Legal sector presence in Sunday Times's 'top 100' falls

The number of law firms present in the Sunday Times's '100 Best Companies to Work For' list has dropped - from ten to eight - with Fletchers Solicitors the newest entrant.

Over 240,000 employees filled out questionnaires rating their company on its leadership, staff wellbeing, and community engagement, among other standards.

Last year's leading law firm Mishcon De Reya fell 10 places from 7 to 17. It was replaced as the highest entrant from the legal sector with Devon and Cornwall-based Stephens Scown, which ranked in 12th, after rising 27 places from last year.

The firm's contribution to the communities of St Austell, Truro, and Exeter was highlighted, as was its content workforce, with 83 per cent of its staff claiming they would not want to work anywhere else.

Meanwhile, Kingsley Napley climbed from 38th to 23rd and private client practice Withers rose from 77th position to 61st.

City firm Lewis Silkin dropped from 54th to 76th place, while Mills & Reeve and Withy King fell from 72nd to 74th and 42nd to 45th, respectively.

The two firms exiting the list altogether were Baker & McKenzie and Asons Solicitors.

The latest entrant to the list was medical negligence and serious injury specialists Fletchers Solicitors, which entered at 82 in the chart.

Fletchers received credit for being an 'outstanding' employer and was praised for its strong leadership, dedication to staff wellbeing, and giving back to the community.

Reflecting on the success, Ed Fletcher, the firm's CEO, said that being added to the Sunday Times's list was 'icing on the cake' after a 'remarkable year'.

'To be recognised as the only specialist law firm devoted exclusively to medical negligence and serious and personal injury is even more outstanding.

'We're aiming to achieve Top 100 law firm status by 2018, so we know attracting, and keeping, the right talent to the firm is absolutely crucial,' Fletcher explained.

'This is a key priority for us to ensure we provide our clients with a fantastic service, as well as keeping our team here happy, motivated, and loyal.'

The firm's chief-executive praised the strength of the firm's employee engagement strategy, which he believes has improved since the appointment of a 'dedicated head of people', Sara Duxbury, in 2014.

Writing for SJ in January, Duxbury explained how keeping staff happy can help firms retain talent in a competitive market.

Elsewhere, in the list of top 100 best small companies to work for (50-250 staff), Preston law firm Harrison Drury Solicitors ranked as 39th and Bishops Stortford practice Nockolds Solicitors came in at 61st.