White & Case

All this international work has spelt financial fortune, as a 12% increase in revenues has seen White & Case break the $3 billion mark for the first time in its history this year. The firm’s topline now sits at a very healthy $3.3 billion (£2.4 billion), up from $2.95 billion (£2.15 billion) the year before. But its profit per equity partner (PEP) that has really stolen the show, leaping a staggering 27% to $4 million (£2.9 million) from $3.6 million (£2.6 million). Closer to home, the London office fared even better, with a 25% increase taking domestic revenues to around $554 million (£405 million) in what Vice-chair Oliver Brettle has humbly described as a “successful year” for the firm.

The latest stats show that more than half of White & Case’s work has a cross-border element and this fact is certainly felt by rookies in the London office. As one told LC, “I have worked on major front-page-headlining transactions and helped to draft new legislation for a sovereign nation on behalf of their government.” We’re also told that there are plenty of “opportunities to get involved in business development and pro bono to see multiple aspects of the business” and don’t be surprised to be thrown straight in at the deep end either: “From my very first day I was given client exposure and asked to liaise with opposing counsel! I love the sense of responsibility”. Whilst there are some “unavoidable basic tasks” for new recruits to cut their teeth on, our sources tell us that “document services are available to pick up the load on more tedious tasks like proofreading and running redlines” leaving trainees to do the more “substantive work”. Overall “very interesting work with a good variety of clients” is what you can expect from W&C.

Another Legal Cheek spy gives us this in-depth insight into their experience: “I am a trainee in tax and in addition to the more process-based corporate support work we do, I am genuinely being given the opportunity to draft research memos to funds exploring novel structures or investors wondering how the [general] election will affect them in relation to complicated IHT and property tax regimes. I work with almost every team — with the employment team we were exploring whether a CEO could live abroad for employment tax purposes the other week. We really are answering questions for which there is no clear answer, looking in-depth into case law and legislation and presenting novel answers to the extremely complex questions posed by clients.”

The training itself comes highly rated. There are “two full weeks of department-specific training at the start of the seat, continued interactive training sessions throughout the TC, and regular ‘lunch-and-learns’ run by graduate recruitment,” one source informs us. The level of support can vary between seats, with another spy noting that “larger departments such as project finance have more structured training”. More informal training is offered on the job, making the quality supervisor-dependent, but rest assured, “most supervisors are usually receptive to putting you on a range of deals to ensure you get broad exposure early on”.

White & Case, which competes with the Magic Circle, offers around 50 training contracts annually at a neat salary range starting at £62,000 for trainees and £175,000 once newly qualified. For that, you are expected to put in the hours and then some. While some rookies whisper of “horror stories from certain finance teams where late nights are common and work/life balance non-existent”, others are pleasantly surprised that they “haven’t had to work any weekends or cancel midweek plans yet”, especially “considering the calibre of the firm”. As one level-headed lawyer describes it, “you learn how to manage and communicate your capacity as you are often across multiple deals with different teams, which sets you up well for being an associate. Evenings can be late however weekend work is limited and you usually get a heads up in advance if you will be needed.”

The firm’s office on Old Broad Street is also at the latter-stages of a year-long revamp and, after minor delays and a few flooding issues, insiders are impressed with the new “modern style” that one Architectural Digest reader notes “really helps add to the overall vibe.” The floors are said to be “very nice with good tech and a nice layout” with cafe stations on each floor to satisfy caffeine-hungry recruits. The trainees we spoke with are particularly keen on the fact that the entire building belongs to White & Case, which “helps to foster a collegiate environment”. Well, that and the critically-acclaimed free in-house eatery, Broad St Kitchen (BSK) which serves free breakfast, lunch and dinner alongside unlimited snacks and fresh coffee all day. “I would have thought someone was pulling my leg if they told me they ate gourmet omelettes each morning, duck breast for lunch, and pork belly for dinner before heading home,” one well-fed respondent explains. “In addition to cakes galore and unlimited barista-made coffee available all day… and it’s all for free!! The main issue is keeping the waistline in check!”

You’ll also be spending your days with a “close-knit” trainee intake, who are always there for “advice” or just to have a “coffee chat” with, according to LC sources. “The trainee intake is great, super supportive and there is never a sense of competition, even during seat selection / secondments / qualification. Some of my fellow trainees are now my closest friends!” beams one happy recruit. Quarterly team socials, office wide events and a local bar named Andrea’s (which offers a White & Case discount) also means that there are plenty of social events to keep junior bonds solid. Football fans might also be keen to learn of the firm’s annual world cup which brings together over one thousand colleagues from forty offices for annual football and volleyball tournaments.

Further up the ladder, supervisors and associates are said to be “very approachable”, while those at the very senior levels are “super keen to answer questions”. Another source praises the open-door culture and overall friendliness, “I love that I’ve been able to get to know them on a personal level as well.” Whilst we’re told that levels of approachability can vary between departments, it is said to be very good overall.

Currently, the legal tech on offer doesn’t seem to be anything to shout about with one current trainee noting that “ we have most of the tech software that other firms have” but this could soon be about to change as W&C has been making some major moves to bolster its innovation team. The firm has recently poached a senior figure at iManage, after also hiring top tech figures from Deloitte and Latham & Watkins earlier this year. As Legal Cheek understands it, this is the beginning of a move to build a serious innovation and AI practice that challenges some market leaders in the field.

And if all of that wasn’t enough, you’ll be pleased to hear that the firm offers some pretty decent perks too. W&C lawyers receive an annual £500 wellbeing allowance to be used on anything from gyms to music lessons to beauty treatments, there’s also discounts for tickets to the theatre, wine tasting events, corporate massages, free taxis home, Deliveroo after a certain time, volunteering options, private dental and healthcare, and free mortgage advice. Oh and for cricket fans, the firm’s private box at Lords is sure to bowl you over.