CMS, Eversheds and Simmons dumped from Sunday Times best workplace league

Eversheds has dropped out of the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list, plummeting from 63rd place last year.

The firm was one of several large law firms to disappear from this year’s list, with other casualties including Simmons & Simmons (86th in 2005) and CMS Cameron McKenna (87th last year). The result comes despite Eversheds’ stated aim of being “a great place to work”.

CMS managing partner Dick Tyler said: “We remain committed to the principles behind the survey, and were naturally disappointed to be dropped out of the top 100. There’s clear evidence of increasing expectations amongst employees of their workplace environment.”

But smaller firms did better. Manchester’s Pannone & Partners recorded its best-ever showing in the list, coming in 3rd. The firm was praised for its staff satisfaction rates, while managing partner Joy Kingsley earned plaudits for her inspiring leadership.

Kingsley said: “It’s just working very hard all the time with the staff in mind. We’re very keen not to lose people.”

Olswang also performed strongly, rising up the rankings to 18th place. The firm performed highly in terms of staff loyalty, with staff saying that they felt teamwork was particularly successful.

Chief executive Jonathan Goldstein told The Lawyer: “The firm is very proud. The passion and energy that people have for this business is really quite exciting. I think that marks us out.”

Other firms to appear on the list of 100 companies include Wragge & Co (39th), Browne Jacobson (47th), Trowers & Hamlins (53rd), Mills & Reeve (62nd), Martineau Johnson (79th), Brabners Chaffe Street (90th) and Addleshaw Goddard (94th).

A spokesperson from Eversheds said: "Naturally, we are disappointed that Eversheds failed to make the Sunday Times ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ list for 2006. However, as a firm we are continually looking to improve the working environment for our employees and we have a number of projects both underway and in the pipeline to help us achieve that aim."

Simmons did not return calls for comment.