Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's spring retention rate has dipped very slightly to 82% in 2016, down from 85% last year.

Freshfields has kept hold of 31 of its 38-strong cohort of trainees, after making offers to 33, with two opting to leave the firm rather than take up the offer.

The number of newly qualified lawyers joining the firm is down on last spring when 44 of 48 trainees (85%) stayed on, while in spring 2014 36 of 44 (82%) were kept on.