Firm-Specific

Question 1

Why Ashurst?

Answer 1

• Values - pro bono and EDI very important.
• International, of course
• Professional development is really prioritised
• Ashurst advanced
• Customer-service focus, e.g. apps
• Non-hierarchical character of the firm
• Range of work!
• Medium-sized intake is appealing
• Tangibility of the work - due to the transactional dominance

Question 2

Who are our main competitors?

Answer 2

• In terms of lateral hires, Linklaters has taken a real-estate partner and Tokyo Corporate Head
• Private equity is a strength, there competitors would be Addleshaw, Travers Smith
• Fund finance - Clifford Chance
• Projects, energy, and natural resources - AO, Clifford, Linklaters - Allens in Australia
• Potentially White & Case for pro bono

Question 3

What differentiates Ashurst from their competitors?

Answer 3

• Ashurst Advance allows the firm to provide greater value for money
• Interpersonal relationships seem to be really prioritised, fostered, and consolidated
• Pro bono and EDI being at the heart is very important for clients
• Full service law firm
• Consultancy arm
• Attention to client needs, e.g. apps, thoughtfulness with spacings and everything

Question 4

How many partners are at the firm globally?

Answer 4

Approximately 480

Question 5

How many lawyers are in London?

Answer 5

Approximately 650 - 141 partners, 80 trainees, 425 lawyers

Question 6

What do you see as the bad points of joining our firm?

Answer 6

• Speaking to trainees, I know that qualification leave is less compared to other firms, but that’s not major
• Maybe breadth of training - I know Freshfields offer 8 seats but this again isn’t a personal issue to me and this is made up by the banking seat!
• I know perks are less than other firms but this is supplemented in great tech and generally better work-life balance

Question 7

What are our practice areas?

Answer 7

• M&A, corporate, and structured finance
• Projects, esp. energy, transport, and infrastructure
• Antitrust and competition
• IP
• Dispute resolution
• Financial services
• Tax
• Real estate
• Regulatory
• Telecomms
• Employment

Question 8

What are our key industry sectors?

Answer 8

• Banks and funds
• Digital economy
• Energy & resources
• Infrastructure
• Real estate

Question 9

What is our business strategy?

Answer 9

Paul Jenkins:

• Infrastructure business and further developing our key areas of sectoral strength such as private capital, financial institutions, energy transition and digital transformation.
• Asia as a focus of investment
• Over 85% of the firm’s work is derived from its focus industries: banks and private capital, real estate, infrastructure, energy and resources and the digital economy
• Jenkins has set a target to get to 10% in production hours in the near future with Ashurst advance

Question 10

Where should we open a new office?

Answer 10

• I know US expansion is targeted further, potentially San Francisco for tech, but lots of firms are opening up in Utah and Colorado for tech too.
• Canada could be interesting with lots of energy work but local firms are quite consolidated, have egos, may be a large acquisition target
• South Africa - quickly expanding economy, rich in resources and would further bolster the projects practice. Knowledge gaps are apparently a problem so acquisitions may be difficult and obviously starting from scratch is difficult.