White & Case is to keep on 13 of the 15 trainees due to qualify in London in September, representing a retention rate of 87%.
The figure is marginally up on the equivalent intake last year when White & Case kept on 86% of its trainees. The firm kept on 12 of its 13 March qualifiers earlier this year.
Philip Stopford, training partner at White & Case, said: “Retaining such a high proportion demonstrates our confidence in our own business, as well as evidencing the high quality of our trainees. The firm’s commitment to its trainee programme is shown by the high number of trainees we are retaining and I look forward to seeing their careers at White & Case flourish in the years ahead.”
White & Case’s London retention rate is broadly in line with other US firms. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is to keep on all six of its September 2009 intake, Weil Gotshal & Manges is to retain 11 of its 13 qualifiers, while Latham is taking on seven out of nine. Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has offered jobs to all three of its September qualifying intake.
In contrast, September retention rates at UK firms to announce so far have been marginally lower. Clifford Chance announced last week that it was to retain only 70% of its September intake, putting it in line with rivals Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith and Allen & Overy.
