gym membership, season ticket loan, childcare voucher scheme.

Sponsorship: GDL and LPC - fees paid plus £7,000 maintenance (upon offer of a training contract).

 

Facts & figures

 Facts and figures

Trainee places available for 2014: 5

Applications received pa: 600 

Percentage interviewed: 10% 

Salary

First year: £38,000 (rate for 2011)

Second year: £42,500 (rate for 2011)

Newly qualified: 

 

Total partners: 17

Other fee-earners: 40

Total trainees: 15

APPLY NOW

Application process

Apply to: Halina Kasprowiak, recruitment manager.

How: Apply online at www.orrick.com/london/gradrecruitment. 

When to Apply: By 29 June 2012 for September 2014. 

What is involved: First interview with the recruitment manager and a senior associate or of counsel, second interview with two partners.