Overview

Dorsey & Whitney LLP is a long-established US-headquartered full-service law firm with a broad international footprint and deep industry-focused practice groups in banking, energy, healthcare, technology and more. Founded to serve client needs in 1912, the firm combines substantial regional strength across the United States with offices in key international markets (London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Toronto, Vancouver) to support cross-border transactions and disputes. Dorsey is distinguished by its investment in training (Dorsey U), a large pro bono programme, and a sector-led model that teams specialists across offices for client matters.

Headquarters: Minneapolis, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500
Founded: 1912
Lawyers: Approximately 690 attorneys firmwide
Trainees: 2 per year (London)
Offices: 22

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Banking & Finance
Capital Markets
Corporate & M&A
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Employment
Energy & Natural Resources
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Intellectual Property
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Real Estate
Regulatory & Compliance
Technology & Digital
Tax
Infrastructure & Projects
Insurance & Reinsurance

Geographic Focus: Dorsey has a US-anchored platform with significant offices across North America (Minneapolis, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Denver, Seattle, Silicon Valley/Palo Alto, Dallas, Phoenix, etc.) and an international foothold in London, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. The firm positions itself to handle US domestic matters and cross-border mandates involving Canada, China/HK and Europe, often drawing on multi-office teams for industry-specific work in technology, healthcare, energy and financials.

Training Contract

London training contract: four six‑month seats — two seats in corporate / M&A, one seat in dispute resolution, and one seat in real estate / intellectual property. Trainees rotate through seats and are integrated into practice teams; the firm emphasises early client exposure and responsibility and pairs trainees with mentors and recruiting committee contacts. For US-based early‑career hiring, the firm runs a Summer Associate programme (10‑week rotations through three practice groups in Minneapolis) that feeds many new associate hires.

Trainee Intake: 2 per year (London)
Academic Requirements: Firm looks for candidates who are academically excellent, proactive, team players, friendly, hardworking and capable of developing long‑lasting client relationships.
Application Deadline: 2026-06-30

Seat Options

Corporate & M&A
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Real Estate
Intellectual Property

Mentorship

Mentoring and supervision are delivered through partner and associate mentors, recruiting committee contacts in each office, and formal training supervisors (London trainees instructed to send applications/queries to the Training Supervisor). Summer associates and new lawyers are matched with partner and associate mentors and engage with the Recruiting Committee and Dorsey U trainers for professional development.

Apply on the Dorsey & Whitney LLP website →

Programmes & Schemes

U.S. Summer Associate Program

A paid summer programme for law students across multiple U.S. offices (examples include Anchorage, Boise, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Southern California). Summer associates gain realistic client work, rotate through practice groups (Minneapolis: three practice groups over 10 weeks), attend client meetings, depositions, closings and court appearances and participate in professional development and pro bono projects.

Duration: 10 weeks (typical Minneapolis programme)

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Minneapolis Summer Associate Program

Minneapolis-specific summer associate rotation: over 10 weeks summer associates rotate through three practice groups of their choosing, receive hands-on assignments, attend training seminars and participate in pro bono and social activities. The programme emphasises client exposure and professional development and often feeds new associate hires.

Duration: 10 weeks

Apply →

Notable Matters

Liberty Latin America – acquisition of AT&T mobile and wireline businesses (Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands)

Represented Liberty Latin America in its approximately $1.95 billion acquisition of AT&T Inc.’s mobile wireless and business wireline businesses in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including handling related DOJ investigation and a negotiated consent order.

Competition & Antitrust

Land O’Lakes, Inc. – Rule 144A preferred stock offering

Issuer counsel to Land O’Lakes, Inc. in a $15 billion Rule 144A offering of cumulative redeemable preferred stock, acting on a large-scale capital markets transaction for a major cooperative client.

Capital Markets

DNA Electronics Ltd – patent/know‑how license and $30m collaborative project

Advised DNA Electronics Ltd in connection with the grant of a patent and know‑how license and a $30 million collaborative project with F. Hoffmann‑La Roche concerning chip‑based DNA sequencing technology (technology commerce / licensing engagement).

Technology & Digital

City of Minot v. Cypress Development, LLC – jury award

Lead trial counsel securing a $2.4 million unanimous jury award for the City of Minot and defending against a $50 million counterclaim in a high-profile public‑private partnership commercial litigation matter.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Purple Innovation, LLC – reverse merger IPO and follow‑on financing

Issuer’s counsel to Purple Innovation, LLC in a $500 million reverse merger initial public offering and subsequent $254 million follow-on public offering, advising on equity capital markets matters and public company readiness.

Capital Markets

Quindell Plc / RAC joint venture – motor telematics JV and licensing

Counsel on joint venture, licensing and commercialization agreements relating to the development of motor telematics systems and digital wireless services, reflecting complex technology commerce and commercialisation work.

Technology & Digital

What Dorsey & Whitney LLP Looks For

Key Competencies

Academic excellence
Teamwork and collaboration
Client service orientation
Commercial awareness
Strong written and oral communication
Proactivity and resilience
Interest in pro bono and community engagement

Evidence Signals

Summer associate or vacation scheme experience
Pro bono and clinic work
Transactional or litigation-oriented internships
Mooting and advocacy experience for disputes roles
Scientific/engineering degrees or technical internships for IP/patent roles
International or cross‑border experience for global practice areas

Benefits & Wellbeing

Dorsey U in‑house professional development (hundreds of hours annually)
Parental leave and family-friendly policies
Flexible workplace arrangements and hybrid working options
Internal CLE accreditation and tuition/travel reimbursement for external CLE
Robust pro bono opportunities integrated into early‑career programmes
LGBTQ+ benefits highlights (firm-specific benefits summary)
Access to Dorsey & Whitney Trust Company services (where applicable)
Enrichment and wellbeing programmes
Health and benefits summaries provided for attorneys and business professionals on request
Professional development and transition programmes for lateral hires

Wellbeing

Dorsey runs enrichment programmes focused on wellbeing, offers professional development and support via Dorsey U, and provides programmes to promote health, work-life balance and career satisfaction. The firm emphasises community volunteerism, pro bono engagement and internal wellbeing events.

Awards & Recognition

Mansfield Certification Plus (each year 2018–2024)
Named a 'Best Law Firm for Women & Diversity' by Seramount (2024)
18th consecutive 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (2025)
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: 100 Best Adoption‑Friendly Workplace (2024)
201 Dorsey lawyers recognised in 2025 Best Lawyers in America lists (2024/2025 recognitions)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Dorsey states an ongoing commitment to create an inclusive workplace that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives and contributions. The firm references Mansfield Certification Plus status and repeated perfect scores on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, and it publicises participation in diversity and inclusion programmes and awards.

Mansfield Certification Plus recognition
Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index participation (100% ratings)
Seramount 'Best Law Firms for Women' recognition
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption workplace recognition
Firmwide Inclusion page and internal D&I programming

Pro Bono

Dorsey operates a substantial pro bono programme driven by a firm pledge and longstanding participation in the American Bar Association's Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge (pledge to provide at least 3% of billable hours). The firm reports exceeding the 3% Challenge every year since signing the charter in 1993. Recent totals: more than 28,000 pro bono hours in 2024 (and over 26,000 hours in 2023). Key programmes include Legal Access Point, Lawyer for a Day, youth clinics (Eastwood Legal Clinic for Teen Parents), small business clinics (Mi Casa), and longstanding client partnerships (UnitedHealth, U.

Innovation

The firm invests in legal technology and e‑discovery (LegalMine) and leverages internal digital training (Dorsey U) and technology-enabled meeting facilities across offices. Technology practice groups support clients on cybersecurity, privacy, fintech, digital health and blockchain; trainees and new associates are exposed to in‑house technology training, recorded materials and cross-office collaboration tools.

LegalMine™ Document Review Solutions
Dorsey U digital training and recorded classroom sessions
Internal technology‑enabled conference facilities with links to all offices
Dedicated Technology & Digital, Artificial Intelligence and IP/Patent practice teams

Quick Application Angles

Stress your fit with the firm’s core focus on 'clients, community and colleagues' — give concrete examples of client service and community/pro bono involvement.
Reference Dorsey U and the firm’s emphasis on training: explain how you will take advantage of (and contribute to) internal training and cross‑office collaboration.
For London applications, note the small trainee intake (two places each September) — be specific about why you are a strong cultural and technical fit for the fixed seat rotations (two corporate/M&A, one disputes, one real estate/IP).
Demonstrate commercial awareness in the sectors Dorsey highlights (technology, healthcare, energy, banking) and, where relevant, tie your experience to cross‑border or Canada/China/HK transactional issues.
Mention meaningful pro bono experience or a clear commitment to pro bono — Dorsey publicises large firm pro bono totals and values community engagement.

Dorsey & Whitney LLP