Retention latest: HFW and Charles Russell Speechlys reveal September scores

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By Thomas Connelly on

Results of 80% and 71%

HFW’s London office

London-headquarterd firms HFW and Charles Russell Speechlys have posted their autumn retention scores.

First up HFW, which revealed to Legal Cheek that eight of its ten trainees due to qualify this month have opted to stay put. This gives HFW, which was known as Holman Fenwick Willan prior to a rebrand earlier this summer, a strong 80% score. It confirmed to us that it had made eight offers.

Four of the firm’s London teams will gain one newly qualified lawyer (NQ) each: shipping, commodities, insurance, and energy. The four remaining rookies will join HFW’s Dubai, Hong Kong, Paris and Piraeus outposts. None are on fixed term contracts.

HFW’s newbies will start lawyer life on a recently improved salary of £62,000. HFW’s trainees earn £37,000 in year one, rising to £39,000 in year two.

Elsewhere in the City, Charles Russell Speechlys has confirmed 17 of its 24 autumn NQs have accepted associate positions at the firm. Having made 17 offers in total, this equates to a decent score of 71%. Among those heading for the exit is an NQ who is relocating abroad, and one who has set up their own business.

The new recruits will be split across nine of the firm’s practice areas, including corporate, commercial, banking, family, and construction. Charles Russell Speechlys’ London office will gain 13 NQs, while its Guildford hub will receive three. The remaining lawyer is Cheltenham bound.

Charles Russell Speechlys NQs in London will start on a salary of £64,000, while their Guildford and Cheltenham peers will earn £49,000 and £41,000 respectively.

Trainee autumn retention 2017

Firm Score Breakdown
Burges Salmon 100% 28/28
Watson Farley & Williams 100% 15/15
Fieldfisher 100% 13/13
Blake Morgan 100% 9/9
Forsters 100% 8/8
Sullivan & Cromwell 100% 4/4
Latham & Watkins 95% 21/22
Ashurst 95% 19/20
Macfarlanes 92% 23/25 (two on FTC*)
Slaughter and May 91% 29/32
Travers Smith 90% 18/20
Ince & Co 90% 9/10
Stephenson Harwood 90% 9/10
Blake Morgan 89% 8/9
Reed Smith 86% 12/14
Allen & Overy 85% 40/47
Linklaters 84% 47/56
Gowling WLG 84% 21/25
Bird & Bird 83% 15/18
White & Case 83% 15/18
Covington & Burling 83% 5/6
Osborne Clarke 82% 14/17
RPC 82% 14/17
Clifford Chance 81% 42/52
Addleshaw Goddard 81% 38/47
Bond Dickinson 81% 22/27
Eversheds Sutherland 80% 44/55
Herbert Smith Freehills 80% 28/35
Hogan Lovells 80% 24/30
HFW 80% 8/10
Clyde & Co 79% 34/43 (one on FTC)
Mills & Reeve 79% 15/19 (one on FTC)
DLA Piper 78% 75/96
Simmons & Simmons 78% 21/27
Shearman & Sterling 75% 12/16
Pinsent Masons 74% 67/91
Mayer Brown 73% 8/11
Withers 73% 8/11
Charles Russell Speechlys 71% 17/24
Trowers & Hamlins 70% 7/10
Berwin Leighton Paisner 67% 16/24
Browne Jacobson 67% 6/9
Freshfields 66% 27/41
Dentons 64% 18/28
Mishcon de Reya 64% 9/14
Taylor Wessing 62% 16/26
Kirkland & Ellis 56% 5/9
Weil Gotshal 50% 5/10
Stewarts Law 25% 1/4

*Fixed term contract

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