The best law firm to work for, for the fourth year running, Pannone stands out from the crowd. Nurturing everyone — not just the fee-earning legal staff — is typical of its approach, and it pays dividends. The company continues to grow in size and profitability.

There is a culture of fun and inclusiveness throughout Manchester’s largest single-site law firm. Successes such as winning awards or beating monthly targets are celebrated by every member of staff with treats such as chocolates or wine or even an extra day off. These touches breed loyalty; nearly all employees would strongly recommend working for Pannone, giving this question a 90% positive score, and they wouldn’t leave for another job (88%).

Loyalty is also evident in the high number of staff with long service; 157 have worked at the firm for between five and 10 years; 42 for 10 to 15 years and 51 have more than 15 years’ service — including managing partner Joy Kingsley. She is one of the few female head honchos among the 100 Best Companies to Work For, and she is even more of a rarity within law firms. Kingsley is not afraid of incorporating what might be seen as “soft” or feminine gestures by the old guard of the legal world, such as ordering cream cakes for the firm as a form of reward.

She has the following of her staff, whose faith in her leadership scored 85% positive. They also think she runs the company according to sound moral principles (81%).

The senior managers at Pannone aren’t guilty of assuming that professionals want “careers” while support staff want “jobs”, so everyone benefits from career development. Office juniors have a training programme that includes going to court to watch trials. This way they can see how important it is that there aren’t any missing pages when they photocopy bundles to be used by judges and barristers. Employees think their job is good for their own personal growth, rating this point 84% positive.

The firm is progressive in its approach to flexible working, with reduced hours, term-time only contracts and job-sharing among the options available. Career breaks and sabbaticals are also possible and staff can meet family commitments such as their children’s school plays or sports days in work time. This approach is characteristic of Pannone, where the work gets done efficiently but within a fun, supportive atmosphere in which staff report low levels of stress and do not think their deadlines are unrealistic (82%).

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