Winston & Strawn is a major US firm with a strong London presence in private equity, leveraged finance, and energy. The firm is combining with Taylor Wessing's UK arm to form Winston Taylor (expected May 2026), creating a 1,400-lawyer transatlantic firm with significant tech, IP and PE capabilities.
Culture & Values
Winston & Strawn's London office has an entrepreneurial culture typical of smaller US firm London outposts — trainees get early exposure to significant deals and direct access to senior lawyers. The pending Taylor Wessing combination will bring leading tech, IP and life sciences practices alongside Winston's existing PE and energy strengths.
Generated by Folio — folioapp.co.uk · 17 March 2026
Salary and deadline information is approximate. Always verify with the firm's official graduate recruitment page.
Strategic Advice
Winston & Strawn interviews probe knowledge of private equity deal structures, leveraged buyout financing, and energy sector transactions. Expect questions on recent sponsor-led deals and the impact of interest rate movements on the leveraged finance market. Candidates should understand what distinguishes a finance-focused US firm from a broadly transactional Magic Circle practice.
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Talking Points
Arguments for “Why Winston & Strawn?” and ready-made observations from recent news. Adapt to your own voice.
01
Winston & Strawn's London office has built a distinctive niche in leveraged finance and private equity work for financial sponsors, giving trainees early exposure to sponsor-led transactions and cross-border deal structures that you wouldn't see as quickly in a broad Magic Circle practice.
02
The firm's entrepreneurial culture in London—smaller than Magic Circle outposts but with direct access to partners—means trainees work on genuinely significant deals rather than in large teams on peripheral tasks; this is particularly attractive for candidates who want to understand the full economics of LBO financings and energy sector transactions.
03
Winston & Strawn combines depth in both private equity and energy sector work, sectors that require sophisticated understanding of long-term project financing, sponsor incentives, and regulatory complexity—placing the firm at the intersection of two high-value markets rather than being generalist.
Practice Questions
Active10 curated questions for Winston & Strawn
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Method
“Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. Application (CV + 3 written questions), then Watson Glaser, then partner interview, then assessment centre.”
Tests
Explore Winston & Strawn's work before you apply — free simulations on Forage, built to mirror real trainee tasks.
Data Verification
Salary and deadline information is approximate and based on publicly available data from prior recruitment cycles. Last verified: 2026-03-16. Always check the firm's official graduate recruitment page for confirmed dates.