Firms

Bird & Bird

 

Web:  www.twobirds.com 

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

 

 

Web:  www.twobirds.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? 

 ''Its proven track record in sports law'; 'reputation for IP and work in technology-heavy industries'; 'I was made to feel welcome and valued by everyone I met on the vacation scheme'; 'Interesting work'; 'people seemed friendly'; 'well-respected, interesting and varied types of work'' 

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

 ''Significantly better than most of my peers'; 'better work and hours and more respect'; 'much friendlier environment'; 'my training has felt more considerate'; 'pay and client contact slightly worse'; 'no culture of being expected to stay late and evenings and weekends are nearly always my own'' 

Best thing about the firm? 

 ''Lots of responsibility'; 'emphasis on developing skills'; 'opportunity to do interesting multi-jurisdictional work'; 'the open-door, friendly, collaborative culture'; 'opportunities for client and foreign office secondments are increasing all the time'; 'being able to direct your own career path'; 'I'm rarely afraid to ask for help and guidance'' 

Worst thing about the firm? 

 ''Split over three offices'; 'some of the smaller departments don't always have a structured development and training plan'; 'seat allocation is a nightmare'; 'sometimes a lack of communication from central management'' 

Best moment? 

 ''My secondment to one of Bird & Bird's international offices'; 'completing my first deal'; 'the diversity of matters and the depth of involvement'; 'working on a high-profile matter and seeing the project through to completion'; 'thoroughly enjoyable client secondment'' 

Worst moment?

 ''Having to photocopy boxes of documents because print-room staff had left for the evening'; 'uninterrupted disclosure for weeks on end'; 'misunderstanding my instructions and sending a fax to the other side in a patent litigation case before it had been formally approved'; 'increased stress of competition between trainees towards the end of the training contract''

The Lex 100 verdict

 The Verdict

The firm

Bird & Bird is a name synonymous with media, IP, IT, telecoms, biotech and sports law, with clients saying the firm has 'unparalleled strength in depth'. Following its 2008 merger with Lane & Partners, and its simultaneous launch in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, the firm recently announced plans to expand yet further. 

The star performers

Aviation; Brand management; Commercial contracts; IP: contentious, non-contentious and patent litigation; IT and telecoms; Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology; Public sector; Sport.

The deals

Advised the Whitbread Group on its Costa Coffee, Premier Inn and Beefeater brands; advised T-Mobile and Orange on their Everything Everywhere joint venture; won a major patent dispute for Norwegian oil service company EMGS in the Court of Appeal; advised Codemasters on game development during 2010.

The clients

Actavis; Associated Newspapers; BT; FIBA; International Cricket Council; Lawn Tennis Association; Lenovo; Nokia; Nordic Spirit; Tate & Lyle Ventures; The Football Association; UK Media Monitoring Association; Yahoo!; Yoostar Entertainment.

The Verdict

The consideration and respect afforded to trainees at Bird & Bird is a standout feature of the firm and many comment on feeling 'welcome and valued' when they arrive. Well-regarded for its IP, IT, media, life sciences and sports law practices, the firm's sector focus attracts trainees as does the fact that work is also increasingly international in scope, due to the firm's extending global reach. This in turn gives rise to steadily improving chances to assist on cross-border deals and opportunities for foreign secondments, which is never a bad thing! Trainees also feel able to direct their own career paths due to the lack of compulsory seats during training. The considerate approach also extends to the firm's appreciation for work/life balance. Client lunches to celebrate the closure of multimillion-pound deals and working on a negotiation which involved 'lots of high drama, grandstanding, and secret conversations outside the room' are just examples of the kinds of things that you might experience. As in previous years, the majority of comments about the worst thing about the firm relate to the fact that it is split over three buildings, which some say can feel a 'bit divisive' at times. 'Long days of proofing' didn't go down well with one trainee but are really part of the package of trainee life at many firms. Trainees speak of the overall 'open-door, friendly, collaborative culture' where they feel 'valued as a member of the team' which makes Bird & Bird sound like a great choice, particularly for those with an interest in the firm's core sectors.

A day in the life

A day in the life of.....

Timothy Goodwin, second-year trainee, Bird & Bird 
Departments to date:  corporate/tax, dispute resolution, employment
University: University of Edinburgh 
Degree: Politics, 2(1) 

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8.30am: I arrive at my desk and I usually spend a few minutes getting myself together - looking through emails, making to-do lists and generally making sure the day gets off to a good start.

9.00am: We have a weekly department meeting, which gives everyone the chance to catch up. Once a month this is expanded into an employment law update session, which is a really good learning tool.

9.30am: I return to my desk to read an email from an associate who I am assisting on a case involving a discrimination claim. This has taken an interesting turn as the client's employer has sent a dismissal letter. The associate and I discuss the matter, and I start researching the key issues, with a view to producing a draft appeal letter later today.

10.45am: I review some documents on a wholly different matter so that I can accompany a partner to a client meeting. The case is another interesting one, involving 'whistleblowing' - an employee believes he may be dismissed as a result of raising concerns about regulatory compliance problems. Often you have a number of different matters on the go at once which means you need to make sure that you're constantly up-to-date with each matter and be able to switch from one to another easily. It's this level of pace that I find really exciting.

11.00am: I go to the client meeting. A large proportion of the time is spent talking about strategic issues and how they might impact upon our case, and what will be the strongest lines of attack. My job is to keep a detailed attendance note and to make sure that I have a record of all the action points so that we can make sure they're all covered later.

1.00pm: The meeting ends just in time for me to shoot over to the canteen, the 'Bird Table' (part of a long list of bird-based puns, including our award-winning rock band: Birds of Prey). I haven't arranged to meet anyone, but there's always someone there I know. With a relatively small trainee intake, everyone knows everyone else here - which is great for socialising.

2.00pm: Back to my desk and I type up the attendance note from this morning's meeting while it's still fresh in my mind.

2.30pm: An associate pops his head round the door to ask me to do a quick piece of research on an immigration issue he's working on. This requires a call to the UK Border Agency and as the query is quite complex, I set about distilling the information gleaned from research and the discussion with UKBA into helpful advice for the client.

3.00pm: After a quick chat with the associate running the discrimination case, I turn my attention to drafting the client's dismissal appeal letter. There are one or two small issues that need clarifying, so I give the client a call to talk them through, and I then begin the draft.

5.30pm: I meet with my supervisor to talk about a business development project I am working on. Trainees are encouraged to get involved with this side of our work from an early stage. This can be really useful for training, development and making contacts, and even led to my getting an article published in an international tax journal on the VAT implications of Subway's Meatball Marinara sandwich!

6.00pm: There are a number of after-work activities that everyone gets involved in - from the legal advice clinic and organising social and charity events, to our rugby, football and softball teams. Tonight I am off to the firm's quiz to raise money for the firm's charity of the year. I planned the event together with four other trainees so I am hoping all goes well!

About the firm

About the firm

Address: 15 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1JP

Telephone: 020 7415 6003

Fax: 020 7415 6111

Website: www.twobirds.com

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

CEO:  David Kerr

Chairman:  Michael Frie

 

Other offices: Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Bratislava, Brussels, Budapest, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, The Hague, Hamburg, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Lyon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rome, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Warsaw 

Who we are:  Bird & Bird is a global law firm with over 900 lawyers in 23 offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia as well as close ties with firms in other parts of the world.

What we do: What we do: Bird & Bird is an international law firm with a long-established reputation underpinned by deep client and industry knowledge, for providing cutting-edge legal advice to clients operating at the forefront of their sectors, including: aviation and defence, automotive, communications, electronics, energy and utilities, financial services, food and beverage, healthcare, information technology, life sciences, media and sports.

What we are looking for: We recruit strong graduates capable of developing expert legal skills and commercial acumen. Our trainee solicitors are outgoing, articulate team players willing to work hard when called upon and genuinely interested in progressing their careers. We aim to recruit candidates who have a long-term interest in Bird & Bird and the sectors and areas of legal practice we focus on.

What you'll do:  Our trainees take on responsibility from day one and enjoy varied and challenging work for industry-shaping clients. The firm is personal enough for our trainees to make their mark in our friendly, stimulating workplace.

Perks: Bonus scheme, gym membership/subsidy, life insurance, pension scheme, private healthcare, season ticket loan, subsidised restaurant.

Sponsorship: Sponsorship through GDL and LPC and a maintenance grant of £5,500 per study year.

 

Facts & figures

 Facts and figures

Trainee places available for 2014: 16

Applications received pa: 2,700 

Percentage interviewed: 6% 

Salary

First year: £35,000

Second year: £37,000

Newly qualified: £58,000

 The money

(from Legal Business magazine)

Turnover in 2010: £201.8m (+8% from 2009) Profits per equity partner: £465,000 (-3%)

Total partners: Over 230

Other fee-earners: Over 580

Total trainees: 28 in London

APPLY NOW

Application process

Apply to: Graduate and trainee management team.

How: Online at www.twobirds.com or www.cvmail.com.au. 

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

What is involved: Successful applicants are invited to one of our assessment days. Candidates who successfully evidence particular competencies are then invited back to a formal interview, normally arranged at the beginning of September. 

 

 Vacation schemes

Summer: 25 June - 13 July 2012, 16 July - 3 August 2012 (apply by 31 January 2012)