The Legal Cheek View
When the merger between Beachcroft and Davis Arnold Cooper was announced some 13 years ago there were high hopes that we were about to see an ABCD LLP. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. And the more sensibly named DAC Beachcroft came into being instead.
Since that UK mega-merger, it’s been all systems go for DACB, with mergers in Scotland, Chile and Colombia and associations with firms in Malaysia, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Australia, Singapore, Germany, China and now Ecuador, building out the firm’s global presence. The past few years have also seen office openings in Miami, Paris, Belfast, Milan, Rome, Buenos Aires, Peru, Hong Kong and — most recently – New York and Los Angeles.
Growth isn’t just the name of the game geographically for DAC Beachcroft — the firm is also upsizing financially. A 6% uptick has taken firmwide revenues to £348 million in what marks more than a decade of consistent growth for the firm. Profits grew an equally healthy 7% to £76 million whilst average profits per equity partner (PEP) broke the £750,000 mark.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, managing partner David Pollitt has attributed these impressive numbers to DAC Beachcroft’s commitment to growing its international operations, but an equally steadfast approach to maintaining its core strengths in insurance, health and real estate has been just as important for driving growth. This year has also seen the firm expand its full-service offering through its business advisory group, building on strengths in its financial services, technology and shipping, trade and commodities practices. There’s also been some change at the top with 12 new faces making partner in DACB’s latest promotion round and insurance expert Helen Faulkner set to take the reins from Pollitt as managing partner after a near decade in charge.
DACB is larger than many realise. It has 11 UK offices, including a “very swish” City of London HQ in the iconic Walbrook Building and regional outposts in Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle. Beyond the international hubs already mentioned, the firm also has an office in Madrid and a presence in Canada through its local law firm alliance ‘Legalign Global’.
Work-wise, rookies across the board report being given good amounts of responsibility on “highly stimulating” projects. One insider reports: “I have worked on some of the biggest matters that the firm has had through the door in the last year and have been able to contribute to all pieces of work”. Another relieved rookie relayed that: “In each team, I have been trusted with important aspects of some very big projects. It hasn’t just been admin!” On the whole, trainees told LC they are “trusted with complex work with a lot of responsibility and ownership” and at least one happy camper says: “I enjoy the work I do and find that it always keeps me interested.”
There certainly are plenty of high-profile matters and clients on the books at DACB. Rookies here can cut their teeth on large remits involving the Post Office in their disputes amidst the Horizon scandal or might be helping the Markerstudy Insurance Services Limited (MISL) secure a criminal conviction for an organised insurance fraudster. Lawyers in the construction and engineering team have also been busy advising the University of Sunderland on a £10 million contract for a new London campus at Canary Wharf. And Nectar-points collectors might also be happy to learn the firm was also recently appointed to Sainsbury’s legal board.
One trainee offered this detailed insight into the work on offer here: “In my first two seats I have certainly felt that the quality of work given to me is at a level equivalent to the work carried out by NQs. Where partners are working on really interesting matters, I have felt that they have made every effort to get me involved in some way.”
The training on offer receives strong reviews. While some trainees noted a lack of “formalised training or presentations” in certain seats, overall, rookies seem satisfied — particularly appreciating supervisors and colleagues who take the time to explain things.
Partner approachability is a key strength for the firm with one rookie praising “extremely approachable” superiors. DAC Beachcroft has opted for an office sharing policy in which partners, associates and trainees sit side by side. This has gone down particularly well with juniors, one of whom told us: “All the partners and senior associates are very approachable. Because we all sit in the same area, we can just walk up and ask them questions.” Although one trainee confessed that “it can be difficult to get a hold of some partners on a particularly busy day”, the “fantastic” peer support at the firm is evergreen: “everyone wants to help and support you in succeeding.” Another echoed this sentiment, adding that “there is always support there — if I needed help with anything I feel that people in my team would be more than happy to help.”
Work/life balance is equally described as being “great”, with DAC Beachcroft boasting very decent hours which are at the lower end of the corporate scale. “I am able to fully enjoy my weekends as I rarely have to work”, reports one recruit. Another tells us that any long hours are merely “one-offs and case specific” with seniors “regularly checking in on trainees” and “encouraging taking time back where possible”. Trainee social lives are helped out by a generous working from home policy which only demands two days in the office each week — cutting out the commute makes it that much easier to enjoy weeknight plans.
Another had this to say on the WLB and DACB: “Much more relaxed compared to friends at other firms. There is no expectation to stay late, but you often do stay an extra hour or two and, if you do, people are generally very thankful and notice it. You can also work from home as much as you want (within reason) and adjust your hours informally if needed (such as taking longer lunches or starting and finishing late) to go to the gym or appointments.”
Despite its ever-growing international presence, there are currently no international secondments on offer but data from the Legal Cheek Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey shows that a good portion of recruits take up the opportunity of a client secondment. Most end up at insurance giants like AIG and AXA UK, although a healthy number of seconded rookies also gain experience with health and social care clients, from NHS Trusts to independent healthcare companies.
There have been some grumblings over the state of the firm’s legal tech, however. Frustrated rookies have revealed that the firm relies on some “pretty rubbish” and “outdated” software whilst another tactful trainee adds that DACB is “not really leading in AI sphere either.” That being said, it is noted that the firm are preparing to begin implementing AI with committees being set up for this very purpose and other cup-half-full recruits noted that “the firm is looking at better options” and even “actively involved in developing new legal tech”, so it seems DACB has taken complaints on board.
Newbies are generally satisfied with the DAC Beachcroft offices which they describe as “nice” and “relatively modern”. Those in London appreciate the “skyline views” from their City abode and, whilst those in the regions have a little bit of office-envy for their London counterparts, imminent relocations to the Landmark building in Manchester and the Welcome building in Bristol are sure to assuage these concerns. In London, the canteen also gets a particularly glowing write-up, as one rookie reports: “The bistro has a good ambience and it overlooks a small garden”. Another adds: “It is cheap and the food is good”. Although provincial recruits aren’t treated to quite the same level of luxury, some offices do provide the occasional free breakfast!
Social life seems to be booming at DACB where rookies report: “There are firm-wide drinks every month and different departments and teams organise their own drinks regularly on top of client drinks.” To top all this off the firm puts on an annual Christmas bash and summer soirée. There are also some quirky social traditions thriving on a team level, as an insider told Legal Cheek, “One team has a monthly pie night.” There’s also perhaps the best selection of trolleys of any firm in corporate law: a drinks trolley at the end of every month on Fridays at 4pm, an ice lolly trolley during hot weather, occasional doughnuts and fruit platter trolleys, and a prosecco trolley for end-of-year financial results.