Nasty culture - Patent Attorney Appleyard Lees Employee Review

There are some good social events, and the firm does offer genuine support for personal development and training. Individuals within teams can be supportive, and there is clear potential for the workplace to be a positive environment if changes were embraced more fully.

Despite stating that new ideas are welcome, the organisation relies heavily on outdated and inefficient systems and shows strong resistance to meaningful change. Micromanagement is common, communication is largely top-down, and there is a noticeable lack of trust in staff. Combined with constant pressure and unrealistic expectations, this creates a stressful atmosphere that can feel toxic at times and is difficult to sustain in the long term. Overall, the culture feels stuck in the past and not well aligned with modern ways of working.

The attorneys and support staff are genuinely friendly, collaborative, and willing to help one another. My colleagues were the only consistently positive aspect of working in the Cambridge office.

Management in the Cambridge office operates with an outdated, hierarchical approach characterised by micromanagement and inconsistent communication. Concerns are not always addressed directly, and feedback is sometimes relayed indirectly, which can create a sense of mistrust. The atmosphere is often tense, as the level of oversight can feel excessive and leave employees feeling closely monitored rather than supported. Pay is low and below market for comparable roles.