Penningtons Manches Cooper

In the UK, the firm has seven offices: London, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Reading, Cambridge, Guildford and Oxford. Trainees can choose to train in most of these locations but must choose wisely as the available seats differ across offices. For example, IP/IT and employment are offered in Oxford, Cambridge, London and Reading.

In addition to its private client practice, Penningtons Manches Cooper has a strong M&A team focusing on deals up to £50 million in value. The firm has handled transactions within the real estate, technology, life sciences and retail sectors, notably advising US owned extreme sports challenge organiser Tough Mudder on their commercial contracts. Rookies in the IP team also have the opportunity to work with brand names such as Jimmy Choo and Ikea, both of which Penningtons has advised on infringement claims. On the commercial real estate side, the firm’s London team recently acted for the investor behind the Paddington Square development –– a new retail and dining space seated at the entrance to Paddington station.

Due to the relatively small intake –– around 12 across all UK offices –– trainees have significant exposure to interesting matters, which “90% of the time are incredibly interesting, stimulating and exciting,” we’re told. “I have been afforded an amazing amount of responsibility in each of my seats, from completing the first draft of contracts or pleadings, as well as leading contract negotiations with the other side and clients,” says one trainee. “Each time I have done so I have received constructive feedback and my skills have developed considerably as a result.” Another boasted about their involvement in “multimillion pound clinical negligence claims” and the firm’s work for Formula One teams.

However, as is the case at many law firms, there are also more basic trainee tasks such as bundling. One insider source told us, “being a trainee, there is always an aspect of tedious tasks, be that bundling for court, document review/DSARs and disclosure exercises. Notwithstanding the fact all of these processes are incredibly important, necessary and require skill and detail, they can be lengthy and pull you away from other interesting work.” However there is a payoff for getting your head down on these less glamorous tasks, as this rookie explains: “Often where you do bundles, you are rewarded by being able to go to the hearing. Partners and senior staff are approachable and listen if you have something you specifically want to do.”

Another insider reports that the work is generally “very stimulating as the level of responsibility given to those that want it is very high. I am regularly drafting documents, engaging with clients and leading on calls”.

Helpfully, support is on hand if needed. “All advice, guidance, support and training has been exemplary,” one trainee gushed. “Everyone from Associate to Partner really takes the time to discuss and explain matters, provide varied and interesting work, following up with constructive and useful feedback.” Others mentioned receiving “one to one supervision from experienced partners”.

We heard from one source that this culture of support and training is particularly strong in the firm’s dispute resolution team. They told us: “Our dispute resolution team has an outstanding ‘junior breakfast club’ which breaks down various phases of the litigation cycle into a very basic format for trainees and NQs. We can then ask our ‘less smart’ questions (never a stupid question) without partners present. We also get croissants and sausage sandwiches!” Combining legal training with free food –– what’s not to love!

A common thread from our survey respondents, however, is a discrepancy in the level of support between departments. While one newbie reports on having “excellent access to partners” who have given “responsibility to lead” with appropriate “one to one supervision”, another described their experience quite differently: “some good exposure to associate level work but a lot of the work is smaller and lacking complexity”. While real estate, litigation and private wealth reportedly offer “very interesting and meaningful work for trainees”, a larger proportion of the work in commercial disputes involves “less interesting jobs like bundling”.

Trainees are allocated a mentor (a partner or senior associate) to support them during their training period and help them with any questions they have, with PA and floor support generally meaning that “trainee tasks are ‘proper’ work”.

Additionally, the firm provides an induction week, training days and in-house courses which cover a range of legal and developmental topics including presentation skills and personal impact. These courses combined with the firm’s mentor system help to explain the strong grades that Penningtons Manches Cooper received for training in our most recent Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey.

Penningtons Manches Cooper’s small intake fosters a close bond between its junior ranks. “We have a fantastic group of juniors,” one source told us. And this isn’t limited to a trainee cohort but includes “trainees, paralegals, NQs and associates.” One trainee summarised their peer group as follows: “You really feel that we are a team, the firm’s ‘one firm approach’ really rings true in this aspect. We have all made a conscious effort to really build a bond, attend social events and organise our own afterwork socials. On the whole it is a really supportive, friendly and all round great group!” One trainee praised their colleagues in the cohorts above, telling us, “NQs have also been great sources of support and advice at points during the TC, including regarding qualification.”

Other insiders say, “one of the best things in the firm is the culture, people really support each other at every level” and “my colleagues are incredibly helpful and provide the support needed to tackle tasks that are out of my comfort zone. This has allowed me to push my development to its limits without much fear of failing”. Another describes the firm as “very supportive” and feels colleagues “genuinely care about you if you are having a hard time”.

Most partners and senior associates are “approachable and happy to help”. One trainee told us that, “All the partners I have worked with have been very willing and generous with their time, which really makes you feel valued.” The firm operates a flat structure with trainees often working directly on matters alongside partners early on in their training contracts. One trainee told us that they have “always found the lawyers supervising [their] work approachable and easy to work with”, allowing them to feel “comfortable asking questions”. One insider doesn’t stop there, praising the “fantastic partners” in their team who take an interest in life “outside of work” (including this particular rookie’s love of Taylor Swift).

In London, where most trainees are located, there is a lively atmosphere. The hours are generally a nine to six affair. Some days can be unpredictably longer –– making it difficult to organise plans, but on the whole insiders report a good work/life balance with very little disturbance of weekends and holidays. One of our sources shared an instance of this while they were a trainee working on a large international matter: “The team on the matter would get together and discuss how to divide and conquer so the same person wasn’t doing all the late night calls –– the managing associate was very against putting me (trainee) on the Friday 9pm call and said he would take it himself.” Another echoed this sentiment, revealing that “if you are caught working too late, people will query it with you (in a light hearted manner.)”

One insider states, “One of the biggest positives of the firm is the lack of presenteeism”, meaning that juniors aren’t expected to stick around to show their faces when there is no work on, though we’re told this can vary between departments. One insider had this to say: “only worked a weekend a couple of times. My latest finish has been 9.30pm, and that has only happened once so far”. What’s more, trainees are reportedly “encouraged to get involved in diversity initiatives”, even when these take place during the working day.

Each of the firm’s offices have different characters. The London head office is “well-located” among many other law firms, near St Paul’s and Liverpool Street tube stations. We heard that a “recent renovation has made the London office much nicer to work in –– it’s nothing fancy but does just fine.” The building is shared with a number of businesses –– including a ground floor coffee shop –– although unfortunately this doesn’t seem to make up for the lack of canteen in the eyes of trainees and juniors. However, the social space has recently been updated and is reportedly “good for social lunches.”

In Reading, the office is next to the train station in the funky Apex Plaza. Cambridge’s office is also near the city’s station but in a more residential area and only a five-minute walk from the botanical gardens. Trainees describe the hub in Guildford as “clean and nice looking” but note that “there are no fancy canteens or snacks around the office.” It is situated beside a green space, Allen House Grounds, which contains sports facilities for those who need a quick re-energising over lunch, though one trainee tells us it’s “in need of modernisation”. Oxford’s office is quite far out from the city centre (about a 30-minute bus ride) in an industrial area. One rookie comments: “Oxford office was recently renovated and is very nice inside. Shame it’s miles from the station!”. Last but not least, the Basingstoke office in Matrix House is said to be “very modern” and even has a small gym in the basement!

The social life at the firm can be a bit underwhelming, we are told. One source summarised it as “enough to get to know people, but not mind-blowing.” There is not much social interaction between offices –– apart from the annual summer party –– which is a particular shame for the smaller offices with only one or two trainees. However, trainees are encouraged to join “PennFuture”, a group making a “concerted effort” to organise “picnics, curry nights and drinks”. The firm also has an “active sports and social committee”. One trainee had clearly been very involved in these events, revealing “We have been to Flight Club, Junk Yard Golf, Sixes Cricket, we have had paint and sip workshops, pumpkin carving for Halloween, bake sales, pancake days, and an annual Christmas party.” Another was very positive about the social committees which, they feel, “put in a real effort to host fun and exciting events.”

However, we did hear that their efforts are not always rewarded as “turnout for the events is on the low side”. This is a point of frustration for one insider who said, “You get what you put in with social life. I hear people complain that there isn’t one but then don’t attend any of the multiple events we host.” A number of respondents suggested people are “generally not interested in socialising outside office hours”.. Nonetheless, the firm does engage in regular pro bono and corporate social responsibility work outside the office, including volunteering at soup kitchens.

Where the firm fails to impress is its perks. While there is a “junior’s networking group with social and career events” and an “ability to buy annual leave”, as well as free tea and coffee (and Weetabix!), that’s about it. This is a source of complaint among some rookies, one of whom moaned: “The firm doesn’t even have a Christmas party and the ‘big’ summer party they hang their hat on for all social interaction, you only got three drinks, had to pay for your own train (anything above £11.50) to the venue which was not local to any office. Trying to get any form of budget for socialisation out of the HR team is like pulling teeth.” Having got that off their chest, the rookie did concede the “PennFuture” team try to organise “fun events like gin tasting” and you “can also opt into private health and dental plans”.

Salaries are another point of dissatisfaction among some PMC juniors. One insider reported, “NQ salaries didn’t go up this year which was a bit eyebrow-raising given many firms have lifted NQ salaries.” However, another satisfied junior feels that “the firm pays extremely well instead for a firm of its size, in particular in the regions,” which “entirely makes up for any lack of perks”.

Enthusiasm returns when it comes to the subject of working from home, an area in which the firm excelled –– “the main perk is the very relaxed work from home policy” says one insider. “Two screens and a desk chair were delivered to my door,” reminisces another rookie. “There is a ‘team charter’ for days in the office, but this roughly translates (for my team) to ‘work from home when you want but be in the office for client meetings’. Mondays and Fridays are definitely for WFH.” Moreover, “the teams are flexible in their approach to working from home. Generally each department has a team day where everyone is expected to be in the office, but if you cannot make that day it is not frowned upon. Other than that people can come in or stay at home whenever they want, provided they don’t need to be in the office for meetings etc”.

In terms of tech, the firm is developing AI and automation tools, there’s a six-session “Legal Tech” course for trainees and an in-house team has been set up to consider how legal tech at the firm can improve its offering. One rookie even reported being involved in an “AI trial for legal research”. Trainees assure us that there’s “a lot of updates in the pipeline for the next few months”. However, there are a few grumbles that the firm hasn’t been as quick on this new tech as it could have been. As one source put it, PMC “needs a little more courage to take the next step with AI. We use it but it is not in line with other city firms.” This lukewarm attitude was reflected in the response of another source, who said “We’re experimenting with the latest AI offerings on products we use, but it isn’t particularly exciting.” One more diplomatic trainee summarised the tech situation like this: “The firm is trying to strike the right balance between adopting new innovations and ensuring that these are genuinely beneficial to our work.”

International secondments are not currently available for trainees at Penningtons Manches Cooper, although occasional client secondments may be becoming more frequent. Last year one rookie spent three months with the British Athletes Commission and six months at Evox Therapeutics, while another reported having been sent on a three month stint at luxury fashion platform Farfetch.

The firm received praise from rookies for “regularly considering its environmental impact”, its environmental committees and “regular internal talks” on the subject. The firm has apparently gone “entirely vegan for any catering events”. One green-fingered rookie also highlighted an initiative where individuals measured their carbon footprint before creating a pledge on how to reduce it. In exchange for completing the survey, participants could “select a tree sapling from the Woodland Trust” to be delivered to their homes.