trainees

White & Black offered all the things I was looking for in a firm; not only would it provide me with excellent training but it would prepare me well for post qualification practise by giving me genuine client exposure.  It seemed the obvious choice of firm for me and since joining, I have found it to be dynamic, friendly and specialised.  The firm has offered me a training contract which is heavily biased to the sector into which I would like to qualify. Moreover, the size of the firm means that I will spend my two years working closely with partners whose reputations are established in the corporate legal world.

 
The variety and quality of work I have experienced has fulfilled every expectation I had for a training contract and more. The beautiful, open plan offices produce a great atmosphere and certainly encourage more communication between individuals than would be the case where there is the traditional segregation of partners and departments.

 
The training contract covers the required seats in Commercial, Corporate and Commercial Litigation.  These are interwoven over the course of the two years rather than being separated into set seats of six months each. This has been fantastic in providing me with the opportunity to become deeply involved in some of the biggest transactions the firm has handled. The sheer diversity of the work really does mean that no two days are the same!

 
Every individual in the firm is encouraging, supportive and motivated. Again, this was something I detected during the interview process and they are qualities that were only prevalent in White & Black when compared to the other firms I had spoken to. The main reasons I would recommend White & Black to other prospective trainees are: the clear ability of the lawyers to fully understand their clients’ business requirements, and the technical excellence of the team, the “can do” atmosphere and the unique and stimulating opportunities offered by the training contract.

 
trainee life

No two days at White & Black are the same. Sitting opposite the Managing Partner means that although I will be given a constant and diverse array of work, more urgent work can be given at any time. This has quickly fine-tuned my organisational skills! Within a month of joining, I was already meeting notable clients and writing up commercial and legal reports for those clients. I have now worked on venture capital investment agreements for one of the most renowned investment companies in the UK, case-managed my own files (under close partner supervision obviously!), co-led litigation in the software field alongside one of the partners, been heavily involved in numerous share and asset sales, helped reorganise a complex group company structure and undertaken initial mark-ups of numerous commercial contracts, many with blue-chip counterparties. Perhaps most importantly, I have had direct contact with key clients which many firms of this calibre do not offer.

 
I didn’t want my training contract to result in me knowing nothing more than the functions of a photocopier. Although I do some company secretarial work and company incorporations, it is all tied in to bigger transactions and has enabled me to build a solid foundation in company law. Whilst much of the work is specialised in technology and venture capital law, I have enjoyed a variety of work. For example, I’ve worked on international deals in France and Holland and a complex insolvency procedure involving a very large manufacturing facility.  It is clear that I am seen as a valued part of the team and my contributions are recognised as an important part of the deals we work on. This has definitely encouraged me to take on genuine responsibilities early on in my training contract. When I combine this with the extensive work I handle every day, this proves that the quality of the training contract was exactly as I had hoped.  Although pushed to achieve, I never feel out of my depth as I am always closely supported by the partners in the firm.

 
social

White & Black is not a traditional, stuffy firm. Although there are obvious responsibilities in the firm, it is not hierarchical. My opinion is sought and actually listened to.  There is a roll your sleeves up mentality and everybody just gets on with the job whatever it is. There have been many occasions when I have washed up a few cups with the managing partner! We often find some down time to visit the local pub for a drink after work on a Friday and BBQ’s (often with clients) are the order of the day when it is hot and sunny. We have even gone out as a team to hit a few golf balls, which incites a little healthy competition between us!

White & Black is a niche firm but carries enormous goodwill in its name. It is well-respected, particularly in venture capital circles, and all the lawyers have independently made a name for themselves.