Overview

Collyer Bristow is a London-based city law firm that combines a long-standing heritage with a commercially focused, modern practice. The firm is best known for private wealth (family offices and high-net-worth individuals), real estate, commercial and corporate work, and contentious dispute resolution – with significant cross‑border and regulatory experience. The firm emphasises a ‘traditionally modern’ training and service ethos: high standards, discreet client service and early responsibility for trainees while encouraging fresh thinking and technical rigour.

Headquarters: London, St Martin's Court (Paternoster Row) EC4M
Offices: 1

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Corporate & M&A
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Private Client & Wealth
Real Estate
Employment
Intellectual Property
Financial Services & Regulation
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Construction & Engineering
Data Protection & Privacy
Tax
Commercial Contracts
Insolvency & Restructuring
Regulatory & Compliance
Family Law
Media & Entertainment

Geographic Focus: Firm activity is London-centred with a strong international private wealth and family-office focus; the firm advises international families and corporate clients across jurisdictions and frequently references work and client relationships involving the Channel Islands, Italy, Switzerland, USA and Turkey. It handles cross-border disputes, international probate and trust/tax planning connected to multiple jurisdictions.

Training Contract

Two-year training contract. Trainees spend six months in four practice areas (four seats of six months each). The firm encourages exposure to both contentious and non-contentious work and has no mandatory seat requirements. Assessment days for the 2027/2028 recruitment cycle are scheduled for end-July/beginning-August 2026; traineeships are confirmed one year (2027) or two years (2028) in advance of start dates. Trainees are given early responsibility for files and opportunities to develop business development and networking skills.

Qualification Rate: 100% (retention rate referenced in the firm’s 2020 training award commentary)
Academic Requirements: The firm looks for strong academic performance (a 2:1 degree or on track to achieve a 2:1) and is interested in A-level subjects and how applicants’ academic choices have led them to consider law. The firm states it does not electronically pre-screen applications and values diverse journeys.
Application Deadline: 2026-06-25

Seat Options

Corporate & M&A
Commercial Contracts
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Private Client & Wealth
Real Estate
Employment
Intellectual Property
Financial Services & Regulation
Tax
Insolvency & Restructuring
Data Protection & Privacy
Family Law

Sponsorship

Collyer Bristow will accept candidates qualifying under the SQE route. Collyer Bristow does not currently provide sponsorship for Visas.

Mentorship

The programme includes a mentoring and performance coaching programme, structured appraisals and regular feedback conversations. There are trainee support networks and an expectations framework (Trainee Expectations Framework) that sets out performance standards and development milestones.

Apply on the Collyer Bristow LLP website →

Notable Matters

Judicial Review — APR/BPR Inheritance Tax Reforms

Collyer Bristow brought judicial review proceedings challenging proposed changes to Inheritance Tax Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief; the firm secured urgent hearings in the High Court and Divisional Court in 2026, representing impacted stakeholders and advising on the statutory reforms and litigation strategy.

Tax

Advising a family office on FCA regulatory requirements and SAFEs investments

Advised a family office on FCA regulatory requirements for operating a multi-family office and on investment structures, including the use of Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs) when investing in early-stage companies. Work combined regulatory, corporate and private wealth advice.

Financial Services & Regulation

Advising Strive Gaming on fundraising (equity investment)

Acted on company fundraising for Strive Gaming (US-focused player account management platform), supporting investment documentation, investor diligence and transaction completion with multiple industry investors.

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Advising buyer in a pre-pack purchase of an online business

Advised a purchaser on a pre-pack acquisition of an online business, including credit‑bid and debt-financing issues, transaction structuring and completion mechanics.

Corporate & M&A

Advice to high-net-worth client on prenuptial agreement (>£100m+)

Negotiated and drafted a prenuptial agreement for a client with assets in excess of £100m, addressing cross-border issues and bespoke tailored protections for high-value family assets and future certainty.

Family Law

Advising a commodity derivatives platform on regulatory and commercial perimeter issues

Provided regulatory and commercial advice to a commodity derivatives platform on product offering, whether activities might constitute regulated activities or a trading venue and on compliance framing for market access.

Financial Services & Regulation

Advising a central Europe-based crypto trading platform on ICO and token sale regulation

Advised on UK regulatory aspects for a cryptocurrency stablecoin/ICO project and token sale structuring from a cross-border perspective.

Technology & Digital

What Collyer Bristow LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

Strong academic performance (2:1 or on track to achieve one)
Commercial awareness
Attention to detail and clear written communication
Judgement and professionalism
Teamwork and collaboration
Client service orientation and discretion
Creativity and individuality
Resilience and adaptability

Evidence Signals

Relevant commercial or pro bono work experience
Evidence of strong academic record (degree classification and A-levels)
Client-facing experience or demonstrable commercial curiosity
Experience working with or advising international clients (for private wealth/family office roles)
Participation in extracurricular activities demonstrating leadership, teamwork or communication (eg mooting, clinics)

Benefits & Wellbeing

25 days annual leave (plus ability to purchase an additional 5 days pro‑rata)
Contributory pension scheme
Private medical insurance
Season ticket loans
Life assurance
Subsidised back-up child and eldercare
Extensive parental leave coaching programme
Wellbeing programme featuring regular external/internal speakers
Access to volunteering and charity programmes (Charity of the Year activity)
Hybrid working policy (minimum 60% office-based)

Wellbeing

Wellbeing programme with regular speakers, access to support networks for financial, physical and mental wellbeing, subsidised back-up care for children and elders, and parental leave coaching.

Awards & Recognition

LawCareers.Net Training & Recruitment Award 2020 — Best Trainer (Medium City Firm)
Named one of the 2025 eprivateclient Top Law Firms (2025)
Nigel Brahams ranked in Chambers FinTech Guide 2026 (individual lawyer ranking)
Legal 500: total ranked practice areas 11 (Legal 500 practice rankings include multiple Tier 4 and Tier 5 listings across areas such as Commercial litigation and Commercial property)
Chambers & Partners: Ranked departments count 20; Ranked lawyers count 4 (Chambers listings summary)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The firm says ED&I is placed at the heart of its culture and that its ED&I Committee reports to the management board. HigHer delivers an annual programme of training and events to support women inside the firm and across its network.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee (partners, lawyers and business support staff)
HigHer professional network (elevating women and championing workplace equality)
Charity & pro bono activities including support for Soup Kitchen London
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at Collyer Bristow – 2023 report (published)

Pro Bono

Many lawyers provide free legal advice at local law centres, evening clinics and Citizens Advice Bureau; several lawyers supervise BPP Law School students in community legal advice clinics. The firm partners with local charities and has a nominated Charity of the Year (Soup Kitchen London) with volunteering, fundraising and pro bono engagement.

Innovation

The firm is investing in data and insight capability (role-specific hiring for Insights & Data Lead) to drive client listening, client onboarding standards and future CRM/automation capability. It operates named commercial products (CB Comply, CB Counsel, CB Restore) and emphasises the business case for improved digital and client-data capabilities. The website discourages use of AI in recruitment materials, indicating cautious/semi-conservative internal stance on generative AI for candidate selection.

CB Comply (data protection training)
CB Counsel (outsourced/in-house extension product)
CB Restore (landlord support for tenancy breach & repossession)
Insights & Data Lead function and Client Listening programme
Use of email marketing/automation platforms and development of CRM requirements

Quick Application Angles

Emphasise the firm’s ‘traditionally modern’ ethos: explain how your practical commercial thinking and individuality would add value to a firm that marries traditional client service with fresh thinking.
Reference the firm’s private wealth and family-office work (cross-border estate/trust/tax experience or interest). If you have relevant international exposure (e.g. dealing with Swiss/US/Channel Islands issues), make that explicit.
Highlight experience of complex client-facing work, discretion and written clarity — the firm emphasises treating law as a craft with precise writing and attention to detail.
Mention engagement with firm initiatives such as HigHer or community/arts activity if relevant (Collyer Bristow runs a gallery, graduate art award and volunteers with Soup Kitchen London) to demonstrate cultural fit.
If applying for training, note the firm’s award for training and its 100% retention reference — emphasise your desire for early responsibility, long-term development and readiness to work in both contentious and non-contentious seats.

Collyer Bristow LLP