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Bird & Bird was founded in 1846. Around the turn of the 20th century it took on its first intellectual property (IP) cases, going on to develop a strong specialism in this sector, which it still retains today. In the latter part of the 20th century it used this expertise to become a technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) specialist.
With its core focus on TMT, Bird & Bird should have flinched when the 90s tech bubble burst. Instead, it swashbuckled its way into broader commercial areas, and into new countries.
Today, the firm is number 15 in Legal Week’s ‘UK Top 50’ ranking of law firms and has just broken the £200m revenue barrier. It is still a leader in the IP field, but its continued rise can be attributed to consistent, circumspect investment in other areas. Its caseload is now 60% transaction-based (ie work relating to deals rather than court cases) and it has a growing sports practice and film finance department. The specialist litigation teams also performed well last year, especially those acting on behalf of IP, sports and tech clients.
The IP department has a distinct culture and is even housed in a separate building. Despite being closeted off, it is still this practice that sets Bird & Bird apart from other corporate and finance firms: where else have clients and cases included litigious ex-Chippendales and a certain Crazy Frog?
The firm has a network of 23 offices across 16 countries, with more than two-thirds of its 215 partners based abroad.
Bird & Bird should have flinched when the 90s tech bubble burst. Instead, it swashbuckled its way into broader commercial areas, and into new countries.
It recently launched Indian and Central European practices and forged an alliance with Beijing boutique Xiang Kung Law Firm to increase its dispute resolution capabilities in China. In April 2011 the firm announced it would be opening a new office in Hamburg, Germany, and has also alluded to a future base in the Middle East.
Bird & Birds clients have included:
Bird & Bird reviews its salaries every September and offers a competitive package to trainees.
Trainees
First year: £35k per annum.
Second year: £37k per annum.
NQ
£55k per annum.
(NQs are newly qualified solicitors, ie those who have just completed their two-year training contracts).
Bird & Bird’s premises are slightly unconventional. There are three separate offices with the IP practice having one all to itself - in fact, this department’s culture is so distinct it hosts separate social events, leading to some good-natured rivalry.
The atmosphere in the commercial department is sociable but not as laidback as in IP. The dispute resolution team is also reputed to be friendly and there’s the added bonus of gossip-worthy cases. The banking group is, as would be expected, a little more staid but promises direct contact with clients.
There are decent levels of responsibility in all practice areas. While trainees are typically responsible for research, drafting and admin, there are opportunities to get involved in some deal negotiations, usually overseen by a supervisor.
There have been attempts to sell the firm as offering magic circle salaries with more time to enjoy it. Admittedly, the firm’s target of 1,300 billable hours (which stresses the minimum number of hours a solicitor should put in each year on work that can be billed to clients) falls 450 short of what City giant Allen & Overy demands of its lawyers. Speak to one of its corporate associates, however, and they will confirm this is a city firm with city hours, including the odd all-nighter.
Those 450 extra hours must lend themselves to something approaching a life outside work. There are a couple of pubs and a karaoke bar in walking distance from the offices and healthier types can indulge in the firm’s mixed football tournament. In terms of organised socialising, firm-wide parties are a possibility but department drinks are a certainty.
Trainees can volunteer at legal advice centres around London (in Vauxhall, Victoria, Bethnal Green and South Westminster), where they offer advice on housing and employment problems. The IP department is involved with a clinic giving advice to educational institutions such as Central Saint Martins.
There’s also a ‘Lawyers in Schools’ programme, in which volunteers discuss a range of legal issues with students, including police powers, employment law, discrimination and human rights. The firm works with the in-house legal team at Oxfam International on IP matters, and also offers legal advice to the Red Cross free of charge on a range of issues.
Bird & Bird’s London office is a member of LawWorks charity, which provides free legal help. Trainees can volunteer at legal advice centres around London, including the South Westminster Legal Advice Centre and University House Legal Advice Centre in Bethnal Green. The firm’s IP team is also advising the University of Oxford on its MalariaGEN project, as well as creative arts students and graduates at Own-It, a LawWorks Clinic. Volunteer fee-earners can also contribute by discussing legal issues with students through the ‘Lawyers in Schools Twinning Scheme’.
Bird & Bird’s diversity committee is a forum comprised of partners, assistants and support staff. It promotes diversity in all areas of the business, including a regular review of policy and procedure to keep abreast of legislation and social changes. The committee reports to the executive management group and is involved with recruitment, human resources and learning and development.
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