Addleshaw Goddard prides itself on being different to other law firms and a destination for talented people. The commercial law firm, which acts for a number of FTSE 350 clients as well as other public and private organisations, has plenty of evidence to back up its claims.

Its lawyers are leaders across a range of practice areas including banking and finance, commercial litigation, competition, construction, defamation, real estate, sport and tax. And when they are not earning fees they can be found doing good deeds, from pro bono work to fundraising and helping in the local community. Every employee gets two days’ paid time off to do some kind of voluntary work. A recent batch of new recruits went to Romania to build low-cost housing as part of their induction training.

Addleshaw Goddard takes corporate social responsibility seriously and more than 150 people (10% of the workforce) sit on teams linked to diversity, environment and community engagement, enabling them to take an active role in shaping the firm’s programme in such matters.

Staff are proud to work for the organisation. They have fun and would recommend it to others, earning Addleshaw Goddard an 81% positive score on all three counts. More than a third of the 1,458 employees have been with the firm for at least five years and workers say they would not leave tomorrow (80%) even if offered another job.

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• Company website

• Addleshaw Goddard's entry in 2007

• Addleshaw Goddard's entry in 2006

Turning up the Heat pays off

Strong training and a sense that work is to be enjoyed add up to Heat powering past its rivals into top spot this year

BACKGROUND

• Hats off to great leadership

• Getting the message across loud and clear

• Fly high with the X Factor

• Why it pays to know what you’re doing

BACKGROUND

• Charity wins top small company award

• Special awards for best practice

• Rules of engagement

• 100 Best SME's to work for 2008

Multimedia

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

Leadership and teamwork are particular strengths. The regular briefings undertaken by the senior and managing partners are appreciated for the openness and honesty of the presentations, and the willingness of the senior team to answer questions. This is reflected with a 79% positive score for staff having confidence in the leadership skills of senior management, ranking the firm in the top 30.

The company gets its highest scores for giving staff a fair deal, with just 14 other organisations on the list scoring more highly. School hours contracts, compressed hours, working from home and job sharing are among the flexible working options available to staff, about one in seven of whom earns in excess of £100,000. Employees are happy with the pay and benefits (75%) which include medical insurance, an employee assistance programme, childcare vouchers and generous sick pay arrangements.

Team events, celebrations and communications involve everyone. When Addleshaw Goddard’s corporate team won a legal industry award everyone, including support staff, was included in the drinks celebration that followed. This makes for a close-knit workforce who care a lot about each other (81%).

The Leeds office has an on-site gym and in all of the firm’s locations employees can take up subsidised gym membership at a health club of their choice. This approach appears to pay dividends, with staff reporting that their health is not suffering because of work (79%).

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