Baker McKenzie has recorded 94 per cent retention for autumn 2017

The firm made offers to all 16 trainees in the intake, with 15 accepting and the sixteenth leaving to join a specialist finance company

Thirteen of the new qualifiers will be based in London, with going to Belfast and one taking up a post in Brussels. The firm launched its first formal Belfast training contracts this month.

Two of this autumn’s qualifiers had joined the firm from King & Wood Mallesons after it collapsed in January.

Of the London qualifiers, four join the corporate team, two go to disputes, two to tax, two to EU/competition and one each to banking, employment and IT/commercial

Baker McKenzie training principal Arron Slocombe said: “I’m very pleased that we have such a high retention rate this year and have been able to make offers not just in London, but also in Brussels and Belfast. We our committed to attracting the best and brightest talent and offer the finest training and opportunities, while also maintaining our culture of being a great place to work.”

Earlier this year Baker McKenzie scrapped performance ratings for all business services staff in favour of performance discussions with peer feedback. The firm eventually plans to roll this change out across the fee-earning staff on a global basis.