86% and 67%
White & Case and Eversheds Sutherland have reported their latest trainee retention rates for autumn 2025.
White & Case is retaining 19 of its 22 trainees due to qualify this September, representing an 86% retention rate. Of these, 17 will join the firm’s London office, working across practice areas such as capital markets and international arbitration. The remaining two will take up roles in the firm’s Singapore and Helsinki offices.
The result is in line with W&C’s retention rate average of 83% between 2021 and 2025. The firm also retained 87% of qualifiers in March 2025.
Inigo Esteve, White & Case office executive partner in london, said:
“Trainee lawyers commencing their career at White & Case can expect to be part of a programme which challenges and nurtures their growth. Retaining top talent remains a priority for the Firm and we understand how important it is to set our trainees up for success in the legal profession — we do this by providing trainees with consistent support and opening the door to experiences advising international clients on their most significant cross-border matters.”
Meanwhile, Eversheds Sutherland has retained 35 of its 52 trainees, resulting in a retention rate of 67%. This marks a drop from the firm’s previous rate of 79% in both 2023 and 2024.
The latest score six trainees who qualified six months early in March using ‘time to count’ and have all secured roles at the firm, along with four who qualified through the solicitor apprenticeship pathway.
Six trainees chose not to apply for a role whilst two accepted offers at other firms during the application process. Nine applied but were unsuccessful in securing an NQ position.
Earlier this summer, Legal Cheek reported that the firm boosted pay for their London-based NQs to £110,000 — a 10% rise from the current £100,000.
Trainee retention rates round-up 🤝
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| Firm | Trainees | Retained | Retention Rate | NQ Destinations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wedlake Bell | 8 | 8 | 100% | 2 to insolvency; 1 each to commercial disputes, construction, corporate, tax, IP/commercial, and private client |
| Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer | 31 | 29 | 94% | Undisclosed |
| Irwin Mitchell | 53 | 48 | 91% | 14 to business services group; 12 to medical negligence; 9 to court of protection & public law & human rights; 8 to private client group; 4 to personal injury; 1 to general counsel |
| RPC | 18 | 16 | 89% | 6 to insurance; 6 to disputes (3 IP/tech, 2 commercial litigation, 1 media); 4 to corporate & commercial |
| Watson Farley & Williams | 18 | 16 | 89% | 5 to asset finance; 4 to project finance; 2 to corporate; 1 to debt capital markets; 2 to disputes and 1 to finance in Dubai; 1 to disputes in Bangkok |
| Mishcon de Reya | 30 | 26 | 87% | Undisclosed |
| Clifford Chance | 57 | 49 | 86% | Undisclosed |
| Macfarlanes | 28 | 24 | 86% | Undisclosed |
| White & Case | 22 | 19 | 86% | Capital Markets, Construction, Debt Finance, Financial Restructuring & Insolvency, International Arbitration, Mergers & Acquisitions, Project Development & Finance, and White Collar. Two trainees join the Firm’s offices in Singapore and Helsinki. |
| Baker McKenzie | 20 | 17 | 85% | 4 to disputes; 3 to employment; 2 each to corporate M&A and corporate energy & infrastructure; 1 each to corporate finance, corporate private equity, intellectual property, and financial services regulatory; 2 to antitrust & competition |
| Lewis Silkin | 6 | 5 | 83% | 2 to employment; 1 each to IP, corporate, and digital, creative & commerce |
| Linklaters | 40 | 33 | 83% | Undisclosed |
| Shoosmiths | 42 | 34 | 81% | 13 to corporate & banking; 6 to people & reward; 4 to litigation; 4 to commercial; 4 to real estate; 3 other/undisclosed — Office split: 8 London; 7 Manchester; 6 Birmingham; 2 Reading; 3 Solent; 2 Leeds; 2 Belfast; 2 Thames Valley; 1 Glasgow; 1 Milton Keynes |
| Bird & Bird | 20 | 15 | 75% | 5 to commercial; 5 to IP; 2 to disputes; 2 to corporate; 1 to employment |
| Pinsent Masons | 71 | 52 | 73% | 19 to finance & projects; 13 to transactional; 10 to property; 10 to risk advisory |
| A&O Shearman | 54 | 37 | 69% | Undisclosed |
| Eversheds Sutherland | 52 | 35 | 67% | Corporate Finance, Commercial Advisory, Litigation & Dispute Management, Employment, Labor & Pensions, and Real Estate. |
| Hogan Lovells | 24 | 16 (1 on FTC) | 67%/63% | 9 (10 including FTC) to corporate & finance; 4 to global regulatory & IP; 2 to litigation, arbitration & employment |
| Withers | 14 | 9 | 65% | Undisclosed |
