Stevens & Bolton doesn’t have any bolt-ons (or Stevens, at the time of writing) – it’s a single office in Guilford where around 150 lawyers seem to be having a pretty good time of it.
A one site approach (see also Macfarlanes) can be a big help when you’re trying to instil a decent culture, and the firm reckons it also ensures its communications and use of resources are excellent.
S&B took advantage of a recent refit to populate its new office with 900 plants, which sounds lovely, and proximity to both greenery and the action is part of the firm’s appeal – it’s outside of London, but you can still get to the City in half an hour.
The firm’s growing, too, and has been for 12 years on the trot. In 2022 net profit increased by 22% to £14m on revenues of £36m. On average, the 40-odd partners were remunerated to the tune of £346k, with the most well-paid taking £639k.
Total headcount is now around 200, and that growth has filtered down to Steven & Bolton’s trainee intake, which has doubled from five to 10.
Trainee seats are offered in most of the firm's key business areas, namely corporate, commercial and corporate tax, insolvency and banking/finance, personal wealth and families, commercial real estate, property litigation, real estate disputes, IP, commercial litigation and employment, pensions and immigration.
With clients including a number of UK FTSE companies, it also seems keen on offering an attractive work/life balance to staff, which means a number of sports teams (including netball and football) and a firm choir. Surely an in-office gardening course can’t be far behind.
Here's some staff feedback via the RollOnFriday Best Law Firms to Work At survey.
Pay:
A Business Services member of staff said salary was "on market."
"Decent for the regions but could be better - especially because they hold themselves out as doing London work," said a junior lawyer.
Office and Amenities:
"Lovely new office following refurb," said a junior lawyer.
"New office fit out is very slick and fit for purpose, kudos," agreed another lawyer.
Work/life balance.
One lawyer said that work/life balance was the main reason that makes them stay at the firm, and that they "generally work from 8.30am to 6pm."