#23 Legal Profession This Week: Workplace Scandals and BCLP Launches a New Training Contract​

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By Dheepa M​


Workplace Scandals

After a series of recent scandals, such as a lawyer caught watching unusual content at work, law firms have begun introducing new policies to minimise the risk of further incidents.

For example, Linklaters recommends that a non-drinking role be assigned to a senior person at all social events and asks that consensual relationships between employees are disclosed to HR. Clifford Chance’s proposed code of conduct also addresses some of the more difficult dynamics behind these incidents. The outline states that people should recognise that “an invitation to socialise outside the office (whether during office hours, after hours or on a business trip) from a senior colleague to a more junior colleague may be perceived as an exertion of influence, also if well intentioned” (The Lawyer).

Firms stand to lose a lot from these incidents. The past year alone has shown just how seriously some in the corporate world has begun to take social justice issues such as diversity and climate change, with many clients now actively looking for legal advisors that make strong commitments to these causes. Although the #MeToo movement spurred some law firms to address sexual incidents, it is clear more needs to be done.

BCLP Launches A New Training Contract

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) is launching a new sector-specific training contract. The new training contract will see trainees complete six four-month seats in practice areas focused on the real estate or finance sector.

The firm has also launched an innovation seat as part of its normal training contract route. Trainees will still sit within a traditional practice area, however they will spend time developing knowledge on technology platforms and increasing their creative and process skills (The Lawyer).

Although the first firm to launch a sector-specific training contract, BCLP is one of many firms to offer an innovation seat. With legal technology continuing to transform the way law firms work, many firms have recognised the need to upskill their trainees in the area. Reed Smith, DWF and Addleshaw Goddard all offer a similar legal technology seat to trainees.

‘Business as usual’ – the notable deals and cases which went ahead this week:

Kirkland & Ellis (Kirkland) and Slaughter and May are advising Cobham, an aerospace and defense group based in the UK, on its £2.57bn acquisition of Ultra Electronics. Kirkland is advising Advent International, the private equity firm that purchased Cobham in 2019, while Slaughter and May is advising Ultra Electronics. Ashurst is representing the banks involved in the deal (Law.com)

A Magic Circle trio has been awarded the mandate for CVC Capital Partners' (CVC) purchase of Stock Spirits, a public vodka company (Law.com). Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is taking the lead for CVC while Clifford Chance advises the private equity firm on antitrust and regulatory issues. Slaughter and May is acting for Stock Spirits. Law.com reports that despite competition from US firms, Freshfields has maintained its strong relationship with CVC, winning the majority of the firm’s mandates since 2019.

US cybersecurity company Norton LifeLock is acquiring its UK rival Avast for $9.2bn. Macfarlanes is advising Norton LifeLock alongside Kirkland & Ellis who is providing US aspects of the transaction. Meanwhile, White & Case is advising long-standing clients Avast (Law.com)
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