Picture caption: Andrew Leaitherland, managing partner, DWF
LLP
Business law firm DWF increased its high retention rate this
year by offering all 16 of its trainee solicitors a career with the
firm. 100% of trainees who began work with DWF in 2009 have
accepted a position, an increase on last year's figure of 89%.
The trainees will qualify into the insurance, real estate,
corporate, finance and restructuring and litigation practice
groups. DWF's strong retention rates are well above the top 30
average of 83% with very few firms in the UK offering and retaining
100% of qualifying trainee solicitors.
Andrew Leaitherland, managing partner at DWF, explained: "These
figures reflect our commitment to attracting and retaining the best
talent in the industry. Despite challenging economic conditions, we
have achieved significant growth and continue to be the top choice
for aspiring lawyers.
"It's not just our growth that attracts the best talent. We are
proud to be a people-focused business, and remain committed to
training and developing all of our staff. At DWF we have invested
over £4m in the development of our people and we will ensure
that our new qualifiers have every opportunity to flourish in their
careers.
"Our qualifiers will take up positions across the business
working with clients across a number of sectors and we wish them
well as they start their career. We are confident they will succeed
and build on the skills they have learnt throughout their
traineeships."
DWF's 100% offer and acceptance rate follows on from positive
annual results, which revealed that the firm had continued its
steady growth by posting a 35% increase in net profit and a 15%
rise in turnover to £83 million for its year ending April
2011.
The firm has more than doubled in size since 2007 and now has
over 1,300 people across six locations. DWF also recently announced
that it will be expanding its national presence with the opening of
a new office in Birmingham to be headed up by asset finance
specialist, Joanne Davis.