The results of ALB's annual Employer of Choice survey have revealed that Corrs Chambers Westgarth,  HopgoodGanim and Cooper Grace Ward are the Australian law firms rated with the highest employment brand  ("ALB Gold Employer of Choice") by ALB readers. Across the Tasman, Russell McVeagh was the readers' choice for the top employment brand.

Several other firms were rated highly by readers, achieving "ALB Employer of Choice" status. These included New Zealand's Bell Gully and Chapman Tripp and, in Australia, Allen & Overy, Gilbert + Tobin, McCullough Robertson and Curwoods.  Freehills was the only "big six" firm to win Employer of Choice status, reflecting a lukewarm set of results for the top tier.

Readers were also asked to nominate the firms for which they would not wish to work. Topping the list of unpopular firms was Clayton Utz (15% of the vote) and King & Wood Mallesons (11%). However, other readers rated these firms highly as places to work, resulting the survey producing mixed results for these firms.

The full results and methodology of the survey are available in issue 10.8 of ALB magazine.  Issue 10.9 will explore a second stage of the survey:  the readers' verdict on the international firms which have entered the market; strongest brands and which mergers stand the highest chance of success.