Firms

Watson Farley & Williams

Web: www.wfw.com/trainee

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

Web: www.wfw.com/trainee

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?

''Medium-sized firm but with large international deals'; 'lots of responsibility'; 'quality work given to trainees'; 'shipping department'; 'interest in asset finance and corporate work'; 'six-seat training contract'; 'competitive salary'; 'guaranteed seat abroad'; 'very strong reputation in certain of its practice areas'; 'relatively small trainee intake'; 'medium-sized''

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

''The culture is friendlier'; 'trainees tend to get involved very heavily in transactions'; 'good mix of responsibility and support'; 'we are not let loose on clients without support and guidance'; 'more partner-led training'; 'involvement in larger transactions earlier on in training''

Best thing about the firm?

''The canteen and the people'; 'our in-house chef is amazing'; 'the canapÃés at client meetings are fantastic'; 'overseas opportunities'; 'niche practice areas'; 'targeting new practice areas which build on our key strengths'; 'lateral hire of aviation finance team'; 'truly international work''

Worst thing about the firm?

''The lack of firm social events'; 'training is very finance heavy so not good for trainees who aren't interested in finance but great experience for those who are'; 'the offices'; 'lack of social events for lawyers'; 'the lifts'; 'some partners are pretty 'old school'; 'being quite small it's very gossipy''

Best moment?

''Seat in Greece'; 'attending a three-day hearing at the Supreme Court when we were representing a major government'; 'being sent to Paris for an overseas seat'; 'assisting on a matter relating to Formula 1 which was particularly interesting given I am a massive racing fan'; 'finally sending out my first bible' '

Worst moment?

''a 30-hour straight day following an ever-lengthening closing deadline'; 'working late nights and weekends'; 'proof-reading several rounds of amendments to one document until 4am only for that document not to be used in the transaction''

The Lex 100 verdict

The Verdict

The firm

Watson, Farley & Williams has a well-established record in the maritime, energy and finance sectors, with a raft of international offices across Europe, Asia and the US. On the transactional side, the firm has a strong client portfolio of banks and business owners. It also enjoys a good reputation for cross-border shipping and commodities disputes, as well as more general international arbitration matters.

The star performers

Arbitration; Asset finance and leasing; Banking litigation; Commercial litigation; Employment; Shipping; Transport.

The deals

Advised Teekay on a $32m revolving credit facility from ABN Amro; advised Nordea on a demand guarantee claim; advising Standard Chartered Bank on a $50m reserve-based lending facility to fund offshore drilling projects; representing Lloyds TSB on the termination of a ship finance lease.

The clients

Bayerngas UK; Costa Cruise; DnB NOR; Dry Tank; DVB; Equatorial Palm Oil; Madagascar Oil; Seaspan Corporation.

The winners

Legal Business Awards 2011

Highly commended Law firm of the year.

The Verdict

With plenty of 'opportunity for international travel' and expertise in shipping, asset finance and corporate work, Watson, Farley & Williams is a great option. With a relatively small intake the mid-sized City firm provides a 'good mix of responsibility and support' to its trainees and does so within a very 'collegiate atmosphere'. The six-seat training at the firm is a popular feature and is more 'partner led'. And there is no chance of being 'chained to a photocopier' for weeks on end as you may well find yourself involved in large transactions from early on, particularly in the ship finance department where you will be 'dealing with clients on a daily basis'. You could also find yourself taking advantage of the firm's international network by doing a seat in Greece or France, whilst back in the UK a trip to the Supreme Court has been a highlight for one trainee. Having an in-house chef who creates the most 'amazing' dishes is another plus. Training is 'very finance heavy' so if that doesn't appeal then perhaps this isn't the firm for you and current trainees would appreciate more social events both with clients and the firm. There are also murmurs about a few 'old-school' partners. That said, you can be sure that WFW will provide you with varied and expert 'hands-on training' and an excellent introduction to the world of finance.

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Kavan Mahendra Bakhda, trainee solicitor, Watson, Farley & Williams LLP
Departments to date: Asset finance, litigation, Bangkok
University: London School of Economics and Imperial College London
Degree: Law, 2(1) and MSc Management, merit

9.15am: I arrive at the office, check my emails and respond to emails that have come in from our Piraeus office who have been assisting with the translation of a claim form that we intend to serve in Greece.

9.30am: I talk to my supervisor (a partner in the international litigation and arbitration department) about the various matters that we are working on. A borrower has defaulted under the terms of a loan agreement granted by our client bank. We are going to arrest the borrower's vessel as security under the mortgage.

10.30am: Having decided the course of action we are going to take, I speak to one of the assistants in the department who had arrested a vessel in the same port recently who talks me through the documents that I would need to draft. People are really friendly here; they are always willing to help and their doors are always open.

11.30am: Drafting the documents proves to be straightforward following the advice I have been given, even though this is the first time that I have arrested a vessel.

12.45pm: I listen in on a conference call my supervisor has with the admiralty marshal at the Royal Courts of Justice, to forewarn them that we intend to file an application for arrest.

1.00pm: I meet a friend for lunch who is working at a bank near our office. The office is so central that many of my friends from law school and university are working in the area which is really handy.

2.00pm: I check the documents that I have left with my secretary to type up. Once that is done my supervisor has a look over my drafts, and I arrange for the court fee to be drawn from accounts.

3.00pm: I set off for court to have our arrest application issued. Even though the court registry closes at 4.30pm I know by now how busy it can be there on a Friday afternoon, so it is better to leave plenty of time to pay the fee at the fees office and then go to the registry to have the application issued.

4.00pm: Luckily the deputy admiralty marshal and the admiralty marshal were expecting our application due to the conference call we had earlier in the day and there are no problems in having our application issued.

5.30pm: When I'm back at the office we call our client and inform them that everything has gone to plan, and they are extremely happy that we have been able to act so quickly.

6.00pm: My next seat is in Bangkok so I have a Thai language lesson in preparation for this, which is challenging but fun.

7.30pm: After my lesson is finished I check my emails before leaving and find out that next week I am going to be helping on a case to enforce foreign maintenance orders in the UK. The nature of the work is so varied and interesting that you could be in court having a vessel arrested one day and preparing advice on maintenance orders the next.

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 15 Appold Street, London EC2A 2HB

Telephone: 020 7814 8000

Fax: 020 7814 8017

Website: www.wfw.com/trainee

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

Senior partner: Mike Vernell (London office head)

Managing partner: Michael Greville

Other offices: Athens, Bangkok, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Piraeus, Rome, Singapore

Who we are: WFW was founded in 1982 in the City of London. It has since grown rapidly to over 100 partners and a total staff of over 600.

What we do: WFW is a distinctive law firm with a leading market position in international finance and investment, maritime and energy. We also specialise in natural resources, transport, real estate and technology.

What we are looking for: You will need a 2(1) or above. We also ask for at least 320 UCAS points (ABB) from A-level results, or their equivalent. As well as academic achievement, we particularly value applicants with initiative, drive and commercial awareness.

What you'll do: At WFW we deal with training and ongoing development in an individual way. During each seat, we discuss with you plans for the next one, encouraging a two-way conversation about areas you are interested in. Each trainee undertakes six four-month seats, sitting with a partner or a senior assistant. Currently trainees also spend a seat in Paris, Piraeus, Singapore or Bangkok and undertake most of the PSC at the start of their training contract.

Perks: Available after a qualifying period of service: 25 days' holiday plus public and bank holidays, income protection scheme, life assurance, employee assistance scheme, group personal pension scheme, annual interest-free season ticket loan, £250 contribution towards a sports club membership of your choice, WFW healthcare membership.

Sponsorship: Sponsorship is available for both the GDL and LPC depending on point of offer plus a maintenance grant.

Facts & figures