Herbert Smith Freehills has recorded 94 per cent retention for autumn 2016.

Of 33 trainees reaching qualification this September, 31 applied for newly qualified jobs with the firm, with all 31 offered positions and accepting them.

The result matches Herbies’ spring result, when it retained 33 of 35 qualifiers – again, 94 per cent.

It is the fourth retention round in a row where the firm has kept on more than 90 per cent of its trainees.

Herbies retention autumn 2016

The firm was one of the first in the wake of the Brexit referendum to announce that it would still increase salaries despite the economic uncertainty caused by the Leave vote.

First year trainees got a 4.8 per cent pay boost, from £42,000 to £44,000, while second year salaries were raised from £46,000 to £48,000.