Specialist Law Firms in London

Specialist firms are defined by what they do rather than how big they are, which is why this tier spans very different sizes. Bristows works in intellectual property and technology from London and Brussels, and Stewarts is the largest litigation-only firm in the UK, both taking around ten trainees a year. Kennedys (insurance and disputes) and Watson Farley & Williams (shipping, energy and transport finance) are international firms with offices across Europe and Asia and intakes of roughly twenty. Quinn Emanuel is the largest disputes-only firm in the world and runs no training contract at all, hiring instead from the Bar and from other City firms. Recruitment here often sits outside the September rush: Stewarts opens for one month in March, and structures vary from four six-month seats to six four-month seats with a guaranteed overseas rotation. These firms suit students who already know the practice area or sector they want to qualify into and would rather go deep than broad.

5 firms on Folio