Rosling King has rejected a claim that partners ordered staff to give it glowing reviews.

City firm Rosling King specialises in negligence claims against professionals and enjoys a colourful reputation in the market for litigation tactics described by a judge in 2013 as "wholly unacceptable".

According to reviews left on Glassdoor, staff also hold it in low regard. Before June 2016, nine employees had left reviews of the firm. Seven of them gave it one star out of five. The others gave it a lofty two. Their verdicts ranged from the bad ("Horrendous: morally questionable clients, horrendous leadership, ridiculously high staff turnover. The day I handed in my notice was the best day of my life. Do not work here if you can possibly avoid it.") to terrible ("Avoid like the plague: A pervasive 'blame' culture where junior employees are held responsible for the failings of their supervising solicitors and partners."). However, in a two week period between 23 July and 4 August this year, nine gushing five and four star reviews appeared. Described as "unsubtle" by an inside source, seven reviews specifically singled out the CEO for praise. For others, even the cons were pros:



But a rogue one star review posted on 3 August suggested that PR dark arts might be at play:



A spokesman for Rosling King conceded to RollOnFriday that the issue of the stinking reviews “was raised at a recent RK meeting by an associate", and, "That a number of our staff subsequently wrote positive reviews about their working experiences at our firm clearly reflects their feelings".

  "You forgot to mention flexible working."

The spokesman said, "any suggestion that senior management at Rosling King coerced staff into writing positive views about the firm on a website is categorically untrue and defamatory".

Leaving his own five star review, he added, "The vast majority of our hard-working staff have been with the firm for several years and are a great team”.
Tip Off ROF

Comments

Anonymous 12 August 16 15:27

I once went to a mediation at RK's office. Very bizarre. Also, when on the phone to people there you get the distinct impression that someone is encouraging them to be overly aggressive (e.g. not wanted to budge on what are completely straight-forward and obvious points etc.).

Anonymous 12 August 16 15:29

Unfortunately had I to work at RK for awhile and this comes as no surprise at all. Awful place.

Anonymous 12 August 16 22:15

Bizarre firm ran by individuals who are some of the most unappreciative people I have ever come across. The way they think they can speak to staff is appalling. They are nothing more than bullies in expensive suits. I only wish I had left sooner.

Anonymous 12 August 16 23:34

As a money making enterprise they're awesome. Just look at their filed accounts. Only 4 LLP members and imagine there's only 2 who are top equity. The firm makes huge money per LLP member. That said, they're awful to deal with on the other side. And I don't mean they're tough as nails litigators, like a Herbert Smith, I mean they're pointlessly antagonistic and often idiotically so. That said again, their style is designed to extract money from professional indemnity insurers. And it clearly works. Who are the word bullies there?

Anonymous 14 August 16 23:38

I was recently offered a Training Contract at Rosling King. Is it really that bad? Anyone have any more info about the firm? There's hardly anything out there beyond Glassdoor...

Anonymous 15 August 16 14:57

If you can avoid doing a TC there I would. This article does not surprise me at all; the people who run RK need some self-reflection. It does however, make me appreciate working where I currently do.

Anonymous 15 August 16 18:09

Unfortunately I agree with the above comment having worked there myself, I would avoid it if you can! Awful atmosphere, high turnover of staff and their 'training' consists of throwing you in at the deep end and letting you figure everything out for yourself. Definite hierarchy and the partners are extremely condescending. They expect their staff to go above and beyond for no recognition or reward in return.

Anonymous 16 August 16 12:55

ha ha ha this is hilarious. The sheer desperation...'We really really are a nice firm I swear'. ha ha.

Anonymous 17 August 16 10:08

I read the website recently and the way it describes the atmosphere there is ridiculous... the exact opposite is true... they employ a lot of Australian and NZ lawyers who tend to work there on arrival before finding a better place to work fast! This is by far the worse place I have ever worked.

Anonymous 18 August 16 23:28

I interviewed at RK a couple of years back and was offered a job but declined in part because they refused to let me meet any of the associates. It's now clear why that was!

Anonymous 18 August 16 23:31

Anonymous at 22.38 - I'd look for a TC elsewhere if I were you - I had a friend who trained there and had a terrible time trying to find another job on qualification because it has no reputation and the reputation it does have is pretty dire.

Anonymous 19 August 16 13:27

I was a paralegal there for an unfortunate 6+ months and the more senior paralegals and trainees weren't really bullies but very cut-throat in order to impress...I did think that what RK's trainees lacked in intellect they compensated for by being seen to be tough and uncompromising; but to be fair to them that's the culture of the firm.

Anonymous 19 August 16 14:41

I would strongly advise people to avoid RK at all costs. In a 10 career this is by far the worst firm I have ever worked at. The management is unprofessional and almost get a kick out of being a bully. All of the 1/2 star reviews on glass door are correct and the fact they have been "strongly encourging" staff to leave 5 star reviews, for me says it all.

This really is a company which has little respect for its clients and no respect for the staff and god forbid you're sick or get pregnant....you won't be seen again!

Anonymous 22 August 16 14:21

It was a horrible place to work as a paralegal and I would describe the management style as bullying. But I do also feel sorry for the people higher up who have been trained there and have clearly got stuck working there. There is a atmosphere of sadness in the open plan office and from junior to senior level they all seem fed up.

Anonymous 24 August 16 13:37

Risking King was by far the worst place I had ever worked. If you have been offered a TC at this firm, I would seriously consider whether you are prepared for the worst 2 years of your life. The people were awful, all they cared about was money. The equity partners (a couple) would swan in and out not caring much about the running of the business, only how much money they were making. They made multiple mistakes and used to cover up to client's all the time and were constantly causing animosity with their vexatious litigation tactics. I was so happy when I quit my job at RK, purely because they worked me so hard I was physically exhausted and declared not fit for work - and that was at Paralegal level. Micro-managing and HR did not care at all about employees. Truly awful place and I genuinely feel for all employees at this awful joke of a firm.

Anonymous 24 August 16 13:47

Having worked at RK I concur with the comments below. There are some brilliant Associates and Senior Associates and it is a good place to use as a stepping stone (they have a number of investment bank clients and there is a good quality of work (although this is apparently disappearing fast)). I think there are a few 'sour grape' defendants commenting below as for all their faults RK do get fantastic settlements (hence the decent clients). However, the people at the top are rotten to the core and you often see people crying at their desks or in the toilets.

For those that haven't worked at RK the reference to 'I can make it happen' is, I understand, a company set up by the Head of Litigation's chauffeur...