Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is to keep on all six of its September 2009 qualifying trainees in the City while Shearman & Sterling has offered jobs to nearly two thirds of its qualifiers.

Cleary has continued its record of retaining every qualifying trainee since it introduced its trainee programme in the City in 1997. One trainee will focus on tax while the remainder will keep a broader corporate practice.

Andrew Shutter, UK recruitment partner at Cleary, said: "We pride ourselves on selecting, training and retaining the best possible trainee solicitors. We are very pleased to have such a strong group of trainee solicitors joining our firm as associates and have very high hopes for their successful careers within the firm."