The 1,115-employee Slaughter and May has a distinctive profile - with nearly all its 117 partners being home-grown and having only four offices (Brussels, Hong Kong and Beijing as well as the London HQ). There has been the occasional sign of a possible change in emphasis - for instance, seeming more open to the idea of lateral hires in the last two years; and the fact that the senior partner has given two interviews in the last seven months.

Banco Santander

Chris Saul is a general corporate partner who advises on M&A, joint ventures and commercial contracts as well as private equity and securities transactions. The transaction highlights of his career include advising Akzo Nobel (on the acquitision of ICI), Goldman Sachs Capital Partners (on various deals) and GE and Banco Santander. 

Possibility for rethink?

The firm has many areas of strategy which it could reconsider. For instance, like the other Magic Cirlce firms, it is falling significantly behind the US firms on pay levels offered to newly-qualifieds. The firm maintains a small office network by relying on 'best friend' relationships - while Allen & Overy, for instance, has offices in 34 countries. Sources: The Lawyer and Slaughter and May