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Where would we be without Bristows? Potentially, in a darkened room wearing uncomfortable undies. As one of London's oldest firms, and a leading name in IP law worldwide, the firm has helped along the invention of everything from the electric light bulb and the transatlantic telephone cable to Y-fronts and Doctor Who's latest TARDIS.

Despite being a serious old-timer, with a history going back 132 years, Bristows has a “spring in its step." This is largely thanks to the winds of change which have blown a whopping great present, in the form of new media, in through the firm's front door. As training principal Mark Hawes explained: “Media and entertainment used to be the stuff of West End firms, but as it becomes more and more technological, it increasingly becomes a natural area for us to be working in." This area of law fits easily alongside Bristows' traditional sectors: TMT, consumer branded products and life sciences, and the firm's IP team has increased in size by over 25% in the past year. Some of the firm's biggest highlights of 2011 have been new media ones, like the win on behalf of L'Oreal against eBay, who were advertising products that weren't strictly “kosher L'Oreal goods," and advising Google on its Street View facility when it ran into data privacy issues. In addition to top-notch TMT clients such as MTV, Sony, Freeview and the BBC, Bristows is at the top of the life sciences tree, working for pharmaceutical giants like Novartis and AstraZeneca.

While IP work constitutes roughly 50% of its output, Bristows takes great pride in labelling itself as a one-stop shop for its core clients. While there is some debate among trainees as to just how close it has come to this full-service vision, Bristows' future strategy is clear: “To beef up all our other areas while sustaining growth in IP." Our interviewees described a real push to grow the firm's corporate and real estate offerings, noting that, “trainees interested in something other than IP shouldn't be put off." The strategy appears to be paying off, as Bristows recorded a 9% increase in turnover in 2010/11.

Go gadget, go! 

Bristows offers an unusual combination of three and six month seats in various departments including: IP litigation; commercial IP; commercial disputes; competition; regulatory; real estate; and corporate. Our sources were big fans of the system, explaining: “It gave me a really good idea of what each department does and how they all fit together. It's nice that you get to see the same transactions but from different perspectives." Trainees' seating plans are mapped out for them before they start, but are often tweaked or shuffled as time goes on. “If there's something you definitely want to do, they tend to be quite accommodating.” Secondments are a central part of training at Bristows, and every trainee should expect to spend three months of their contract working in-house for clients such as Google and Sony Computer Entertainment. Read more about Bristows' secondments in our bonus feature.

IP enthusiasts will be relieved to hear that a (usually six-month) stint in the firm's “flagship department” of IP litigation is compulsory. Over the past year, the team has been involved in huge cases for Astra Zeneca against other generic drug companies, Siemens against a leading hard-disk drive manufacturer over the sensors used to 'read' digital files, as well as working on the L'Oreal v eBay case, which will set a fundamental precedent in UK trademark and e-commerce law. For trainees, this seat is genuinely hands-on and actively tailored towards their interests. A source explained: “One of us has a physics background and was put on a physics-type patent. They try and put you where you can use your strengths." Work in the seat is a real mixed bag. According to trainees, “hard IP” work, involving patents, is largely on behalf of huge pharmaceutical and telecoms companies, often with an international slant. The job involves co-ordinating patents across different jurisdictions to make sure no cheeky rip-offs appear on the shelves. On the “soft IP" side of things, trainees work with everyone from massive multinationals with a range of subsidiaries, to start-ups, advising on how to protect their trade marks and slogans. With reports of attending long trials in court, liaising with counsel, drafting and surprisingly little bundling, the IP litigation seat more than lived up to trainees' expectations.

The commercial IP department deals with the transactional side of intellectual property work. For many, this is more exciting than the litigation seat, as you get to work with younger companies. “They tend to have quite innovative ideas," one source explained. “We're dealing not only with the idea but its potential development in the future." One trainee reported doing a great deal of work with the trade marks and brands teams, “doing promotions and competitions for big drinks manufacturers." The internationally renowned data protection team also falls under this umbrella, working on the Google Street View case, as well as advising on social media and online advertising for MTV, Sony and Guinness World Records. Smith & Nephew and other leading life sciences companies are also clients. The seat involves a great deal of research and drafting, and while there may be less physical meetings than in some other departments trainees reported going along to the odd negotiation.

The future's bright 

Outside of these IP powerhouses, trainees continue to enjoy a great deal of responsibility. The commercial dispute resolution department works for clients including Everything Everywhere (the Orange and T-Mobile mash-up), Chrysler, and global IT services company Capgemini. Sources reported being entrusted to work on smaller files by themselves as well as being part of the team on higher-value projects. Hours can get long in this team: “It is very much a case of being at the beck and call of your clients.”

Due to the small size of the competition department, trainees get heaps of responsibility from the off. The huge range of issues dealt with in the department is reflected in trainees' work. “One day I was giving advice to a computer software producer, the next day a big jewellery producer, and then a food manufacturer. You need a basic knowledge of several different industries." Some sources reported being involved in a big mobile phone case – “a really nice one to see the interface between competition and patent law." There is a great deal of crossover with the regulatory department, which is a favourite among trainees despite the longer hours involved. A good mix of contentious and advisory work, “you get a lot of exposure to different areas of law. There's litigation, a bit of advertising, and EU law. You never know what is going to come through the door." Work for big pharmaceutical companies is the “bread and butter” of the seat.

Corporate may not be Bristows' traditional hotspot, but this tends to work in trainees' favour. One source explained: “The very nice thing about corporate at Bristows is that it isn't a massive team and you can get involved in anything you want." Generally, this involves bits and bobs of M&A, as well as advising on financial regulation, tax and conflict of interest policies. Mostly acting for the firm's traditional IP client base, the work is described as “challenging but not impossible." Most pass through either here or the property seat at some point. In the latter team, a stack of files passes from trainee to trainee, allowing them to control their own workload and deal directly with clients. As one source explained, “the real difference in real estate is that the client probably knows my name rather than just being 'the trainee'."

From gammas to gavels 

Bristows is not afraid to do things differently. From the lawyers and trainees that it chooses to take on, to its quirky seat allocation and appraisal systems, the firm stands apart from its more standardised City competitors. For starters, there is a seriously weighty science contingent in the firm. Unlikely as it may sound, Bristows is a law firm made up of medics, biochemists and physicists. All but one of 2011's qualifying intake has a scientific background. One explained: “I didn't really click with the lab experience, but with IP law I can still be at the cutting edge of science." This is by no means a prerequisite for breaking into Bristows (the year below are mostly arts and humanities graduates), but there is no denying the “techy” flavour of the firm. “People come from incredibly educated backgrounds. There are people with PhDs and postgraduate degrees in the sciences and relevant fields. It's really exciting and interesting to be around people who have a life outside of the law."

Perhaps this mish-mash of academic backgrounds has helped foster Bristows' rather progressive ethos. According to Hawes: “Our culture is not one of those hard-nosed, profit-driven, chargeable hour-driven types." In fact, Bristows takes great pride in trashing the entire concept of chargeable hour targets. Its lawyers, Hawes asserts, are instead judged on merit. This non-competitive air trickles down through the ranks. “Trainees in my intake aren't in competition with each other,” one source pondered. “Trainees at other firms might feel they have to stab each other in the back. That must really suck."

Another huge bonus for trainees is Bristows' “almost unbelievable work-life balance." Core hours are 9.15am to 5.15pm. Working after this time is considered a late night, and it is almost unknown for trainees to be glued to their desks until the early hours. “I did that once and had an e-mail from the partner saying don't worry about coming in early tomorrow,” revealed one source. “They do realise if you're working hard." Relations between partners and trainees are good, fostered through unusual appraisal and mentoring systems. Want to know more? Once again, check out our bonus feature.

Bristows moved into the listed Unilever House on Blackfriars Bridge three years ago. Its striking art deco design on the outside masks an “ultramodern” interior, full of glass and marble and complete with an obscure suspended rotating gramophone sculpture. “They felt it reflected the cutting-edge nature of our work.” Half the firm looks out over the internal atrium, while another particularly jammy contingent sit in “millionaires' row” with its spectacular views over the Thames.

Bright sparks 

The social life is what trainees make of it. A close-knit bunch, they tend to get together with their superiors on an ad hoc basis in The Albion or The Black Friar pubs nearby. Firm-wide parties are arranged in March and September, and there are a plethora of departmental Christmas dos held everywhere from Harvey Nics to the local karaoke bar. With trips to the opera and a range of sporting activities thrown in, trainees have plenty to keep them busy.

Only one of Bristows current 16 trainees has an undergraduate degree in law, so what is the firm looking for in its trainees? Essentially, Mark Hawes told us, it's “people with a bit of spark." Successful applicants are those “super-clever people who could've gone to larger City firms but didn't want that. They were looking for something very different." All trainees have top-class universities on their CVs and have excelled academically, whether in science or something completely different. “The firm will always be at least 50% scientists and engineers, but we actively seek law and arts graduates."

One source reflected the views of his colleagues: “There's an atmosphere here that they hired us, we're all good enough and there will be capacity for us on qualification." In 2011, Bristows kept on seven of its eight qualifying trainees.

And finally... 

We're informed that Bristows is intending to brush up its vac scheme, and take on more trainees through this route. It's no prerequisite, but an excellent chance to stand out in the firm's super-competitive application process.