Interesting work, poor culture - Associate (Hong Kong) Freshfields Employee Review

2.0
16 Sept 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Interesting and sometimes groundbreaking work Good reputation Decent compensation, but by no means the highest in the market

Cons

Poor culture. Associates generally treated like cannon fodder. Very uneven workloads within the team due to poor management. No plans for long-term associate development and retention. Partners seem to be aware of these longstanding issues, but there are minimal improvements thus far. Long working hours, little respect for work-life balance. Medical benefits are relatively poor - default is no coverage for dental or annual health checkup

Explore other reviews about Freshfields

5.0
16 Oct 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Friendly people; international brand recognition; grows fast in the US.

Cons

Still expanding. Not all practices groups are strong.

2.0
14 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Conveniently located in New York City.

Cons

Cliquish working environment - not expected for a top 1-20 firm.

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