Having recently returned from Sydney following a fantastic opportunity to spend a year on secondment, we thought it would be the perfect time to ask Matthew Flanagan-Roberts what his firm, Squire Patton Boggs, does so well to ensure their employees stay with them.
Matt’s initial response to the question related to the client base and the nature of the work he carries out. Squire Patton Boggs have an exceptional, diverse and interesting client base. From working with founders/start-ups and management teams to larger corporates and private equity houses, Matt is exposed to a wide variety of clients on both a national and international level. The nature of the work itself is extremely interesting, not to mention the sectors in which their clients operate in, all adding to Matt’s passion for his work.
“I may be biased but I work alongside some fantastic people – both as individuals and as professionals across the various departments/services within the firm.”
As he continued to respond, Matt’s focus turned to the people and to the culture of the firm. He explained that SPB has an ability to connect colleagues in a simple manner across the globe; whether that be working together on international transactions/matters, collaborating on global firm initiatives, or having the opportunity to undertake a secondment in another office… something he has just completed in the Sydney office.
Culture is incredibly important to Matt and this is something he highlighted when discussing his reasons for staying with Squire Patton Boggs. The firm goes above and beyond to ensure employees feel part of a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. There is an abundance of support in this respect through the firm’s Office of DEI/internal resource groups, as well as the various initiatives that the firm actively gets involved in throughout the course of each year. An organisation’s culture is something that really sets it apart from its competitors.
“An organisation's culture is something that really sets it apart from its competitors.”
Lastly, Matt emphasised the investment Squire Patton Boggs makes into all their employees in terms of professional development. He explained how they have training opportunities available across all levels of the firm and these are widely utilised and appreciated. A number of new initiatives and programmes have been introduced over the last six months leading to a real feeling of being valued amongst employees.
If you are looking for a law firm to join and would like to talk to Matt about his experience at Squire Patton Boggs, please email info@professional-training.co.uk. If you are interested in finding out more about retention and how Professional Training may be able to help you with this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
About Matthew Flanagan-Roberts:
‘Legal Professional of the Year’ at the JCI Manchester Young Talent Awards 2021.
Matthew is an associate (level 2) in the Corporate Practice based in the Manchester office. He advises on national and international transactions and specialises in mergers and acquisitions, and private equity investments, as well as joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, corporate governance and employee ownership trusts.
Matthew advises private equity investors, corporates and entrepreneurs, as well as individuals across a range of sectors in the local, national and international markets. He is also an active member of the firm’s LGBT+ committee and is committed to raising awareness in this space.
Matthew was the Chair of the Manchester Young Solicitors Group, a social and professional network for qualified solicitors under 10 years’ PQE of which he was Chair for almost three years. In addition, Matthew sits on the Manchester Law Society ED&I committee.
From October 2022 – October 2023, Matthew spent a year on secondment in the firm’s Sydney office.