Bristows LLP

Overview

Bristows is a London-headquartered, Europe-focused law firm that specialises in technology, life sciences, brands and related regulatory and dispute work. The firm combines legal expertise with scientific and technical backgrounds (many lawyers have science or engineering qualifications) and is particularly well regarded for patent litigation, technology/IP advisory and life sciences regulatory work. Bristows operates from offices in London, Brussels and Dublin, advising clients on UK, EU and UPC matters and partnering with local firms globally. The firm emphasises quality over billable targets and flexible working, aiming to give lawyers autonomy and more client-facing responsibility than at larger, more hierarchical firms.

• Headquarters: London, 100 Victoria Embankment
• Lawyers: 300+ (London professionals)
• Trainees: 10
• Offices: 3

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

• Intellectual Property
• Technology & Digital
• Healthcare & Life Sciences
• Competition & Antitrust
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Corporate & M&A
• Commercial Contracts
• Real Estate
• Tax
• Employment
• Media & Entertainment
• Charities & Not-for-Profit
• Regulatory & Compliance

Geographic Focus: European-headed firm with primary strength in the UK market and targeted capability in EU law via its Brussels office and UPC-related work via the Dublin office; the firm supports cross-border transactional and dispute work and collaborates with carefully selected local firms worldwide.

Training Contract

Two-year training contract. The programme guarantees a six-month seat in the Patent Litigation practice and combines a wide variety of transactional, advisory and litigation seats to ensure strong IP exposure alongside full-service training. Bristows typically recruits two years in advance for its cohorts and encourages trainees to be open-minded about career paths within the firm.

• Starting Salary: £49,000
• NQ Salary: £95,000
• Trainee Intake: 10
• Qualification Rate: 80%
• Academic Requirements: No minimum A-level requirement; no minimum degree requirement specified. The firm accepts a range of academic backgrounds and highlights the value of scientific/technical degrees for its specialist practices.
• Application Deadline: 3 january 2027

Seat Options

• Intellectual Property
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation
• Technology & Digital
• Corporate & M&A
• Tax
• Real Estate
• Employment
• Data Protection & Privacy
• Competition & Antitrust
• Commercial Contracts
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Healthcare & Life Sciences

Sponsorship

PGDL/ GDL grant: 9,999–10,000 (PGDL grant); SQE grant: 15,000. Apprenticeship funding includes relocation payment and a getting started grant for apprentices.

SQE Support

SQE grant published: 15,000 (SQE grant).

International Opportunities

No regular international secondments (chances of secondment abroad reported as 0%).

Client Secondments

Client secondments are available; reported chance of client secondment is 38%.

Mentorship

Each trainee/apprentice is assigned a direct line manager and a 'welcome buddy' to help settle in. The firm has trainee networks and internal inclusion groups; pastoral support is available via wellbeing champions and mental health first aiders.

Apply on the Bristows LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

Notable Matters

What Bristows LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

• Commercial awareness
• Intellectual curiosity and technical curiosity
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Client-facing confidence and communication skills
• Resilience and adaptability
• Problem solving and analytical ability
• Commitment to diversity and inclusive working

Evidence Signals

• Technical, scientific or engineering degrees (valued for IP and life sciences work)
• IP / technology related work experience or internships
• Relevant commercial or transactional experience
• Mooting, debating or advocacy for litigation-focused roles
• Pro bono or widening-access engagement
• Experience on cross-functional projects or technology products

Benefits & Wellbeing

• First year trainee salary: £49,000
• Second year trainee salary: £52,500
• Newly qualified salary: £95,000
• PGDL/ GDL grant: £10,000
• SQE grant: £15,000
• Private medical insurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• Life assurance
• Health screening
• Group pension scheme
• Pension guidance 1:1s
• Travel insurance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Gym discounts
• Travel loan / season ticket loan
• Sports teams
• Inclusion networks
• Relocation payment (for apprentices)
• Getting started grant (for apprentices)
• 24/7 counselling service / Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Monthly meditation sessions and Pilates classes
• Peppy (menopause & fertility support) and support for neonatal care
• KareHero emergency backup childcare and personalised care consultations
• No formal annual billing targets

Wellbeing

Wellbeing Champions support an internal programme; monthly meditation sessions; monthly Pilates classes; Mindful Business Charter membership; Mental Health First Aiders; 24/7 counselling service; Peppy and KareHero support services for family and carers.

Awards & Recognition

• The Lawyer Awards – Competition Team of the Year (2017)
• Legal Business Awards – TMT Team of the Year (2017)
• Legal 500 – multiple Tier 1 practice rankings (2026)
• Chambers & Partners – cited recognitions across TMT, IP and data protection (2026)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Bristows is a long-standing signatory to the Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter and works with Aspiring Solicitors and the PRIME initiative. The firm publishes annual diversity monitoring and gender pay gap reports and has an annual Inclusion plan overseen by the Inclusion Group.

• Disability & Neurodivergence Network (launched May 2025)
• Lyda Network (race & ethnicity network)
• The Turing Network (LGBT+ & allies)
• Women’s Network (launched International Women’s Day 2020)
• Families & Carers Network (launched June 2020)
• Inclusion Group (bi-monthly, chaired by three partners)
• Annual Inclusion plan and budget
• Widening access: PRIME initiative, work experience for A-level students and annual sixth form workshop
• Partnerships with Aspiring Solicitors and PRIME initiative

Pro Bono

Corporate responsibility covers charities, diversity, communities & pro bono and the environment; the firm encourages participation in pro bono and community activities and runs widening access programmes such as work experience and workshops for state-educated students.

Innovation

Bristows invests in sector-focused legal and regulatory technology knowledge rather than emphasising a single in-house platform: many lawyers have technical or scientific backgrounds (including doctorate-level experience) which the firm leverages to advise on AI, data, software, cloud, open source and telecoms matters. The firm hosts events (Technology Summit), maintains sector content hubs and runs practice-led initiatives to keep lawyers client-ready on emerging tech issues.

• Technology Summit (annual sector event)
• Online Safety Act hub (The Safety Net content hub)
• Agentic AI insights series
• UPC case tracker
• Inquisitive Minds thought-leadership content and podcasts
• Open source advisory practice

Quick Application Angles

• Emphasise your technical or scientific curiosity and any STEM background — the firm highlights science/engineering expertise across its IP and life sciences teams and values technically literate candidates.
• Reference the guaranteed six-month Patent Litigation seat and the firm’s UPC/European litigation work if you can demonstrate interest or experience in patent litigation or FRAND matters (for example, coursework, moots, internships or relevant projects).
• Demonstrate cultural fit by referencing Bristows’ core values (inquisitive, collaborative, entrepreneurial) and the firm’s focus on quality over billing targets — give examples where you prioritised quality, client value or long-term outcomes.
• If applying via apprenticeship routes, highlight practical experience and transferable skills (teamwork, communication, project work) and note the firm’s supportive apprenticeship funding (relocation payment and getting started grant).
• Mention involvement with diversity/widening-access programmes or community initiatives (Aspiring Solicitors, PRIME) to show alignment with the firm’s inclusion priorities.