Debenhams Ottaway retains 100% of its trainee lawyers

Debenhams Ottaway is pleased to announce that three trainee lawyers will qualify at the firm this month. Laura Coad and Robyn Adams will qualify as lawyers into the firm’s fast growing litigation and dispute resolution team, whilst Adam Matthews will join our award-winning private client team. This 100% retention rate reflects the firm’s commitment to developing its talent.

Debenhams Ottaway is especially pleased that Laura has qualified as a lawyer having initially joined the firm as a legal assistant in 2014. The firm’s legal assistant role is specifically designed to nurture and progress talented individuals who are entering the legal profession through a variety of non-traditional routes, reflecting the firm’s commitment to developing the profession by recruiting and training people from a variety of backgrounds.

Luke Harrison, lead partner in the litigation and dispute resolution team said
“I am delighted that Debenhams Ottaway is able to continue to offer young aspiring lawyers’ excellent training which provides a good foundation to their legal career. As well as welcoming trainee lawyers we’re very pleased that the firm has continued to grow organically and is able to create new roles across our core practice areas.” 

Developing its people is a key part of the firm’s growth strategy, last year Debenhams Ottaway launched its first Business Development Academy designed to develop the commercial skills of its lawyers.

Susan Glenholme, partner and head of the private wealth team who led the launch of the Business Development Academy commented that “the academy is designed to complement our technical learning programme. We take the development and training of our lawyers very seriously and ensure that we equip our lawyers with the commercial and technical skills to deliver first class advice and service to our clients”.