The City

Focused on issues facing the most active UK and US law firms in the City of London

Latest Reports

The model breakers

This report contains:

  • an analysis of the key challenges firms face surrounding training young lawyers as they move out of the pandemic
  • data on trainee retention rates at some of the top City firms
  • insights from senior figures at City firms and interviews of trainees who have trained entirely during the pandemic
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by  Matt Byrne, Nikhil Raj, Vitesa Fetahu
February 2022

The salaries issue

This report contains:

  • an overview into the impact of associate salary inflation on the City legal market
  • insights from clients and other parties demanding more is done to protect associate wellbeing
  • full results of The Lawyer’s client-focused associate salary survey.
by  Matt Byrne, Vitesa Fetahu
February 2022

The rising cost of lawyering

In the latest report from The City Signal channel we set out the rising cost of lawyering and demonstrate

  • That while the office remains a major overhead, it increasingly acts as a talent draw for employees — a space which requires investment.
  • Firms are making efforts to make their offices as attractive as possible in a bid to attract and hang onto their brightest stars.
  • We show how the role of the office is changing — it is increasingly being seen as a centre for collaboration rather than as the site of daily work.
  • Firms are also spending ever higher sums on technology and many are looking to reduce outlay on real estate, particularly if they are not in a high-growth phase of their cycle.

 

by  Matt Byrne, Thomas Procter
November 2021

Profit trends

Read this report for:

  • The best and weakest performers in profit, PEP and equity partner growth in the City since 2017
  • A five-year analysis of equity partnership and equity spread growth
  • In-depth analysis of the magic circle’s equity partners
by  Matt Byrne, Katy Dowell, Mikaela Sabado
October 2021