Different but the same 

This is a firm in transition. “We are definitely moving away from that small, cosy family environment,” was one trainee's opinion. “Business services has basically taken off and it's all systems go.” A drive for new marketing initiatives that “can bring in as much business as possible” has been prominent as BDB seeks to navigate its way through challenging economic times. Trainees generally felt that “the firm will become more corporate, which may prove difficult for those who take a more traditional approach.” Training principal Nicholas Evans made the pragmatic point that “it is necessary to become increasingly businesslike – it's a buyer's market, we have to deliver to our clients' expectations. We are investing in a series of initiatives to help our lawyers respond to the challenges of the market. While the real estate and corporate market is picking up, we want to maintain a balance across all of our services.” Evans also confirmed that “we now receive more applications from trainees interested in employment, corporate and litigation, not just private wealth and Parliamentary work. We do have a breadth of practice areas, and because of that, we look for a variety of candidates.”

Trainees choose from four of the following seat options: commercial; corporate; employment; charities; government and infrastructure; real estate; private wealth; and litigation/dispute resolution. Given the small size of each intake, the task of allocating seats according to preference is “not complex.” “I've always got my first preference – almost everyone has,” declared one source. About four months before trainees join the firm, they are contacted and asked to state their top three seat preferences, as well as “the ones that you would not like to do.” Commendably, “the firm tries its best to ensure that your first seat is in something you really want” – not something that happens everywhere.

G&I Joes 

The government and infrastructure (G&I) department was until recently known as Parliamentary, public law and planning (PPP). It's the largest department at the firm and because of this, trainees felt that they could only “scratch the surface and get a general impression” of the “huge variety” of work available. BDB has built up one of the largest practices in this area, which has expanded beyond traditional Parliamentary work to encompass planning, environmental, public law issues (such as human rights), public procurement, public affairs and related property agreements. The pure Parliamentary aspect is very interesting. BDB is one of the few firms that employs Parliamentary agents licensed to draft, promote and oppose bills and other forms of legislation. It is an area that's highly appealing but “niche. There aren't that many people there: trainees do a lot more on the planning side.” Here, the team advises on the planning issues of all sorts of interesting projects – for example, working for Transport for London on the proposed cable car that will cross the Thames near the O2 Arena. “The predominant task in planning,” according to one source, “is researching technical points of law. I really enjoy researching, but wouldn't recommend it to someone who hated research.” Public law sees the firm providing advice to clients on lobbying and Select Committee preparation, media relations and crisis management. Overall, trainees “didn't have a lot of client contact” on a day-to-day basis but had “the chance to attend networking events.”

G&I work generates about one-quarter of the firm's overall revenue. Between them, the private wealth and charities practices bring in about the same amount. The private wealth department is one of the largest in the UK, and the team acts for all sorts of wealthy individuals, ranging from actors, artists and footballers to lottery winners and landed gentry. The ongoing effects of the economic crisis have provided a backdrop for much of the work conducted in this department, creating a noticeable rise in contentious advice required by clients. A lot of the work also has an international dimension, with clients instructing the firm from all over Europe, the USA and the Middle East. Trainees work on the drafting of trusts and wills. However, “if you show aptitude and willingness,” then greater responsibility may come your way, said one first-year, who documented a probate matter which involved assets in multiple jurisdictions. “I ran that from day one with supervision and developed a great relationship with the client.” Contentious trust matters often require “a lot of detective work” – in one case, a missing deed left the executors of a will clueless as to how to distribute a substantial amount of money. The charities team acts for over 450 national and international bodies, and advises on matters including the formation of charities, fund-raising and governance issues.

Commercial and corporate are expanding practice areas at BDB, and this type of work now accounts for a further 20% of the firm's revenue. The corporate team acted for Smurfit Kappa ('Europe's leading provider of corrugated cardboard') on an asset swap in which it gained a rival's UK operations in exchange for some of its own business in Western Europe. Under the leadership of the Chambers-ranked John Turnbull, this practice is definitely one to watch, but we'd say it is a major hire or two away from seriously competing in London's competitive M&A market yet.

The real estate department receives instructions from an eclectic range of clients, including Transport for London, the University of Notre Dame and Fred Perry. Trainees had helped out on disposal of large industrial estates, as well as the sale of derelict properties in Spitalfields on behalf of the London Development Agency. A seat in dispute resolution enables trainees to “get heavily involved and run a case from start to finish." Trainees got to draft pleadings and witness statements, and were also able to conduct some advocacy in the County Courts: “We do a professional skills advocacy course, so it's really nice to get the opportunity to put what we have learnt into practice.” The employment seat consists of “lots of litigation but not much advisory work” for trainees: it's the “more senior people doing that kind of work.” Trainees enjoyed this seat, and comparisons were made with the kind of skills that are required in private wealth: “It's all about people, often people that are going through a difficult time in their personal lives. Sometimes you are the claimant's focus of frustration, which is actually a big confidence booster because you learn how to deal with those situations.” The industrial relations team has been particularly busy of late, advising Royal Mail on nationwide strike ballots and managing to head off strike action in the bus and rail sectors over the Christmas period.

K-Box fever 

“BDB has always prided itself on looking for trainees with diverse backgrounds,” said one source. Viewing the trainee profiles on its website confirms that this lot are an eclectic bunch, who have had previous careers in all sorts of different sectors. “In my year the youngest is 25 and the oldest is middle-aged,” one source told us. The social committee is “very active” and puts on a decent spread of events throughout the year. Among the highlights is the annual 'Rowing Regatta', which sees everyone in the firm gather for “a bit of healthy competition in Putney” – a departmental boat race on the Thames. A newly-started book club is also popular, with meetings held, “weather permitting,” in nearby St James's Park. Departmentally, end of quarter drinks, bingo nights and “alternative quizzes” abound, with lots going on in the G&I department: “One of the senior associates is mad for karaoke, so we often go along to the K-Box for a night out.” Trainees regularly get together for drinks at either The Old Star or The Feathers, which is “the slightly cheaper and generally preferred choice.” Trainees complete a professional skills course with trainees from nearby Forsters and Boodle Hatfield, so social connections are formed through that as well.

And finally... 

We'll watch how this firm develops its corporate and commercial side with interest. Reports in September 2011 suggested it was in merger talks with Dundas & Wilson, and although nothing came of it, that does show BDB is not averse to the idea of a merger. Three out of seven second-year trainees were retained upon qualification in 2011.