When Perkins Coie won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards London for its Legal Business Analyst Programme, few expected the ripple effect to be this immediate. Just weeks later, the firm was shortlisted for LBA Recognition at The Lawyer European Awards 2025 — a rare double recognition that signals a seismic shift in how law firms think about talent. The win, announced on , wasn’t just about a program. It was about redefining who gets to become a lawyer — and how.
Breaking the Mold: The Legal Business Analyst Programme
Launched in early 2024 alongside Perkins Coie’s London office opening, the Legal Business Analyst Programme isn’t a traditional training scheme. It doesn’t require a law degree. Instead, it recruits early-career professionals from tech, finance, and data backgrounds, then trains them to operate at the intersection of law, business, and technology. Participants rotate across litigation, corporate transactions, and commercial strategy teams — gaining hands-on experience in contract analysis, AI-driven due diligence, and client advisory work. By the end of the two-year programme, many graduates are eligible to sit for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) — but they enter the profession with a rare edge: fluency in both legal reasoning and commercial dynamics."We didn’t want to just hire lawyers," says Ian Bagshaw, London office managing partner of Perkins Coie. "We wanted to build people who could anticipate what clients need before they even ask. That’s not something you learn from casebooks alone."
The Man Behind the Movement
Bagshaw, a 30-year veteran of London’s elite law firms — including stints at Clifford Chance, Linklaters, and White & Case — didn’t just approve the programme. He championed it. His own nomination for the FT’s Intrapreneur award in 2025 wasn’t accidental. He pushed to relocate Perkins Coie’s UK base to 22 Bishopsgate, a 52-story landmark tower in the City of London, as a physical symbol of ambition. The firm now employs 40 lawyers and business professionals in London — a team built almost entirely since 2024."Most firms talk about innovation," Bagshaw told reporters after the FT win. "We built it. And we didn’t wait for permission."
A New Kind of Legal Firm
Perkins Coie’s London office doesn’t just advise on tech M&A deals — it’s embedded in them. The firm represents European startups backed by U.S. venture capital, helping them navigate cross-border IP, data compliance, and exit strategies. Their clients include AI-driven health platforms, blockchain infrastructure firms, and SaaS companies scaling across the EU. That’s why the Legal Business Analyst Programme focuses so heavily on technical literacy: analysts learn to interpret API documentation, assess cloud architecture risks, and model startup valuations — skills that make them indispensable in high-growth deals.The programme’s success is reflected in retention. Of the first cohort of 12 analysts, 10 have been offered permanent roles, with five already working as qualified solicitors. One analyst, a former data scientist from Manchester, now leads due diligence for a £150 million Series C round in a London-based cybersecurity firm.
What This Means for the Legal Industry
The legal profession has long been criticized for its insularity. Law schools produce graduates who know precedent but not profit margins. Traditional training routes exclude non-traditional candidates — those without elite university backgrounds or family connections. Perkins Coie’s model flips that. It’s open to applicants from state schools, career changers, and STEM graduates. The firm doesn’t just diversify its workforce — it diversifies its problem-solving capacity."This isn’t just about hiring differently," says a senior partner at Baker McKenzie, who spoke anonymously. "It’s about survival. Clients aren’t asking for more lawyers. They’re asking for advisors who speak their language. Perkins Coie figured that out before most of us even heard the question."
What’s Next for Perkins Coie?
With the The Lawyer European Awards 2025 shortlist announcement now public, all eyes are on whether the firm will take home the LBA Recognition award. But even if they don’t, the damage to the old model is done. Other firms — including Bird & Bird and Clifford Chance — are reportedly reviewing similar programmes. One unnamed GC at a Fortune 500 European tech firm told The Lawyer: "If Perkins Coie can deliver better outcomes with non-lawyer-trained analysts, why are we still paying six-figure salaries for associates who can’t read a balance sheet?"Perkins Coie’s next move? They’re expanding the programme to Paris and Berlin by early 2026. The goal: replicate the model across Europe, with local adaptations. And they’re already talking to universities about co-designing certification tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Legal Business Analyst Programme differ from a traditional law training contract?
Unlike traditional training contracts that focus almost exclusively on legal work within a single department, Perkins Coie’s programme immerses participants in both legal and business functions — including finance, tech, and client strategy. Trainees gain exposure to real M&A deals, data compliance projects, and startup valuations, often working alongside engineers and analysts. Graduates emerge with SQE eligibility plus commercial fluency, making them uniquely positioned for in-house or corporate law roles.
Do you need a law degree to join the programme?
No. The programme actively recruits candidates with degrees in computer science, economics, data analytics, and business. Applicants must demonstrate analytical rigor and commercial curiosity, not prior legal training. The firm provides full SQE preparation as part of the two-year curriculum, ensuring graduates meet all regulatory requirements to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales.
Why did Perkins Coie choose 22 Bishopsgate as its London base?
22 Bishopsgate is London’s second-tallest building and a symbol of modern, tech-forward finance. The move wasn’t just about space — it was a statement. The firm wanted to signal its break from traditional legal real estate (think dark wood paneling and leather chairs) and align physically with the innovation ecosystem it serves. The building houses fintech startups, VC firms, and tech giants — making client meetings and talent recruitment far more natural.
What impact has Ian Bagshaw had on Perkins Coie’s UK expansion?
Bagshaw’s 30-year career at top-tier firms gave him the credibility to build something new. He recruited nearly all 40 London staff, secured key client relationships, and personally funded pilot phases of the Legal Business Analyst Programme. His leadership at Zero Gravity, a nonprofit helping underrepresented students access elite careers, also informed the firm’s inclusive hiring ethos. His dual recognition as both firm leader and Intrapreneur nominee underscores his role as architect of Perkins Coie’s UK transformation.
Is this model being adopted by other law firms?
Yes — quietly. Sources confirm that Bird & Bird and Clifford Chance are piloting similar hybrid roles, though none have matched Perkins Coie’s scale or integration. The FT’s award has accelerated industry-wide conversations. One managing partner admitted, "We’re not copying them — we’re scrambling to catch up."
What’s the long-term goal of the Legal Business Analyst Programme?
Perkins Coie aims to create a new standard for legal talent — one where commercial acumen is valued as highly as legal knowledge. By 2030, they hope 40% of their global associates will come from non-traditional backgrounds. The programme also serves as a recruitment magnet: applications for the 2026 cohort have already tripled those of 2025, with candidates from 18 countries. This isn’t just a training scheme. It’s a blueprint for the future of law.