Legal sector make up one tenth of Sunday Times' top 100

Ten law firms have been named in The Sunday Times' '100 Best Companies to Work For' list, including three new entries from outside of London.

The 15th annual ranking of the cream of Britain's happiest workforces received responses from more than 248,000 employees in 1,050 businesses, and saw companies judged on eight categories such as leadership, wellbeing, pay and benefits, and personal growth. Just eight firms featured in the 2014 survey.

The highest firm to feature in The Sunday Times list was Mishcon de Reya, which led the chasing pack by being named the seventh best company to work for in the UK. It is the eighth consecutive year the firm has appeared in the list; last year it appeared in 20th position.

The London-based firm also received a special award for 'Giving Something Back', which highlighted Mishcon's numerous social responsibility initiatives, including a partnership with literacy charity Beanstalk and its sponsorship of the Southbank Centre's first festival on children's rights: 'WHY? What's Happening for the Young?'

Commenting on the achievement, Mishcon de Reya's managing partner, Kevin Gold, said: "It is an enormous achievement to make the top ten in The Sunday Times' Best Companies list, and to once again be the highest law firm to feature. We also take great pride in having been recognised for the 'Giving Something Back' Award.

"Our core values shape everything we do at Mishcon, and social responsibility is at the heart of them. That 89 per cent of staff appreciate that the firm has a strong social conscience is testament to the investment we are making in bringing this to life."

Elsewhere in the list, Asons solicitors were the highest new entry, appearing in 15th place. They were joined by Stephens Scown who debuted in the list in 39th position and Freeths appeared in 90th. The three new entries were from Bolton, Exeter, and Nottingham respectively.

Other perennial members of the list include Kingsley Napley (up from 49th to 38th), Withy King (up from 58th to 42nd), Lewis Silkin (which remained in 54th place), Mills & Reeve (dropping from 66th to 72nd), and Withers (climbing from 81st to 77th).

City law firm Lewis Silkin appeared in the seventh year in a row. The firm's managing partner, Ian Jeffery, said: "There are few things which bring us greater pride than being recognised as one of the UK's top places to work. We are particularly pleased by the recognition of our team's fundraising and charitable efforts; supporting our communities has always been at the core of our values.

"Making this list for the seventh consecutive year is a truly gratifying result. We're delighted that the personal and collective effort that all our people put in to creating an environment of opportunity, support and inclusion is recognised in this way."

Arguably, Baker & McKenzie were the biggest losers to retain a spot in this year's survey, after falling from 25th place in 2014 to 80th this year.

Gillian Coyle, London HR director Baker & McKenzie, said: "We're pleased to be ranked in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies To Work For 2015 for the fifth consecutive year. This, together with our ranking in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list, is testament to the high-performing, collaborative and fulfilling culture which makes Baker & McKenzie a great place to work."

Things could have been worse as demonstrated by Reed Smith who fell out of the top 100 altogether, having previously held the 86th spot in 2014.

John van der Luit-Drummond is legal reporter for Solicitors Journal