Slaughter and May was the first to announce this year, saying that 38 of its 40 qualifying trainees accepted newly-qualified positions. Trainee recruitment partner Robert Byk said the high number 'underlines our focus on recruiting for the long term future of the firm', and is an improvement on its autumn 2015 figure of 33 out of 37 trainees.

Eight new lawyers for Nabarro

Nabarro managed to retain eight of its nine trainees, for a rate of 89 per cent. This was also an improvement on its autumn figure, when it kept only 77 per cent, or 10 out of 13, of its trainees. The firm kept a trio of real estate lawyers, two in the funds and indirect real estate practice and lawyers in the banking and finance, corporate and intellectual property teams. Source: Legal Business