DLA Piper

DLA Piper became one of the largest legal service providers in the world in 2005 through a merger of unprecedented scope in the legal sector. While large in scale, the merger strategy was simple – to create an international legal practice capable of taking care of the most important legal needs of clients wherever they do business. We wanted our clients to rely on receiving the right service for their particular matter, whether requiring seamless coordination across multiple jurisdictions or delivery in a single location.

Building strong and substantial client relationships was and remains the compass for DLA Piper's business strategy and future development. With Frank Burch as Chairman of our Global Board, DLA Piper today has 3,500 lawyers in offices throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. We represent more clients in a broader range of geographies and practice disciplines than virtually any other law firm in the world. Our client commitment is also our brand - everything matters when it comes to the way we serve and interact with our clients. If it matters to them, it matters to us.

DLA Piper was built to serve clients wherever in the world they do business - quickly, efficiently and with genuine knowledge of both local and international considerations.  But while markets around the world are internationalizing, this doesn’t mean they are becoming the same. We remain committed, as always, to the local markets that are the building blocks of international business.

Our Clients

Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies. They include more than half of the Fortune 250 and nearly half of the FTSE 350 or their subsidiaries. As we build our global practices, we remain committed to maintaining regional practices around the world where we already do great work for longstanding clients. This gives us an understanding of middle market clients and insight into the issues facing both large clients and those seeking to establish a foothold.

Corporate Responsibility

Local Responsibility… Global Reach

“Everything Matters“ is not just about how we refer to our interactions and service to clients. It also describes our commitment to give back to our local and global communities.

In each of our offices around the world, we make a serious commitment to public service by dedicating our time and legal services to projects related to education, healthcare, housing, hunger, economic development and law reform. Our contribution ranges from major, multi-regional initiatives of global concern to local arrangements benefiting schools and charities in each of our communities. In 2007 alone, we were proud to dedicate more than 150,000 hours of pro bono and corporate social responsibility (CSR) work to benefit worthy people and causes around the world.

Along with our commitment to helping those in need, we have also pledged a firm commitment to the global environment. In 2007, we became one of the first in the legal field to launch a global sustainability initiative aimed at reducing our environmental impact. Through the enthusiastic commitment of our people, we are making meaningful changes to our business across our offices worldwide, particularly in the key areas of energy, waste, travel and procurement.

Another key element in our commitment to the clients and communities we serve is diversity. Around the world at DLA Piper, our people reflect the diversity of our communities and our global marketplace. We believe that our efforts to understand, value and incorporate the differences that our people bring to the business enable us to acquire the best talent, create effective teams and establish a culture that is inclusive and sensitive to the needs of all.

Diversity

We are committed to equality and diversity and have developed a strategy which underpins our values of respect for the individual, responsibility and teamwork. Equality and diversity are key to our global identity and an integral part of our aim to continue being an 'Employer of Choice'.

Our vision in terms of equality and diversity is not only to comply with legislation but to take a progressive approach, to create a mix of talent that makes us ever more successful as a business. Managing equality and diversity means valuing and utilising the differences our people bring to the business regardless of sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, age or gender reassignment, so ensuring that no one is disadvantaged.

We recognise that a willing and committed workforce, where there is equality for all, where difference is visibly welcomed and people are actively included, is a key ingredient in our success - working in partnership with a diverse client base in a diverse number of locations, and delivering a diverse range of top quality legal solutions.

"We are defined by our people. They are our global identity as an organisation. Our brand is based on relationships and our people define our relationships.  Diversity at DLA Piper goes to the heart of our values".
Sir Nigel Knowles, Joint CEO

Working at DLA Piper

DLA Piper's UK business is a key part of global operations.

Our integrated network of offices throughout the UK offers clients pragmatic business-driven advice in an environment where innovation, excellence and going that extra mile is the norm. Unsurprisingly, it is exactly those qualities we look for in the people we recruit to join us whether they be a senior level lawyer, a trainee solicitor or a business support professional. In return we offer a supportive and empowering environment where all of our people are given every opportunity to fulfil their full potential. We are proud to have been consistently voted one of the UK's and Europe's best employers in a survey which benchmarks us against all major European employers and not just law firms.

Our staff are also encouraged to develop their skills in areas beyond conventional business activities. At DLA Piper we take Corporate Social Responsibility very seriously.  We believe in living our core values and investing in our communities - by giving something back we are helping to shape a better future for them.  Fee earners, trainees and support staff have all found that investing in the community has helped to develop their professional skills and engage more fully with the wider environment.

Whether you are a qualified lawyer looking to make a lateral move, a graduate about to embark on a career in the law or a business support professional, we think you should think seriously about DLA Piper.