85%

Baker McKenzie has announced an 85% retention rate for its latest batch of London trainees. Of the 20 qualifying trainees, 17 are staying on in newly qualified (NQ) roles with the firm.

The cohort of fresh-faced associates will spread across a range of practice areas. Disputes takes the largest share with four NQs, while employment welcomes three. The corporate teams also see new joiners, with two each heading to corporate M&A and corporate energy & infrastructure, and one apiece to corporate finance and corporate private equity. Other destinations include antitrust & competition (two NQs), intellectual property (one NQ), and financial services regulatory (one NQ).

James Robinson, Baker McKenzie’s London training principal, said:

“We’re proud to welcome our latest cohort of newly qualified lawyers into the London office as they take the next step in their legal careers. Our commitment to nurturing talent continues through competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and industry-leading training. Our London office plays a pivotal role within our global network and offers lawyers an exceptional platform to collaborate across jurisdictions, deepen their expertise and work on our clients’ most complex cross-border deals and matters.”

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2026 shows NQs in the firm’s London office earn £145,000, up from the £61,000 second-year trainee salary.

Trainee retention rates: the story so far…

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Firm	Trainees	Retained	Retention Rate	NQ Destinations
Wedlake Bell	8	8	100%	2 to insolvency; 1 each to commercial disputes, construction, corporate, tax, IP/commercial, and private client
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer	31	29	94%	Undisclosed
Irwin Mitchell	53	48	91%	14 to Business Services Group; 12 to Medical Negligence; 9 to Court of Protection & Public Law & Human Rights; 8 to Private Client Group; 4 to Personal Injury; 1 to General Counsel
RPC	18	16	89%	6 to insurance; 6 to disputes (3 IP/tech, 2 commercial litigation, 1 media); 4 to corporate & commercial
Watson Farley & Williams	18	16	89%	5 to asset finance; 4 to project finance; 2 to corporate; 1 to debt capital markets; 2 to disputes and 1 to finance in Dubai; 1 to disputes in Bangkok
Clifford Chance	57	49	86%	Undisclosed
Macfarlanes	28	24	86%	Undisclosed
Baker McKenzie	20	17	85%	4 to disputes; 3 to employment; 2 each to antitrust & competition, corporate energy & infrastructure, and corporate M&A; 1 each to corporate finance, corporate private equity, intellectual property, and financial services regulatory
Linklaters	40	33	83%	Undisclosed
A&O Shearman	54	37	69%	Undisclosed
Withers	14	9	65%	Undisclosed

Extra £5,000

Baker McKenzie is the latest City law firm to raise the salaries of its newly qualified (NQ) associates, increasing pay by £5,000 to £145,000.

The uplift, which took effect on 1 July, brings the firm’s London-based NQs in line with their counterparts at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, which also boosted NQ pay earlier this month.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows trainee salaries remain unchanged at £56,000 in year one and £61,000 in year two. Bakers recruits around 40 trainees each year.

This is the latest in a string of summer salary hikes for NQs at firms including Eversheds Sutherland (up to £110k), Ashurst (up to £140k), DLA Piper (up to £130k), Bird & Bird (up to £102k) and HFW (up to £103.5k).

£2,500 fine

A City solicitor who was arrested after failing to provide a breath sample did not lack integrity, a tribunal has found.

James Rafferty, a solicitor at Baker McKenzie, was pulled over in May 2023 after driving at speeds ranging between 65mph and 90mph whilst “wandering about the lanes”, with a police officer nothing that at one point he “almost collided with a bus”.

He was subsequently arrested for failing to provide a breath sample, and reported himself to the regulator shortly afterwards. He pleaded guilty in the criminal proceedings and was hit with a fine of £3,800 alongside a 17 month driving ban, reduced by 17 weeks upon completion of a rehabilitation course.

This was followed up by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) bringing the matter before a tribunal, claiming that Rafferty had showed a lack of integrity, and that it’s fining powers (which extend up to £25,000) were inadequate to deal with the case. Although the solicitor admitted that he failed to uphold public confidence in the profession and the rule of law and proper administration, he denied acting with a lack of integrity.

In a newly published judgment the tribunal sided with Rafferty, nothing that “it was not unusual for an offender to disagree with some aspects of the case against them”, and that he had “entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity and acted with complete transparency with his regulator throughout”.

Although his drink-driving was the result of a “significant error of judgment”, the solicitor had shown “deep remorse”, apologised, and accepted responsibility. His conduct was therefore “moderately serious”, warranting a fine of £2,500.

There was, however, no order made as to costs.

It was argued by Rafferty that he had made a previous offer to pay the SRA a fine of £10,000, which was rejected, and he therefore sought to recover just shy of £11,000 in costs. This was rejected on the basis that the case was “properly brought” and that the SRA had succeeded in part (albeit the parts that were already admitted).

The SRA’s application for £6,000 was similarly rejected, with the tribunal stating that the case had been brought partly “on the basis of its [the SRA’s] misapprehension that its £25,000 internal fining limit was insufficient and the case required the tribunal to determine sanction”.

Baker McKenzie’s Tom Edwards discusses his early sports career, the ‘buzz’ of exciting deals and wellbeing in law

“Sometimes the path you start on isn’t the path you finish on,” says Tom Edwards, reflecting on his journey from aspiring professional footballer to becoming a corporate partner at Baker McKenzie.

Born and raised in a small village and attending the local school, Edwards initially set his sights on a sports career, dreaming of football stardom. “The original plan wasn’t to be a lawyer! I was going to be a footballer, which I’m sure you hear pretty regularly,” he says laughing. Playing for a Premier League Academy team when he was younger, an injury rerouted his destiny toward corporate law. “I was doing lots of sports: that was my number one focus, and then when that didn’t quite work out, I went to uni to study law,” Edwards explains. “Studying law opened up a new world of challenges and opportunities I hadn’t considered before.” After formally hanging up his football boots and graduating from law, Edwards cut his teeth at a local firm before seizing an opportunity to join the ranks of global law firm Baker McKenzie.

What drew you to corporate law? I ask Edwards. “I think I knew pretty early on, during my training contract, that I wanted to do transactional work,” he replies. “I love the buzz of the deal. I really enjoy getting to know a business, to know the personalities involved in that business, its strategy, its strengths, and its weaknesses. So, I’ve always enjoyed corporate work, and it gives great variety because no two transactions are ever the same,” Edwards explains. “And I guess the rest is history.”

After a quieter couple of years for corporate practices, following a rise in interest rates and inflation, Edwards explains how his practice has weathered the financial storm. “It’s right to say that M&A, like the wider economy, is cyclical. We’ve had a period where activity has been a bit suppressed, but the fundamentals for M&A remain strong,” he stresses. The firm has been able to capitalise on wider market movements, keeping the practice buoyant, Edwards explains. “Consumer companies are always needing to evolve their brand portfolios — clients are needing to acquire technology to adjust to the AI revolution, shifting their strategic focuses, etc.. So, the fundamental drivers as to why businesses need to do deals haven’t disappeared.”

And his outlook on the future of corporate practice remains optimistic. “We’re seeing the macro environment becoming more friendly again,” he says. “Inflation and interest rates are stabilising, so there’s lots of activity. Because market activity is cyclical, it’s a virtuous circle. We’re seeing assets that have been held back starting to come to the market which is really positive. We’re certainly pretty busy at the Bakers end!”

With Bakers advising Carlsberg on its multi-billion pound takeover of soft drinks giant Britvic, it’s clear that Bakers’ corporate practice continues to attract high-profile deals. “I think this is one of the main benefits of training at Baker McKenzie,” says Edwards — “the exposure to incredible work. We’re a leading transactional firm working on some of the most exciting deals in the City.” Edwards continues: “I think that I’m slightly biased but it’s an incredible place to work and build a career. We strive to create an environment where, yes, you work hard, but you also do great work and enjoy collaborating with your team.”

Having a huge global footprint, with offices spread across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and the Americas, Baker McKenzie was the obvious choice for Edwards. “I think it’s really important, especially early in your career, to trust your instincts. Personally, I’ve always appreciated how global Baker McKenzie is. On any given day, I might be working with colleagues or clients in the UK, Europe, the East Coast and West Coast of the US, and Asia. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to work with so many exceptional people around the world.”

Edwards’ professional journey included a spell in the firm’s office in Dubai, so I’m keen to explore his takeaways from his time in the Middle East. “On a personal level, I felt incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity, as a junior lawyer, to go on secondment to one of our offices there,” he says, expressing his appreciation for the exposure to a different legal and regulatory environment. “This is one of Baker McKenzie’s standout features—we encourage such experiences because they offer a chance to immerse in different cultures and ways of working, while also building friendships and connections. For example, when I work on projects involving the Middle East, I’m not just emailing someone randomly; I’m messaging a friend,” he explains.

This connectivity is one aspect of the benefits of having a global presence, Edwards explains. “The MENA region is becoming increasingly vital to the global economy, making it an exciting place for business. Our firm has maintained a strong presence there for over 40 years, which is truly remarkable. We have a terrific practice in the region, and we continue to collaborate extensively with our colleagues in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other parts of the region from our London office.”

As a global corporate lawyer, Edwards is also actively involved in the firm’s mental wellbeing initiatives. I ask why mental wellbeing is important to him, and how attitudes towards mental wellbeing in the workplace have shifted over the course of his career. “To address the first part of your question, I often ask, ‘What could be more important than well-being?’,” he answers. “I firmly believe that well-being is the foundation of everything we do. It’s something I’m passionate about, but it’s complex, and interesting.” Whilst it’s true that well-being issues are not discussed as often as they should be he admits, these issues are common and close to his heart. “Even if your own well-being is generally good — and I hope that’s the case for many — everyone experiences ups and downs, which is completely normal. Ultimately, to perform well over a long period, you need to take care of your well-being and receive support in doing so,” he says.

Bringing to the conversation to a close, Edwards provides some career advice that he believes everyone should hear. “I’m going to sound like a self-help book,” he jokes, “but I think, attitude is so important in your career and just life in general. So, I would say, always be open-minded and look to make the most of opportunities.”

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Healthy increases for firm’s rookie too

The London office of Baker McKenzie has confirmed sizeable salary increases for both its newly qualified (NQ) lawyers and trainees.

NQ rates now sit at £140,000, up a whopping 19% from £118,000. This brings the firm, which recruits around 40 trainees each year, in line with the likes of Macfarlanes and Orrick, and £5k above Herbert Smith Freehills, which boosted pay earlier this month.

The firm’s rookies have also been handed pay increases. Year one pay will move from £50,000 to £56,000, while year two salaries will increase from £55,000 to £61,000.

The NQ rise is effective from 1 July, while increases to trainee salaries will take effect on 1 September.

Skills sessions, networking, mentorship and more

Global law firm Baker McKenzie is upping its efforts to widen access to the legal profession through a new programme for A Level students.

The 18-month scheme, dubbed ‘Beginnings at Baker McKenzie’, aims to increase access to the legal profession for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds through training and support.

The annual programme will see 20 year 12 students attend regular skills sessions, networking events and a summer work experience placement at the firm. Each participant will also be assigned mentor to support them throughout the scheme.

As they progress into year 13, students will also receive UCAS support, negotiation and presentation skills training and be offered opportunities to attend events before starting uni.

Bakers says those students who “demonstrate a strong commitment and deep interest in law” can then apply for a further programme, which offers additional support, including financial help, during their first year of university.

Bakers’ London graduate recruitment partner, Priyanka Usmani, said:

“As a firm, we are committed to supporting and enhancing client outcomes by recruiting the best talent, irrespective of socio-economic background. We have already put in place a number of successful initiatives to help us achieve this and the launch of the Beginnings at Baker McKenzie Programme, which focuses on early engagement, will help to further level the playing field and create equality of opportunity for individuals from a non-traditional background entering the legal profession.”

A number of firms have launched similar schemes of support in a bid to broaden access to the legal profession.

Addleshaw Goddard recently created a year-long programme to help college students from lower socio-economic backgrounds gain insights into careers in law. This followed similar schemes from the likes of Osborne Clarke, Ropes & Gray, Freshfields and Linklaters.

Last month Legal Cheek reported that the legal profession had dominated the latest social mobility rankings, with over half of 80 or so successful entries coming from law firms.

The Legal Cheek Firms Most List 2024 shows Bakers recruits around 40 trainees each year on a starting salary of £50,000. You can meet members of the firm at our Virtual Law Fair on 21 November (2-5pm). Sign up now.

Cites difficult market conditions

Baker McKenzie have recorded a revenue of $3.3 billion (£2.7 billion) for the financial year ended 30 June 2023, on par with the previous year.

The firm’s net income also remained flat at $1.2 billion (£998 million). 

These figures come amidst challenging conditions, with slowing markets in a number of key areas. This year was also the first after the Chicago headquartered outfit severed their former Russian operation into an independent law firm back in March 2022.

Nevertheless, the firm says that on a currency neutral basis revenues are up 2.5%, with growth across the firms employment & compensation, projects, M&A, and antitrust & competition practices.

Speaking on the these results, Milton Cheng, Bakers’ global chair, said: 

“Baker McKenzie continues to advise clients on their highly complex transactions and finding solutions to the most challenging legal issues they face. The world’s leading companies are today entrusting us with major transformations as they reshape their businesses, and turn to our firm to make sense of an increasingly complex regulatory environment. We value the trust that our clients place in us, based on the years of experience working together on complex matters and business solutions.”

Baker McKenzie is not the first firm to post muted results this year, a host of City firms recording similar slow downs on the back of a bumper 2021 and 2022.

16 out of 16

The London office of international law firm Baker McKenzie has posted a perfect autumn retention score of 100% with all 16 final-seat trainees staying put.

Four NQs join the firm’s corporate team, a further three are employment-bound, dispute resolution gains two new solicitors, two will join banking and two will join Bakers’ private equity group. The final three will start lawyer life in the IP and tech, structured capital markets and energy, mining & infrastructure teams.

Stephen Ratcliffe, training principal at Bakers, said:

“As Baker McKenzie looks ahead to the start of its next era of growth in London with its move to 280 Bishopsgate later this year, our 100% retention rate for the autumn is a reflection of our commitment to retaining and developing the best talent. We’ve got another fantastic cohort of newly qualified lawyers joining our ranks across a range of practice areas and I am excited to see them continuing to thrive in their careers with us.”

Following an increase in July, the latest recruits can expect an NQ salary of £118,000. Trainees at Bakers currently receive £50,000 in year one, rising to £55,000 in year two. The firm offers around 40 training positions each year.