Shearman & Sterling will retain 75 per cent of its final seat trainees in newly qualified (NQ) positions this September. It offered NQ jobs to 13 of its 16 final seat trainees, with 12 to stay on in the autumn.

Nine of the NQs will take up roles in London, in the M&A, finance, financial institutions, projects and competition practices. The remaining three will go on secondment to Brussels, Abu Dhabi and Singapore.

In both 2015 and 2016 the firm managed to hold on to all of its qualifiers.

Training principal John Adams said: “We are excited to be welcoming the next generation of Shearman & Sterling lawyers into the fold and wish them the best of success as they progress within the firm.” 

Shearman is the fourth firm to announce its results for September. Rumours are swirling that retention may be poorer than usual this year, with one US firm reportedly having not even started the process of finding its final seat trainees jobs yet.

Autumn 2017 Trainees retained Trainees left Total number of qualifiers Percentage retained
Burges Salmon 28 0 28 100
Blake Morgan 8 1 9 89
Shearman & Sterling 12 4 16 75
Mayer Brown 8 3 11 73