Firms

Osborne Clark

Web: www.osborneclarke.com/trainees

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

Web: www.osborneclarke.com/trainees

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?

''Reputation for friendliness'; 'high quality of work in good locations'; 'European focus'; 'interesting and diverse sectors'; 'lack of arrogance'; 'early responsibility for trainees'; 'well-known clients'; 'excellent TMT reputation'; 'size'; 'only firm in Bristol that had top City work''

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

''Exposure to good-quality work is just as good'; 'working hours are better'; 'a lot more contact with clients'; 'higher level of responsibility'; 'if you prove yourself, you are rewarded'; 'work/life balance is much better'; 'less organised social life''

Best thing about the firm?

''Good responsibility'; 'minimal admin jobs'; 'good training'; 'lots of lunch-time training sessions (free sandwiches)'; 'seat changes and seat plan are a very open and organised process'; 'as a trainee you are trusted and rewarded'; 'openness of the firm'; 'hard work is appreciated and noticed'; 'atmosphere is very collaborative''

Worst thing about the firm?

''Sometimes disparity between the different offices' approaches to work and workloads'; 'does not have the most active social life'; 'trainees in the London office have to travel to Bristol for training'; 'the sandwiches at training'; 'occasional lack of supervision''

Best moment?

''Attending employment tribunals'; 'reporting back to a client on a successful outcome of their court case'; 'handling my own files from start to finish'; 'secondment to a hedge fund'; 'no billable hours!'; 'being closely involved in a major case that went to the RCJ, sitting through five days of dramatic witness evidence and advocacy and ending with resounding victory'; 'a two-day employment tribunal in Liverpool''

Worst moment?

''A three-week disclosure exercise'; 'having to deal with an angry client'; 'working all night on a few occasions'; 'usual trainee gripes regarding photocopiers'; 'having no time for social life in the week at busy times'; 'forgetting a fundamental legal principle whilst speaking to a partner''

The Lex 100 verdict

The Verdict

The firm

Osborne Clarke is a robust, full-service firm, with a market-leading presence in Bristol and a significant presence in London and Reading. The firm has standout expertise in TMT and life sciences, and lists PFI and energy among other strengths. Internationally it has offices in Cologne and Munich, and a Silicon Valley office in the US, and is part of an extensive pan-European alliance established 20 years ago.

The star performers

Brand management; Commercial litigation; Commercial property; Construction; Corporate and commercial; Corporate tax; Employment; Health and safety; Media and entertainment; Personal tax, trusts and probate; Property litigation; Sport.

The deals

Advised Tribal Group on its £12m disposal of Nightingale Architects; handled two appeals for TalkTalk; advised Nutricia on restructuring its wholesale distribution networks; acted for Cable & Wireless UK in a claim against European Technology Group for unpaid fees; acted for a club of five banks led by HSBC as agent on a £135m facility for Smiths News plc; represented PwC on the Alitalia airline case; advised the directors of Cadbury on its takeover by Kraft.

The clients

British Gas; Cable & Wireless UK; Carphone Warehouse; Dell; Inflexion Private Equity; Marks & Spencer; Motorola; Mulberry; Santander Corporate Banking; TalkTalk; UNITE Group; Western Power Distribution.

The winners

Legal Business Awards 2011

Highly commended Dispute resolution team of the year, Corporate team of the year

The Verdict

A great choice for those seeking a solid grounding in commercial work, Osborne Clarke is 'friendly' with a 'great' work/life balance as well as a 'European focus and interesting, diverse sectors'. Known for specialist knowledge in a wide range of areas including TMT, trainees are given responsibility 'very early' in their training. Expect to handle some 'high-quality' work for 'well-known' clients and you will be rewarded with a 'very generous' salary on a par with City firms'. The firm's Bristol location is also very popular, ('I was keen to stay in Bristol having studied at Bristol University') and it is regarded as one of the few firms in the area with 'top City work and a really international reach'. With an atmosphere described as 'not stuffy but still professional and highly skilled', trainees like that there are 'lots of solicitors from non-law backgrounds' and say that it is easy to thrive in the firm, which 'encourages trainees to achieve technical excellence'. Seat rotation is also a 'very open and well-organised process'. London trainees have to travel to Bristol for training, which 'can be a pain' and there could be a more 'active' social scene at the firm. There can also be a bit of 'disparity between the different offices' approaches to work and workloads'. Complaints aside though this is a firm where 'if you prove yourself, you are rewarded' and there is a really 'very collaborative' atmosphere. 'Trainee camaraderie' has also improved over the past year and there is a very positive atmosphere. As one trainee puts it 'the firm feels like it is growing and wants you to be a part in its future' - sounds good to us!

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Adam Lawrence, trainee, Osborne Clarke
Departments to date: Recruitment, corporate, insolvency litigation
University: Nottingham
Degree: History, 2(1)

9.00am: I arrive at my desk and log on. I respond to any urgent emails or voicemails that have come in overnight from colleagues and clients. Then, as I make a tea, I mentally prepare a list of the tasks I need to complete during the day ahead and jot the list down as I return to my desk. A couple of team members are finishing off their breakfast and we take the time to have a quick chat. I ask them some questions that will help me with the day's work.

10.00am: One of the key ongoing responsibilities for the insolvency trainee is to monitor companies involved in our client's matters to ensure no-one is attempting to wind them up. I review the list of companies I'm due to check on and then phone the winding-up hotline at the Companies Court to check for any winding up petitions or notices of intention to appoint administrators. All the searches come up clear.

10.30am: Attending client meetings is encouraged by the team as they not only allow me to develop an insight into the specific legal issues our clients face but to also gain an understanding of the commercial sectors in which they operate. Today, it is a contentious matter: we have a banking client that appears to have been defrauded by one of its borrowers who subsequently went into administration. Together with a partner and senior solicitor, I meet with the client and the administrators to discuss the best strategies for recovering as much of the client's money as possible.

12.00pm: Following the meeting, I am asked to draft an attendance note summarising what was discussed and to research the possible causes of action that the bank has against the complicit third parties. I prepare a research note outlining the elements of the torts of deceit and negligent misstatement that I believe will be most relevant in achieving the client's objectives and, ultimately, recovering its losses.

1.00pm: If there's nothing urgent on, we're encouraged to take a full hour for lunch. As our office is located in Central London, there's plenty of choice and there is often hearty debate amongst the trainees when deciding on where to go. I enjoy the really warm atmosphere in my team. Not only is there a real camaraderie but everyone is really supportive and approachable. Team members are always happy to answer questions and talk about matters that they are working on.

2.00pm: Back from lunch, I am in the middle of typing up my attendance note from the morning's meeting when I am told we have been instructed to act on a pre-pack sale by a long-standing insolvency practitioner client. Time is of the essence on pre-pack sales and the administrators need to be appointed as soon as possible. I therefore have to be ready to switch between tasks and start preparing all the necessary documents required for the appointment of the administrators.

5.15pm: We are regularly approached by banks to review the security they have in place over borrowers who they suspect of having financial problems. Having dealt with the appointment of administrators for the pre-pack sale, a solicitor in the team briefs me on the latest review request we've had in from a banking client. My job is to go through the security documents the client has provided, including mortgages, debentures, and personal guarantees of the borrower's directors, to ensure they have been validly executed and to see if there are likely to be any obstacles to enforcing the security if the borrower defaults.

7.00pm: I am told not to stay too late working on the review and am encouraged to join some of the other trainees for a quick post-work beer. Trainees share their experiences and are more than happy to offer guidance and support. I head home realising that I have an early start the next day and wonder what tomorrow has in store.

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 2 Temple Back East, Temple Quay BS1 6EG

Telephone: 0117 917 3484

Fax: 0117 917 3485

Website: www.osborneclarke.com/trainees

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

Senior partner: Tim Birt

Managing partner: Simon Beswick

Other offices: Cologne, London, Munich, Silicon Valley, Thames Valley.

Who we are: At Osborne Clarke we turn our legal expertise into our clients' commercial gain by using our experience, expertise and imagination to give tailored, practical advice.

What we do: Our main areas of expertise include: banking and finance; business regulation; commercial; corporate; employment and benefits; litigation; pensions; projects; real estate; restructuring and insolvency; and tax.

What we are looking for: Candidates who can communicate effectively, think commercially and practically, solve problems creatively, build effective relationships and demonstrate initiative. Foreign language skills are also an advantage.

What you'll do: Trainees complete four six-month seats, and are coached by experienced lawyers in each department with access to a real workload.

Perks: 25 days' holiday (plus a Christmas shopping day), pension, permanent health insurance, private medical insurance, life assurance and season ticket loan.

Sponsorship: We pay candidates' GDL and/or LPC tuition fees, provided that they are no more than half way through either course when they are recruited, along with a maintenance grant of £6,500 per course.

Facts & figures