Pannone admits payment, but denies foul play, as it tops survey
05 March 2010
Manchester firm Pannone has been forced to deny bribing its staff, but has admitted paying for "data", after it was revealed as the highest placed law firm in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For survey - for the seventh year running.
 
In the survey, to be published this weekend, Pannone continues its remarkable run of success by coming in 18th place overall. Only six other law firms make the top 100 - Lewis Silkin (33), Mishcon de Reya (48), Mills & Reeve (72), Brabners Chaffe Street (83), Freeth Cartwright (94) and Cripps Harries Hall (97).

Mmmm, Pannone...

One insider told RollOnFriday that the fact that the firm scored highly was simply "a testament to the black arts of survey completion". However another put it down to the fact that "they give you free holidays and cakes if they do well", and claimed the firm "hand picks individuals who are not deemed to be 'negative'". A spokeswoman for Pannone denied this, and stressed that "we have never given bonuses as a result of the firm scoring well in the survey".

But there's more to the survey than meets the eye. A spokeswoman for Best Companies, which runs the survey, admitted to RollOnFriday that 37% of companies on the list had paid it for "consultancy" services. Pannone would not disclose how much money it had paid Best Companies over the last seven years, but confirmed that "this year we purchased some of the survey data/analysis".

It seems a little strange that Pannone, which managed a distinctly average 28th place in RollOnFriday's - completely free - Firm of the Year 2010, consistently does so much better than any other law firm. Unfair? Speak your brains here.