Simmons & Simmons

The overview

Simmons & Simmons is what’s known as a 'silver circle' City law firm. That means it’s among the clear rivals to the top five UK solicitors’ firms in terms of revenues and is known for its top drawer work. Its turnover is £251 million per year.

What it has in common with the majority of commercial law firms is the need to cover all main business areas yet be particularly reputable in certain niches, and it has done so by specialising in the following key areas:

• energy and infrastructure
• financial institutions
• life sciences
• technology
• media
• telecommunications.

In terms of services, it’s said to have one of the largest, full-service dispute resolution practices of any City firm. It’s also strong in law surrounding financial markets, corporate, IP, communications and technology, EU, employment, pensions and employee benefits, corporate tax, and competition and regulatory.

Its client list represents the strengths of the firm and includes:

• Commercial Bank of Qatar, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, RBS, HSBC, Bank of America, Threadneedle, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Aon Consulting.
• MOD, The Home Office, Department of Health, Cabinet Office, Civil Aviation Authority.
• Teléfonica Europe, China Mobile, Google.
• BP, GlaxoSmithKline, BP, Oman Power and Water Procurement Company, Electric Authority Cyprus.

Among the clear rivals to the top five UK solicitors’ firms in terms of revenues.

Rankings and awards

• Winner in ‘Legal Innovation in Dispute Resolution’ in the FT Innovative Lawyer Awards.
• ‘Law Firm of the Year’ at the World Independent & Junior Oil and Gas Congress.
• Highest ranked law firm in Stonewall’s ‘Workplace Equality Index’ 2011.
• ‘Best Law Firm’ at the 2010 HFM European Hedge Fund Services Awards and ‘Legal Firm of the Year’ at the Global Investor 10th Annual Awards.
• Voted ‘UK Corporate Law Firm of the Year’ by Corporate International magazine.
• Highly ranked in the most recent Legal Week Client Satisfaction Report, ranking second among all international firms.

The Legal 500 puts it in the first tier of UK law firms for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, banking litigation: investment and retail, employment, commodities and futures. And in the second tier for financial services, flotations: small and mid-cap, derivatives, investment funds, and administrative and public, health and safety, employment, corporate crime, fraud: civil and regulatory investments.

Business opportunities

The firm continues to grow internationally and over half of its 1,500 staff is based in 16 offices outside of the UK. For further evidence of its global ambitions, note that Afrikaans, Latvian and Vietnamese are among the 22 languages spoken by Simmon & Simmons’ employees.

Overseas growth largely occurs within the firm’s key business areas. For example, it is doing deals with the state-owned China Mobile described as the world’s largest mobile phone operator with over 600 million subscribers.

Simmons & Simmons is also noted for getting to know its clients well: hence its dealings have that personal touch.

Salary and benefits

Trainee salary package

• £36,000 per annum (first year)
• £40,000 per annum (second year)

Salary on qualification

• £59,000 per annum

Other benefits

• 25 days' holiday entitlement.
• Assistance if working late.
• Childcare vouchers.
• Concierge service.
• Death in service benefit.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Fitness loan scheme.
• Free GP visits.
• Income protection insurance.
• Medical insurance.
• Music/singing lessons.
• Payroll giving scheme.
• Pension contributions.
• Season ticket loan.
• Subsidised staff restaurant.
• Travel insurance.

Culture and values

Ask: ‘What do you notice as you walk around Simmons & Simmons?’ You’ll be told: ‘Busy people moving around, with junior and senior staff rubbing shoulders’.

Like any other law firm there is a sense of hierarchy in the business but there’s a nod-and-three-quarters to meritocratic working in Simmons & Simmons’ ‘open-door’ policy.

Stripped of the HR jargon, this means trainees are encouraged to pipe up in meetings, their opinions are sought and they’re free to ask for advice.

Friendly

It’s a claim that seems to dovetail with the other assertion that its culture is built around ‘challenges and collaborative relationships’. The ‘holistic ethos’ with a whole team including partners, associates, trainees and clients working on a case is said by clients to make for friendly, productive meetings.

The ‘holistic ethos’ with a whole team including partners, associates, trainees and clients working on a case is said by clients to make for friendly, productive meetings.

Likewise, the working atmosphere among trainees is co-operative – many will have known each other from the LPC course that the firm runs with BBP Law School in London or from the firm’s MBA course that it runs for graduates after they take the LPC but before they start their training contracts. Certainly, the firm scores highly for friendliness in independent employee satisfaction surveys.

Innovation, teamwork and getting to know (and pleasing) the client are highly prized. The working environment straddles formal and casual, and culturally trainees can feast upon the Damien Hirst hanging in the staff restaurant, its Tracey Emin collection (minus the messy bed) or the guilty pleasures of ‘Simmons & Simmons has talent’ competition featuring its very own bagpiping partner.