The Legal Cheek View
Think big-ticket work with a touch of private client glamour. That’s life at Fladgate, a mid-size firm where trainees get stuck into both major corporate deals and high-end private client matters — a blend that’s hard to find elsewhere in the City. With more than 200 lawyers, including 106 partners, Fladgate operates from a single office on Great Queen Street, just a short stroll from the buzz of Covent Garden and Leicester Square. With only around 20 trainees at any given time, insiders say you can expect plenty of early responsibility, close partner contact and real involvement in client work.
Fladgate is a full-service firm, best known for its expertise in corporate M&A, dispute resolution, funds, finance and regulatory matters, and private wealth. It also has a strong reputation in real estate, particularly within the hotels and leisure sector. The firm is very well-known on the private client side, advising plenty of high-net-worth individuals on everything from family and matrimonial finance to trusts, tax planning, luxury assets, art and philanthropy. This mix of corporate and private client work gives trainees a rare breadth of experience and a front-row seat to how business and personal wealth overlap in the real world.
To complement its broad practice mix, Fladgate has moved away from the traditional four six-month seats to a six four-month seat structure. This gives trainees the chance to experience a wider range of practice areas and clients, helping them discover where their interests (and strengths) really lie before qualification. Rookies must spend time in at least one contentious seat (such as dispute resolution, real estate disputes, family or construction) and in one core department (funds, finance & regulatory, corporate or real estate).
Fladgate’s client roster is as eclectic as it is impressive. The construction team has advised on some of London’s biggest regeneration projects — think Battersea Power Station, Wembley Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Nine Elms — advising developers, contractors and investors on the complex contracts that make such mega-projects happen.
For the sports fan among you, Fladgate boasts a serious roster of star players: Premier League footballers, major clubs, and Formula One teams have all turned to Fladgate for representation. And in the digital arena, Fladgate advised Guild Esports in becoming the first esports team listed on a major stock exchange, cementing the firm’s growing reputation in the digital and gaming space.
It has even acted for two Prime Ministers and one President of the United States (Abraham Lincoln, no big deal). And if that’s still not enough, Fladgate advises across an expansive range of sectors including, charities, financial services, fintech, hotels, insurance, leisure, life sciences and healthcare, media, projects and infrastructure, real estate, retail, tech, and more — making for an extremely dynamic two years of training.
Fladgate’s Covent Garden HQ scores top marks for its location, though the shine fades a little once you step inside. Some insiders grumble about the lack of a canteen, with one trainee admitting that “the absence of a proper lunch spot isn’t great for sociable types,” while another bemoans “the single vending machine situation” — which is, apparently, “rarely stocked!” Fortunately, the office’s prime location makes up for it, surrounded by endless eateries in every direction: Russell Square to the north, Holborn to the east, Covent Garden to the south, and Soho to the west. On the plus side, the client meeting area is said to be “very nice,” and it’s understood that some improvements have already been made — with more in the pipeline.
Being based right in the middle of this cultural and social hub is a big plus. Trainees describe a “close-knit” cohort who often “grab lunch together and keep in touch outside of work.” One adds, “In general, the trainees are sociable, so there’s always someone up for an after-work catch-up.” Post-work drinks and firm socials are said to be fairly common and fits nicely with Fladgate’s emphasis on a healthy work-life balance.
This collegiate culture extends beyond just trainees with senior lawyers said to be open and supportive. “In my experience so far most partners are approachable and easy to talk to,” one Legal Cheek spy told us. “In particular, my buddy (a recent NQ) is excellent and really goes out of his way to offer advice, answer questions, and just be another friendly face around the firm.” And when trainees have a preference for a certain area, seniors are generally said to be rather accommodating of this. “I am given exposure to a broad range of matters; when I express an interest in an area I would like to get more experience in, my supervisor arranges this for me,” one trainee told us.
For those after a training contract that combines the commercial buzz of City work with the polish of private client practice, Fladgate is well worth a look. The firm’s on a roll — revenue shot up 17% to £88 million, while profit per equity partner climbed 20% to over £1 million. The results were so good, in fact, that Fladgate dished out a £2,500 bonus to all non-partner staff. Not a bad time to hop aboard a firm clearly going places.