Firms

Withers

 

Web:  www.withersworldwide.com 

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

 

 

Web:  www.withersworldwide.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? 

 ''For the focus on interesting and successful private clients'; 'the friendly and welcoming solicitors'; 'really enjoyed the vacation scheme'; 'wide range of practice areas'; 'good work/ life balance'; 'practice areas and unique international outlook for a private client/niche firm'; 'expanding and ambitious outlook'' 

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

 ''We received a lot more client contact and responsibility from day one'; 'our opinions are valued and listened to, as opposed to my peers who have become honorary members of their document production team'; 'we seem to do far more 'real' work'; 'marginally better/more predictable hours'' 

Best thing about the firm? 

 ''Lot more 'classy', sophisticated and follows the trends'; 'the interesting and varied super-wealthy clients I deal with'; 'supervision and advice is always available'; 'really friendly and approachable people. Support staff are great'; '1.5hrs of free language lessons a week'; 'great cookies and canapÃés at client meetings and seminars'' 

Worst thing about the firm? 

 ''It still can be a bit stuffy'; 'a comparatively small corporate department'; 'not many social events organised'; 'social life could definitely be better both amongst trainees and also firmwide'; 'the firm is definitely under-appreciated'; 'the lack of secondments either nationally or abroad'; 'you can't get dinner in the office'; 'seems a bit slow IT-wise'' 

Best moment? 

 ''Visiting a container of designer goods bought using our client's credit cards (unauthorised). It was like entering Fashion Wonderland'; 'attending numerous client meetings with a very famous and incredibly wealthy individual'; 'winning a substantial litigation case'' 

Worst moment?

 ''Staying late in the office on Christmas Eve'; 'preparing endless bundles for the family department'; 'being sent to physically take possession of a property'; 'bundling late on a Friday night was pretty miserable'; 'billing'; 'chasing clients for identification and client care letters - heavily bureaucratic and long winded''

The Lex 100 verdict

 The Verdict

The firm

Withers stands out as having a truly international practice, with offices in Milan, Geneva, Hong Kong and the US and, since March 2009, the British Virgin Islands (which focuses on litigation and commercial work). It covers most areas of private client, and is perhaps most notable for its tax planning, rural estates and family work. Entrepreneurs are a target for the corporate team, and the firm has a growing employment practice. 

The star performers

Administrative and public law; Agriculture and estates; Charities and not-for-profit; Commercial property; Contentious trusts and probate; Employment; Family; Fraud: commercial and regulatory investigations; Heritage property; M&A: smaller deals up to £50m; Personal tax, trusts and probate.

The deals

Advised the chief executive of Keydata Investment Services in relation to the FSA's investigation; advised the founders of Sophos on its $830m sale to Apax Partners; advising a Dutch family on the purchase of a sizeable estate in the north of England; acted in Re MN, the leading case on cross-border incapacity welfare decisions.

The clients

Anton Du Beke; Cancer Research UK; Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay; Renault Formula 1; the RSPCA.

The Verdict

If you like the idea of working for a City firm with a difference consider Withers. With a 'focus on Italian work and Italian clients' you could find yourself making trips to the Milan office or even one of its US ones. With an 'excellent reputation' for family and private client work there is a high chance that you will end up working for some 'interesting and successful private clients' as well as getting to see your friends outside of work thanks to the firm's 'good' work/life balance. Liking that it is not 'too enormous', trainees report that the practice areas are 'broad' and that training is a lot more varied with the chance to do seats not only in family but also in property, corporate and employment. Prepare also to be given 'a lot of client contact and responsibility (if you want it) from day one' and rather than being treated like a member of the document production team your opinions will be 'valued and listened to'. One trainee feels that at times it can be a bit 'stuffy' and another comments on the 'slow' IT systems. But working for the 'super wealthy' has some great perks such as having some completion lunches in 'very swanky' restaurants or 'having champagne delivered to the office by a happy client'. With a 'great focus on career and business development', Withers is perfect for those looking to get some high-quality private client and corporate experience in a fairly 'unique' atmosphere.

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

James Neal, first-year trainee, Withers LLP 
Departments to date:  Employment (litigation)
University: University College, London 
Degree: Law and Italian Law (with Erasmus study in Florence, Italy), 2(1) 

---

9.00am: I try to get into the office reasonably early so that I have time to read through emails and scan the news online before the day really kicks off. A surprising number of news stories touch on aspects of employment law and I print out an article to discuss at the next employment update meeting. I then spend a few minutes chatting with people in the department - the atmosphere in the office is really friendly and I feel very much a part of the team.

9.30am: My supervisor, Daniel Isaac, arrives and, over a cup of tea, we discuss the day ahead. I bemoan my football team's most recent dreadful performance and he recounts the latest amusing antics of his children. I share a room with Daniel, with whom I work directly and who oversees my progress. Daniel's experience and position as a partner mean that he is always able to offer guidance and to answer any queries I may have, no matter how apparently basic or trivial!

9.45am: Having consulted my to-do list, I see that my most pressing task will be to draft a contract dealing with maternity leave cover for a well-known charitable foundation. I begin by searching online for background material, then check the applicable statutory wording and locate a relevant precedent on our know-how system.

10.00am: One of the great things about training at Withers is that, as a medium-sized firm, trainees are regularly trusted with significant responsibilities, including dealing directly with clients. I telephone the client foundation to elicit the information I need to start drafting the contract.

10.15am: It had become apparent that the contract will have to include an unusual provision, so I email the fee-earners in my department to check whether there is anything I need to be particularly aware of. I can now start tailoring the precedent to suit the client's particular requirements.

1.00pm: With drafting well under way, and as lunchtime looms, I go down to the cafeteria where several of the other trainees have already gathered. Most of us get together for lunch each day, which provides a chance to hear about what is going on in the other departments, as well as to catch up on what various people have planned for the weekend.

1.45pm: Returning to my desk I see that a senior assistant has sent me some information that is likely to be useful in finalising the contract. I add this to my working notes to be integrated later, before dashing to join a 2pm training session. These in-house sessions are led by fee-earners and their focused but informal style offers plenty of opportunity for interaction and follow-up.

3.00pm: I return to complete the draft contract which I then give to my supervisor for review. Daniel suggests some minor modifications, and, once the changes are made, I send the document to the client.

4.45pm: A partner in the employment team calls to invite me to join her at a meeting with a new client. Elaine briefs me on the background. While Elaine advises the client, I sit in and take an attendance note. Once the formal meeting has come to an end the client stays on for a few minutes to tell us enthusiastically about his company's latest product.

6.15pm: Back in my office, I dictate the note of the meeting and send it to be transcribed.

6.30pm: Having checked with my supervisor that nothing else needs urgent attention, I see from my emails that several fellow trainees have arranged to meet at a nearby bar. As I shall shortly be moving to the firm's Milan office for my next seat, and another trainee is about to leave for the Hong Kong office, I take advantage of one of the last opportunities to have a beer with them before heading home.

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 16 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EG

Telephone: 020 7597 6000

Fax: 020 7329 2534

Website: www.withersworldwide.com

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

Senior partner: Anthony Indaimo

Managing partner: Margaret Robertson

 

Other offices: New Haven, New York, Greenwich (US), Geneva, Zurich, Milan, Hong Kong, British Virgin Islands. 

Who we are:  Withers LLP is a leading international law firm dedicated to the business, personal and philanthropic interests of successful people, their families, businesses and advisers. The firm's mission is to offer a truly integrated legal service to people with sophisticated global wealth, management and business needs.

What we do: Withers has five main areas of practice: wealth planning, family, real estate, litigation and commercial. Work is often international due to the complexity of our client base, which includes some of the wealthiest global citizens.

What we are looking for: Trainees must have an excellent academic background and great attention to detail. An international outlook and creativity are also key. Language skills are important to us due to the international nature of our work. We work in teams so team players with leadership potential are of high interest.

What you'll do:  Trainees spend six months in four different departments with a trained supervisor. Working in a team with a partner and assistant solicitor provides autonomy, responsibility and fast development. Trainees have an induction and attend internal soft skills sessions.

Perks: Contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, income protection plan, 23-25 days' holiday, life assurance, Christmas bonus, season ticket loan, subsidised gym membership, free doctor's service, flu jabs.

Sponsorship: PgDL or CPE and/or LPC fees are paid, plus a maintenance grant of £5,000 per year.

 

Facts & figures

 Facts and figures

Trainee places available for 2014: 13

Applications received pa: 500 

Percentage interviewed: 20% 

Salary

First year: £33,000

Second year: £35,000

Newly qualified: £53,000

 The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £92.7m (-1% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £309,000 (+20%)

Total partners: 113

Other fee-earners: 254

Total trainees: 32

APPLY NOW

Application process

Apply to: Jaya Louvre, recruitment manager.

How: Apply using our online application form atwww.withersworldwide.com/careers. 

When to Apply: Apply for 2014 training contracts by 31 July 2012. 

What is involved: Candidates are interviewed by a partner and complete a written test covering commercial awareness, drafting and grammar. Successful candidates attend a further interview with two partners where they choose a topic to present and discuss with the partners. Candidates meet a current trainee and are shown around our offices. Interviews take place from April until September. 

 

 Vacation schemes

Spring: 19-30 March (apply by 31 January 2012). 

Summer: 25 June - 6 July, 9-20 July, 23 July - 3 August (apply by 31 January 2012). Two-week long placements are available in our London office.