The Legal 500

Bristows was founded over 170 years ago and has always been committed to excellence. Today, with the continuing recruitment of lawyers of the highest quality, Bristows remains at the forefront of City firms. Bristows advises businesses in seven sectors: life sciences, consumer products, industrial markets, technology media and telecommunications, not-for-profit/charities, financial services and real estate.

The firm: The firm is a market leader in many of these sectors and acts for numerous FTSE 100, Fortune 500 and other multinational companies. Bristows has earned an enviable international reputation and has developed one of the largest full service intellectual property and technology practices in Europe. It is committed to maintaining its well-deserved reputation as an approachable firm dedicated to serving new entrants, as well as established businesses, across the full range of legal disciplines.

Types of work undertaken: The firm has generated unparalleled expertise in litigation and corporate/commercial transactions for technology companies, in particular where intellectual property plays a key role. Many of the firm’s lawyers trained as scientists and so appreciate sophisticated technology. The firm’s expertise in dispute resolution extends to commercial conflicts of all kinds, with regular and significant instructions from North American clients. The firm is also experienced in corporate and commercial law transactions from IPOs, takeovers and mergers to private equity financings, outsourcing, joint ventures, in-licensing, out-licensing and university technology spin-offs. Bristows has a highly regarded practice in all the main commercial law disciplines, and its strength in depth in these disciplines has been increasing fast. By way of example, Bristows now has one of the largest and most highly regarded data privacy groups in Europe, while its commercial IP/IT and regulatory practice have each doubled in size over the last few years. Other core practice areas include competition, healthcare, employment, real estate and real estate finance, publishing/marketing and media, advertising, tax, charities and not-for-profit, and partnership law. Much of the firm’s work is cross-border and over 70 percent of its instructions are generated from outside of the UK. Bristows has close links with leading US practices and also works alongside leading independent firms in other European jurisdictions as well as firms in the Far East, to provide an integrated international service to clients as required.

The firm has an enviable reputation for collegiality and team working. It is well-known for having rejected billable hours targets for its lawyers (including partners) so as to encourage teamwork and increase the focus on the quality and value of the service it provides its clients.

Recruitment: Bristows recruits outstanding trainee solicitors each year. The long-term prospects are excellent; many of the firm’s present partners trained with the firm. Applicants from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply and scientific degrees are particularly relevant for certain areas. In-house training is comprehensive and many trainees and associates spend time on secondment at client companies, including Diageo, Capgemini, Novartis, BBC, Sony, Honda and British Airways.

Number of UK partners 33
Number of other UK fee-earners 74