The London office of Sidley Austin has achieved a 100% trainee retention rate for its September intake, with all nine of the firm's autumn qualifiers accepting offers in their first-choice practice areas.

Several of the US firm's newly qualified (NQ) lawyers were offered places in more than one practice group in the office, and it is understood that at least one practice group was left disappointed when it did not receive any trainees. However, the firm does not have any current plans to expand its trainee intake numbers.

"Eight will be working in London and one will join our competition group in our Brussels office," confirmed London office managing partner Drew Scott.

The London NQs will join the global finance, corporate responsibility and bankruptcy, disputes, employment, funds and tax groups.

Meanwhile, Jones Day has offered nine places to its 11 autumn qualifiers, all of whom accepted, representing a retention rate of 82%.

The rate is broadly in line with its spring intake, which saw five out of six trainees accept the offer of a training contract, and the remaining trainee take a job with another firm.

Earlier this month, Shearman & Sterling confirmed it had offered 11 jobs to its 13 trainees qualifying at the US firm this September, equating to an 85% retention rate.

The news comes after research by Legal Week earlier this year found that trainee retention rates across the bulk of the UK's largest law firms had fallen this year, with the average rate down by almost 10% on last spring's qualifying intake.