The Lawyer UK 200

  • UK 200 Position:


    • UK 200 Position: 16
    • UK/global turnover: £30.3m/£271.5m
    • Global PEP: £424,000
    • UK/global RPL: £220,000/£318,000
    Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis, or K&L Gates as it prefers to be known these days, changed its name at the start of 2007 following the merger of US firm Preston Gates & Ellis with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham.

    The figures, however, relate to the end of the firm’s second year following its takeover of London mid-sizer Nicholson Graham & Jones, an event that also saw the end of a guaranteed fixed income for the legacy London equity partners.

    Two years in and the firm appears to have settled well, the odd partner departure (such as technology specialist John Enstone to Faegre & Benson) notwithstanding. PEP rocketed by 28 per cent last year, from £308,000 in 2005 to £385,000. This was despite a drop in London’s net profit because of increased costs, due in part to signing up for an additional four floors at its Cannon Street offices and significant investment in IT.

    The additional costs meant that London’s profit contribution to the firm’s global profit pool dropped by around £2.5m.


    • Web: www.klgates.com
    • Telephone: 020 7648 9000
    • Fax: 020 648 9001
    • No. of Trainees: 18
    • No. of Trainee Vacancies: Up to 15
    • Training contract application deadline: 31-Jul-08
    • Selection
      • Individual interview: No
      • Panel interview: No
      • Assessment day: Yes
      • Psychometric test: No
      • Written exercise: No
    • No. of Seats: 4+
    • Opportunities Abroad: No
    • Vacation Schemes
      • No. placements: 8
      • Summer vacation scheme application deadline: 15-Feb-08
    • GDL/CPE Intake: Not disclosed
    • GDL/CPE funding
      • Fees: Yes
      • Maintenance: £5,000
    • LPC funding
      • Fees: Yes
      • Maintenance: £7,000
    • Salary/benefits
      • Start: £32,000
      • Qualification: £62,000
      • Season ticket loan: Yes
      • Healthcare: Yes
      • Pension scheme: Yes
      • Life assurance: Yes
      • Bonus scheme: Yes
      • Gym membership: Yes
      • Subsidised lunch: No