The Silver Circle is a looser grouping of City firms that sit just below the Magic Circle on most salary and prestige rankings. There is no official membership list. The firms most commonly included are Ashurst, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Macfarlanes, Travers Smith, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. NQ salaries range from roughly £110,000 to £140,000. Trainee intakes are smaller than the Magic Circle, which means closer partner contact during the training contract but often more competitive vacation scheme application ratios per place. Each firm has a distinct specialism: Macfarlanes for private capital and tax, Travers Smith for funds, HSF for disputes, Ashurst for energy and infrastructure, BCLP for real estate and finance. Silver Circle firms are a strong target for students who want quality corporate work without the trainee numbers of a Magic Circle intake.
5 firms on Folio
Ashurst
London
Herbert Smith Freehills
London
Macfarlanes
London
Travers Smith
London
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
London / St. Louis