Addleshaw Goddard Manchester office
Our view....     Addleshaw Booth & Co merged with (for which read 'took over') Theodore Goddard in May 2003 to what seems, so far, the approval and benefit of all concerned.     Certainly, something needed to be done. Whilst Addleshaws' turnover was respectable enough (£91 million for 2002/2003) their profits per partner had fallen 9% to a shabby £250,000. Income for the merged firms is now at £120 million, and in an improving market they' should increase their profits further.     One surefire way to improve profitability is to modify the lockstep - partners now have up to 50% of their pay awarded on a performance basis. Another way is by redundancies. Five partners were sacked after annual appraisals were introduced in 2003 (having been warned previously to start pulling their weight). Eleven were given the push the previous year. Unusually, assistants seem to have been spared the P45, although thirty support staff were made redundant after the merger.     The merger's greatest effect was to beef up the firm's London presence, so Manchester has not experienced too much of a shake-up as a result, although obviously its partners are affected by the modification of lockstep and redundancies. Still, if it has an impact on profits then it'll be a good place for ambitious, thrusting young partners. Not so good for the rather older more laid-back ones, of course...     The new Addleshaw Goddard has re-arranged itself into five core divisions - corporate, property, commercial, banking 'n' projects, employment 'n' litigation. Manchester's property department is recognised as a leader in the field - the firm have won the North West Property Law Firm of the Year twice in a row. Employment is also a boom area for the Manchester office, helped no doubt by the poaching of several senior members of Manches' employment team who'll now be servicing the likes of AstraZeneca and United Utilities     So early days yet, but a positive start for the new firm.     Email your comments	Salary, new trainee	21,500
	Salary, newly qualified	34,000
	Salary, 1 PQE
	Salary, 2 PQE
	Salary, 3 PQE
	Salary, 4 PQE
	Target hours	Not published
	Holiday	25 days + statutory
	Pension	Average 5% matched contributions firm wide.
	Healthcare	Yes
	Maternity policy	A comprehensive maternity and paternity policy is in place. Further details available on request.
	Gym	Subsidised off-site gym.
	Restaurant	Yes - subsidised.
	Other	Bonus scheme; Life assurance at 4 times salary; childcare vouchers; flexi holidays; PHI; season ticket loans.
	Number of training places per year	50 firm wide
	% of trainees retained	78%
	24 hour photocopying support	No
	24 hour secretarial support	No