Out of hours
Baker & McKenzie not only offers high quality work with a global client base, we also offer plenty of opportunities to get involved with sporting and social activities, whether with colleagues or clients.
SportIn an office of over 750 people, you will never be short of opportunities to burn off some energy on the sports pitch.
As well as a host of department or group teams, there are office teams for:
- Football
- Mixed Hockey
- Cricket
- Netball
The London office football team participates in the Euro Baker tournament, the firm’s annual inter-office football competition, which is hosted by a different European office each year. In 2008 it was held in Madrid, and previous locations include Vienna and Warsaw.
There are annual Rugby Sevens events, and the Manches Cup yacht race to Cowes, in which we normally enter three boats.
We also provide subsidised membership to two health clubs near the office, or you can request a subsidy for membership of a gym closer to home.
Social lifeWe pride ourselves on being a friendly and sociable firm and this is reflected in the range of social activities on offer.
There are monthly Friday Night Drinks which take place in our office, to which employees at all levels are invited. It is a popular event and provides a great start to the weekend. Two other major events for all employees are the Christmas and Summer parties. The Christmas Party is a black tie event held at a prestigious London venue. Past locations include the Savoy Hotel.
The Summer Party is a more informal affair, with a band or DJ, dinner and dancing. Past venues include the Kensington Roof Gardens, Temple Gardens and a cruise along the Thames.
In addition to these firm-wide events, each department holds its own get-togethers, and our social committee organises a whole variety of other activities, such as go-karting, karaoke, bowling, quiz evenings, pub walks and wine tastings. There is also a themed Future Trainee Party, where all future trainees are provided with the opportunity to meet with current first seat trainees and the graduate recruitment team.
Katie's story
“The culture here is one that encourages and supports you to get involved in sports and social activities. I attend in-house yoga classes once a week and I’m wing defence on the netball team, which plays most Wednesdays after work. The firm has netball, football, mixed hockey and cricket teams, as well as department teams, such as the pensions football team. There’s also the Manches Cup sailing regatta in the Solent, for which we entered three boats this year.
I help organise the monthly Friday Night Drinks. Everyone attends – partners, support staff, associates, secretaries. There are regular parties, too, such as the firm’s summer party, the annual trainee summer party or the Christmas party. There are always plenty of things going on for those who want to get involved.”
Katie Golding, Trainee
