For all the recent woe about old London town, things are not looking quite so bad for many lawyers looking for a UK stint. While it has been a very slow last 6 months with the injection of the latest round of EU stimulus and the upcoming bonus season we expect attrition rates to slightly increase, giving rise to further opportunities across a number of practice groups.

If you are a corporate or M&A lawyer, then your chances are currently spread very thin on the ground. The corporate market has continued to be flat as companies play a waiting game in the volatile European economy, with the result that Australian and New Zealand lawyers are finding it difficult to get a look in. There are however numerous great opportunities for funds lawyers, or corporate lawyers willing to transfer into funds. Financial regulatory lawyers are also being hired steadily across the board.

For lawyers in finance or project finance, the news is improving. Those with outstanding academics and excellent top-tier experience are still able to get their foot in the door, with some world-class firms presently interviewing a number of our candidates. Lawyers in the competition space are in a similar boat, with a steady demand for outstanding candidates.

Saving the best news for last, the London litigation market is currently exploding, with demand for the very best Australian and New Zealand commercial litigators as high as it has ever been. London is fast becoming the global leader in litigation and dispute resolution, with several new litigation firms opening in the last year. For Australian and New Zealand lawyers, this means that there is real opportunity to work with the top law firms in the City. Good news at last.

If you are interested in working in London and would like to know how best to manage your relocation, contact one of our international consultants on +61 2 9266 2900 or email ea@ea-int.com.

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